July 2, 2025 • 7 mins
On this episode of Our American Stories, armed with only a walking cane and a pistol, Theodore Roosevelt Jr., the son of the former president, stormed the beaches of Normandy at an age when most men were thinking about retirement. He had a lot to live up to, and despite his privileged upbringing, he succeeded in making a name for himself much like his father. Craig Du Mez, president of the Grateful Nation Project, shares the story of the only son of a U.S. president to receive the Medal of Honor.
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Episode Transcript
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Speaker 1 (00:10):
This is Lee Habib and this is our American Stories,
the show where America is the star and the American
people coming to you from the.
Speaker 2 (00:18):
City where the West begins, Fort Worth, Texas. Up next,
a story on the son of a president who became
famous carrying a big stick in his own unique way.
You're to tell the story of Theodore Roosevelt Junior is
Craig Dumay of the Grateful Nation Project. Let's get into
the story.
Speaker 3 (00:38):
Theodore Roosevelt Junior, despite needing it cane to walk, led
his troops onto Utah Beach during the D Day invasion
of France. You may think I'm referring to President Theodore Roosevelt,
hero of the rough Rider Regiment, Governor of New York,
and the vigorous outdoorsman whose presidency gave us the Bully Pulpit,
the Monroe Doctrine, National Parks, and the Panama Canal. Now
(01:01):
this story is about his son, who had a lot
to live up to by sharing the same name as
his famous father. Born in eighteen eighty seven to a
life of privilege and high expectations, Theodore Ted Roosevelt Junior
(01:23):
was the oldest son and namesake of the twenty sixth
President of the United States from Sagamore Hill. The Roosevelts
moved to the Governor's mansion in Albany when young Ted
was eleven years old, and into the White House in Washington,
d c. When Ted was thirteen. Despite his famous heritage,
(01:43):
Ted would have to build his own success. His larger
than life father had been a sickly child and was
a firm believer in the benefits of living a strenuous,
vigorous life. After attending both public and private schools, young
Ted hoped to serve in the military and considered the
Military Academy at West Point. His father preferred that Ted
volunteer for military service if the need arose, and instead
(02:06):
attend Harvard University. Ted chose Harvard, and after graduation, found
success in banking and publishing, but still had a desire
to serve in the military as his father had. Ted's
opportunity came in nineteen fifteen, when he was among the
first soldiers to volunteer as the United States entered World
War One. He left his successful business career to join
(02:29):
the army at an officer training camp in Plattsburgh, New York.
Ted was sent to France in nineteen seventeen and was
shot in the leg in the decisive Battle of Swessel
and nearly lost his vision after being gassed. His courageous
leadership on the battlefield would earn him a Distinguished Service Cross,
a Distinguished Service Medal, and two Silver Star Medals. Now
(02:53):
a war hero with proven leadership abilities in his own right,
Ted attempted to follow his father's footsteps into politics. He
was elected to the New York State Assembly and in
nineteen twenty four was the Republican nominee for New York Governor,
losing by just over three percentage points to Democrat Al Smith.
President Warren G. Harding's administration appointed Ted as the Assistant
(03:16):
Secretary to the Navy in nineteen twenty one. He was
appointed as governor to Puerto Rico in nineteen twenty nine,
and Governor General to the Philippines beginning in nineteen thirty two.
As the United States hesitated to directly enter World War II,
Ted returned to active duty in the Army in April
of nineteen forty one, eight months before the Japanese attack
(03:38):
on Pearl Harbor forced America's official declaration of war. Now
a brigadier General Theodore Roosevelt Junior was assigned to take
Utah Beach as part of the largest amphibious invasion in
military history. His fourth Infantry Division landed in the first
wave of the invasion on June six, nineteen forty four,
(04:01):
missing the target area by three miles. Roosevelt was the
highest ranking officer and the oldest man to land on
the beaches of Normandy. Ted was armed with only a
cane and a pistol and famously yelled, We'll start the
war from here and ordered an advance. He later wrote
to his wife, it steadies the young men to know
(04:22):
that I am with them, plodding along with my cane.
The D Day assault on Utah Beach begun in utter
chaos and confusion, would end as a spectacular success. Utah
Beach had been taken in less than an hour in
(04:43):
a massive invasion force of twenty thousand troops and seventeen
hundred motorized vehicles. There were surprisingly few casualties, fewer than
three hundred men. Five weeks after the successful D Day
operation at Utah Beach on July twelfth, nineteen forty four,
Brigadier General Theodore Roosevelt Junior's poor health caught up with him.
(05:07):
He suffered a sudden heart attack and died at the
age of fifty six in Mayotes friends. Adding to his
military honours from World War One, Roosevelt would receive two
more Silver Star medals, a Legion of Merit award, and
the nation's highest military award, the Medal of Honor. His
citation reads in part, after two verbal requests to accompany
(05:30):
the leading assault elements in the Normandy invasion had been denied,
Brigadier General 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 and established them inland. His valor, courage, and
presence in the very front of the attack, and his
(05:51):
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, Brigadier General Roosevelt
moved from one locality to another, rallying men around him
and personally led them against the enemy. Under his seasoned, precise,
(06:12):
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.
Picturing the son of a US president at age fifty
(06:33):
six leading much younger men into the largest amphibious invasion
in history and carrying nothing but a pistol and a cane,
one can't help but notice that Theodore Roosevelt Junior did
indeed live up to his father's famous axiom, speak softly
and carry a big stick.
Speaker 1 (06:55):
And a terrific job on the production, editing and storytelling
by our own Monty Montgomery and a special thanks to
Craig Dumain. To find out more about his organization, go
to Herocards dot Us. That's Herocards dot us and what
a name to have to live up to Theodore Roosevelt
Junior did as well as a well as a man
(07:17):
can do the story of Theodore Roosevelt Junior here on
our American Story leabib here, and I'm inviting you to
help our American Stories celebrate this country's two hundred and
fiftieth birthday only a short time away. If you want
to help inspire countless others to love America. Like we
(07:40):
do and want to help us bring the inspiring and
important stories old Ear to millions for years to come.
Please consider making a tax deductible donation to Our American Stories.
Go to alamericanstories dot com and click the donate button.
Give a little, give a lot, any amount helps. Go
to Ouramericanstories dot com and give
This is Lee Habib and this is our American Stories,
the show where America is the star and the American
people coming to you from the.
Speaker 2 (00:18):
City where the West begins, Fort Worth, Texas. Up next,
a story on the son of a president who became
famous carrying a big stick in his own unique way.
You're to tell the story of Theodore Roosevelt Junior is
Craig Dumay of the Grateful Nation Project. Let's get into
the story.
Speaker 3 (00:38):
Theodore Roosevelt Junior, despite needing it cane to walk, led
his troops onto Utah Beach during the D Day invasion
of France. You may think I'm referring to President Theodore Roosevelt,
hero of the rough Rider Regiment, Governor of New York,
and the vigorous outdoorsman whose presidency gave us the Bully Pulpit,
the Monroe Doctrine, National Parks, and the Panama Canal. Now
(01:01):
this story is about his son, who had a lot
to live up to by sharing the same name as
his famous father. Born in eighteen eighty seven to a
life of privilege and high expectations, Theodore Ted Roosevelt Junior
(01:23):
was the oldest son and namesake of the twenty sixth
President of the United States from Sagamore Hill. The Roosevelts
moved to the Governor's mansion in Albany when young Ted
was eleven years old, and into the White House in Washington,
d c. When Ted was thirteen. Despite his famous heritage,
(01:43):
Ted would have to build his own success. His larger
than life father had been a sickly child and was
a firm believer in the benefits of living a strenuous,
vigorous life. After attending both public and private schools, young
Ted hoped to serve in the military and considered the
Military Academy at West Point. His father preferred that Ted
volunteer for military service if the need arose, and instead
(02:06):
attend Harvard University. Ted chose Harvard, and after graduation, found
success in banking and publishing, but still had a desire
to serve in the military as his father had. Ted's
opportunity came in nineteen fifteen, when he was among the
first soldiers to volunteer as the United States entered World
War One. He left his successful business career to join
(02:29):
the army at an officer training camp in Plattsburgh, New York.
Ted was sent to France in nineteen seventeen and was
shot in the leg in the decisive Battle of Swessel
and nearly lost his vision after being gassed. His courageous
leadership on the battlefield would earn him a Distinguished Service Cross,
a Distinguished Service Medal, and two Silver Star Medals. Now
(02:53):
a war hero with proven leadership abilities in his own right,
Ted attempted to follow his father's footsteps into politics. He
was elected to the New York State Assembly and in
nineteen twenty four was the Republican nominee for New York Governor,
losing by just over three percentage points to Democrat Al Smith.
President Warren G. Harding's administration appointed Ted as the Assistant
(03:16):
Secretary to the Navy in nineteen twenty one. He was
appointed as governor to Puerto Rico in nineteen twenty nine,
and Governor General to the Philippines beginning in nineteen thirty two.
As the United States hesitated to directly enter World War II,
Ted returned to active duty in the Army in April
of nineteen forty one, eight months before the Japanese attack
(03:38):
on Pearl Harbor forced America's official declaration of war. Now
a brigadier General Theodore Roosevelt Junior was assigned to take
Utah Beach as part of the largest amphibious invasion in
military history. His fourth Infantry Division landed in the first
wave of the invasion on June six, nineteen forty four,
(04:01):
missing the target area by three miles. Roosevelt was the
highest ranking officer and the oldest man to land on
the beaches of Normandy. Ted was armed with only a
cane and a pistol and famously yelled, We'll start the
war from here and ordered an advance. He later wrote
to his wife, it steadies the young men to know
(04:22):
that I am with them, plodding along with my cane.
The D Day assault on Utah Beach begun in utter
chaos and confusion, would end as a spectacular success. Utah
Beach had been taken in less than an hour in
(04:43):
a massive invasion force of twenty thousand troops and seventeen
hundred motorized vehicles. There were surprisingly few casualties, fewer than
three hundred men. Five weeks after the successful D Day
operation at Utah Beach on July twelfth, nineteen forty four,
Brigadier General Theodore Roosevelt Junior's poor health caught up with him.
(05:07):
He suffered a sudden heart attack and died at the
age of fifty six in Mayotes friends. Adding to his
military honours from World War One, Roosevelt would receive two
more Silver Star medals, a Legion of Merit award, and
the nation's highest military award, the Medal of Honor. His
citation reads in part, after two verbal requests to accompany
(05:30):
the leading assault elements in the Normandy invasion had been denied,
Brigadier General 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 and established them inland. His valor, courage, and
presence in the very front of the attack, and his
(05:51):
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, Brigadier General Roosevelt
moved from one locality to another, rallying men around him
and personally led them against the enemy. Under his seasoned, precise,
(06:12):
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.
Picturing the son of a US president at age fifty
(06:33):
six leading much younger men into the largest amphibious invasion
in history and carrying nothing but a pistol and a cane,
one can't help but notice that Theodore Roosevelt Junior did
indeed live up to his father's famous axiom, speak softly
and carry a big stick.
Speaker 1 (06:55):
And a terrific job on the production, editing and storytelling
by our own Monty Montgomery and a special thanks to
Craig Dumain. To find out more about his organization, go
to Herocards dot Us. That's Herocards dot us and what
a name to have to live up to Theodore Roosevelt
Junior did as well as a well as a man
(07:17):
can do the story of Theodore Roosevelt Junior here on
our American Story leabib here, and I'm inviting you to
help our American Stories celebrate this country's two hundred and
fiftieth birthday only a short time away. If you want
to help inspire countless others to love America. Like we
(07:40):
do and want to help us bring the inspiring and
important stories old Ear to millions for years to come.
Please consider making a tax deductible donation to Our American Stories.
Go to alamericanstories dot com and click the donate button.
Give a little, give a lot, any amount helps. Go
to Ouramericanstories dot com and give
Host
Lee Habeeb
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