ROOSEVELTS AT WAR: An American Family's Military Legacy

The chronicle of America is filled with names of individuals and families that conjure up images of its heritage, history, and traditions. George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Abraham Lincoln, the Adams and the Kennedys, Amelia Earhart and Martin Luther King.Few families however have had the impact, enjoy the distinguished place in the pantheon of American greatness, or are as integrated into American culture, as the Roosevelts. Its members include two United States Presidents, merchants, politicians, inventors, authors, bankers, clergymen, poets, artists, socialites, and military heroes. The image of Theodore "Teddy" Roosevelt is engraved on the iconic Mount Rushmore, and Franklin Delano Roosevelt graces the obverse of the dime or ten-cent piece, of the United States. Struck by the United States Mint continuously since 1946, it was authorized soon after his death in 1945.As President, Theodore Roosevelt established the National Park System, oversaw the construction of the Panama Canal, busted the Trusts, and sent the expanded US Navy on a world tour to project American naval strength. Franklin Roosevelt was elected to an unprecedented four terms as President, guided the country through the Great Depression and the Second World War, instituted major regulatory reforms in the areas of finance, communications, and labor, and presided over the end of Prohibition. Eleanor Roosevelt, the wife of one and niece of the other, was the longest-serving First Lady of the United States, serving twelve years, and she served as United States' first Delegate to the United Nations General Assembly from 1945 to 1952. She was an outspoken advocate for Civil Rights and Human Rights.The Roosevelts have been the subject of countless articles and books, television and movies, theatrical performances, and a mini-series. Their portraits adorn the National Portrait Gallery in Washington DC and their homes have been designated National Historic sites.Geographically, they are all over the United States. There is Theodore Roosevelt National Park, a U.S. national park near Dickinson, North Dakota and Roosevelt State Park, a U.S. state park near Morton, Mississippi. Four states, New Jersey, New Mexico, Massachusetts, and North Dakota also have a Roosevelt Park, as well as the City of Roosevelt Park in Michigan. There are cities, counties, streets, townships, boroughs, neighborhoods, bridges, junior high and high schools and post offices named in their honor. There is the Roosevelt Range in Greenland and the Roosevelt River in Brazil.There are Roosevelt Elk, a subspecies of Elk in North America and the Roosevelt glazier in Washington state, the Roosevelt Subway in New York City and Roosevelt Field at Long Island New York, from where Charles Lindbergh's would begin his historic 1927 solo transatlantic flight. It was also used by other aviation pioneers, including Amelia Earhart and Wiley Post.Hospitals and Hotels, like the historic Roosevelt Hotel in Hollywood, a lighthouse on the East River in New York City and Roosevelt Beach in California, Oregon, New York and Washington.The Roosevelt Family also enjoys a distinguished military history from Gettysburg and San Juan Hill to the skies over France in the Great War and the beaches of Normandy on D-Day. Three Medals of Honor have been awarded to Roosevelts, and seven US warships have been named in their honor.This book explores and documents the remarkable contributions of members of the Roosevelt Family to our nation's military history. Enjoy.