World Battlefronts: Lucky Archie

Teddy Roosevelt had four sons. They all went to Harvard. They all inherited some of their father’s fire. They all fought in World War I. Quentin was killed in action flying in France. Kermit, after a wandering spell with the British Army, came back to the U.S. Army, died on duty last spring in Alaska. Teddy Jr. deserted the publishing business in 1941, rejoined the Army, became a brigadier general, fought in Tunisia and distinguished himself for his memory of soldiers’ names, his strut and his coolness under fire. The other son was Archibald.

Tall, casual Archie, who won the Croix de guerre in World War I, stuck to his Wall Street bond business, worried about Government extravagance, watched Daughter Theodora kick up her heels as a professional dancer and son Archie Jr. kick up his as an American Youth Congress leader. Archie Sr. finally enlisted. He landed in New Guinea with the 41st Division. Last week he was heard from.

When U.S. troops were advancing on Salamaua a fortnight ago, Lieut. Colonel Archibald Roosevelt and a small party set off in a boat to make a reconnaissance tour of Salamaua harbor. Archie ordered the boat close in to the shore. Jap guns began firing. In the boat was Technician (5th grade) John Bertot, who later told the story.

“Colonel Roosevelt stood up with a map in his hand and every time a gun fired jotted down its position. They fired at us for half an hour, barely missing us several times. The Colonel noticed I was scared and said: ‘You’re safe with me. I was wounded three times in the last war and that’s a lucky charm.’ Roosevelt’s a good officer but he’s got too damn much guts.

“The next day our artillery landed squarely on those guns and the Japs never fired them again. That was when their resistance ended—and Colonel Roosevelt should get most of the credit for the final blow.”