Sunday, April 28, 2013

Medal of Honor Recipient: General Theodore "Ted" Roosevelt III - Colleville-sur-Mer, France


Interesting Places I've Photographed
Grave of General Theodore "Ted" Roosevelt III 
Normandy American Cemetery
Colleville-sur-Mer, France
Topic:  Medal of Honor Recipient
GPS: N49° 21.655; W0° 51.371


Short Description:

The grave of Medal of Honor recipient General Theodore "Ted" Roosevelt III is located at the Normandy American Cemetery at Colleville-sur-Mer, France. Plot: Plot D, Row 28, Grave 45

Long Description:

Theodore "Ted" Roosevelt III (September 13, 1887 – July 12, 1944) was was the oldest son of President Theodore Roosevelt and Edith Roosevelt.  Ted attended the Groton School and graduated Harvard College in 1909.  He received the Distinguished Service Cross  for his actions during the World War I.  As a General in the U.S. Army during World War II, Roosevelt suffered from many health problems. Suffering from arthritis caused by old World War I injuries, he walked with a cane. He also had heart trouble. On 12 July 1944, one month after the landing at Utah Beach, he died suddenly of a heart attack in his tent in France, at fifty-six years of age.

Despite his age and injuries General Theodore "Ted" Roosevelt III insisted that he lead his troops onto the beaches of Normandy during the D-Day invasion of Normandy on June 6, 1944.  for his heroic action on that day he was awarded the Medal of Honor.  He is buried at the Normandy American Cemetery in  Colleville-sur-Mer, France beside his brother Quentin Roosevelt who died in action during World War I.

His Medal of Honor citation reads:

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.






In recognition of his status of a Medal of Honor recipient, his grave marker in the Normandy American Cemetery in Colleville-sur-Mer, France is a marble cross inscribed in gold lettering. The upper part of the cross contains an image of the Medal of Honor. Inscribe below is:


THEODORE ROOSEVELT JR.
BRIGADIER GENERAL U.S. ARMY
NEW YORK JULY 12, 1944

MEDAL OF HONOR


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