LATE GEN. ROOSEVELT

Evening Post, Volume CXXXVIII, Issue 155, 29 December 1944, Page 8

LATE GEN. ROOSEVELT

THEODORE'S. ELDEST SON Brigadier-General Theodore Roosevelt, first son of Mr. Theodore Roosevelt, who was the twenty-sixth President of the United States of America, died suddenly- on the night of July 12 in Normandy following a heart attack. His age was 56.

In a tribute his commanding officer, Major-General R. O. Barton, said he made no pretensions to tactical greatness, but his energy and enthusiasm were indefatigable and inspiring. He was always in the forefront of battle. "Every day he rode the line and spared himself nothing. ... He was the most gallant soldier and officer, and gentleman I have ever known, and I make no exceptions. There's not a soldier or officer in this division that will not feel a personal loss." General Roosevelt apparently knew that his heart was in bad shape and spoke of it to his son, Captain Quentin Roosevelt, also on duty with the division, the First, but he had not mentioned it to his commanding officer or associates. His death was stated to be due' probably to the unflagging pace at which he drove himself, and he can be regarded as a real battle casualty. He was no "headquarters" soldier. Each day he visited the sector of the line where the fighting was hottest and also made it a personal duty to "check in" at each of the three regimental command posts. He had continued this schedule despite a heart attack four days before the one that carried him off.

General, Roosevelt left America- two years previously as the assistant division commander. He was with the division through the Tunisian campaign and in Sicily. His service fol-. lowed a public life that for one not hampered by his distinguished name would still have been accounted distinguished. He had been Assistant Secretary to the Navy, and also served as Governor of Puerto Rico and Gover-nor-General of the Philippines. He made a bid for the Governorship of the State of New York in 1924, but was beaten by the late Al. E., Smith. He served in France in the previous war, going with the First Division as major and becoming lieut.-colonel in command of a regiment. He was gassed and wounded at Soissons in 1918 but returned to lead his troops in the !Argonne and ii*iio Germany for the occupation. He received the D.S.C. and jD.C.M. of-his own country and was decorated by France, Belgium, and Montenegro. In the present conflict he received the Oak Leaf Cluster, his second award of the Silver Star, and in Tunisia the French Croix de Guerre.