The Daring of Teddy Roosevelt Jr.
A small story about a larger-than-life father
Fatherhood is an art, often practiced with astonishing results.
Teddy Roosevelt, Jr. was not just the son of President Theodore Roosevelt but a legend in his own right. During World War II, his valor as a brigadier general for the 1st Infantry Division demonstrated the valor that merited the Medal of Honor during the troop landing on Utah Beach in the Normandy invasion.
In addition to his military and business careers, Teddy was active in politics and government. He served as Assistant Secretary of the Navy, Governor of Puerto Rico, Governor-General of the Philippines, Chairman of the Board of American Express Company, and vice-president of Doubleday Books.
He died in France of a heart attack one month after the invasion.
He said his father tremendously influenced his bravery and willingness to take risks in action. He told a story about when he was nine, and his father gave him a rifle. When Ted asked if it was real, his father loaded it and shot a bullet straight into the ceiling.
History does not confirm if Ted uttered, “Bully for you, father!”
