James Roosevelt (1907 - 1991)

Born 23 Dec 1907 in Hyde Park, NY, New York, United States

Ancestors

Descendants

Died 13 Aug 1991 at age 83 in Newport Beach, Orange, California, United States

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Biography

James Roosevelt was awarded the Silver Star Medal.

James Roosevelt was awarded the Navy Cross.

James Roosevelt was the oldest son of President Franklin D. Roosevelt (FDR) and Eleanor Roosevelt. Although he attended Harvard University, he never graduated.

In 1939 he resigned a lieutenant colonel's commission in order to join the Marine Corps Reserves. He went on activity duty in 1940. In 1941, he was sent on a political assignment by his father to the Middle East.

After Pearl Harbor, he requested combat duty. He went on to become second-in-command of the 2nd Marine Raider Battalion. He served at Midway in June 1942 and at Makin Island in August 1942 where he received the Navy Cross. He was attached to an Army unit during the invasion of Makin in November 1943 and was awarded the Sliver Star.

He retired from active duty in October 1945, with rank of Colonel, but continued on in the Marine Corps Reserves and eventually retired in 1959 at the rank of Brigadier General.

He was employed as an insurance executive until 1937, when he became secretary to his father in the White House.

James Roosevelt died at the age of 83 in 1991 of complications from a stroke and Parkinson's disease. He was the last surviving child of Franklin and Eleanor Roosevelt.

Sources

• The White House, www.whitehouse.gov Title: The White House, www.whitehouse.gov Text: The White House, www.whitehouse.gov, accessed March 13, 2007
• www.fdrlibrary.marist.edu/children Text: www.fdrlibrary.marist.edu/children, accessed March 13, 2007
• Find A Grave: Memorial #8509