"Citation:
For gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty on 6 June 1944, in France. After 2 verbal requests to accompany the leading assault elements in the Normandy invasion had been denied, Brig. Gen. Roosevelt's written request for this mission was approved and he landed with the first wave of the forces assaulting the enemy-held beaches. He repeatedly led groups from the beach, over the seawall and established them inland. His valor, courage, and presence in the very front of the attack and his complete unconcern at being under heavy fire inspired the troops to heights of enthusiasm and self-sacrifice. Although the enemy had the beach under constant direct fire, Brig. Gen. Roosevelt moved from one locality to another, rallying men around him, directed and personally led them against the enemy. Under his seasoned, precise, calm, and unfaltering leadership, assault troops reduced beach strong points and rapidly moved inland with minimum casualties. He thus contributed substantially to the successful establishment of the beachhead in France."
General Roosevelt was not only in the forefront of the assault on Utah Beach on June 6, 1944, he was in the first landing craft to hit the beach. Some have said that he was the first American to set foot on Utah Beach. I later learned that General Roosevelt died of a presumed heart attack a month after the invasion began at the age of 56. On the day he died, General Dwight Eisenhower had on his desk orders making General Roosevelt a Division Commander with the rank of Major General, an unprecedented post for a man who was a civilian and essentially a reserve officer prior to the beginning of the war. Returning home I decided that there must be a great back story in the life of General Roosevelt so I began to research his life history. Oddly, there were at that time no full fledged biographies on Ted Roosevelt, although he is mentioned in numerous other books about the Roosevelt family and World War II. I began working on research with the idea of doing a biography myself. I have basically read everything there is to read on Ted Roosevelt and taken several field trips in support of my research. I noticed the other day that somebody in a lawsuit disclosed an expert witness in Hyde Park, New York, and I made a mental note for another field trip, this time to see President Franklin Roosevelt's home and environs.
It is no news that the Roosevelt family is one of the most notable and interesting families in American history. Ted's father of course is on Mount Rushmore with Washington, Jefferson and Lincoln. His sister was the famous "Princess Alice" Roosevelt Longworth, who was one of Washington's most influential and colorful citizens into her 90s. His fifth cousin was President Franklin Roosevelt. Interestingly, his first cousin was Eleanor Roosevelt, whose name was actually Eleanor Roosevelt Roosevelt, having married Franklin, also her own distant cousin.
It seems that few remember Ted Roosevelt and his accomplishments today. That is extremely unfortunate because he deserves to be remembered. During his service in the 1st Division in France during World War I and his service in North Africa, Sicily, Italy and France in World War II, Ted Roosevelt won every citation available to a ground combat soldier, including the Medal of Honor. He is said to be the most decorated American soldier to serve in World War II. General Omar Bradley was once asked to name the single most heroic action he had ever seen in combat. His reply: "Ted Roosevelt on Utah Beach."
It might be enough to simply say that Ted Roosevelt was his father's son. And that in itself is really saying something.
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