Theodore Roosevelt Jr. suffered from arthritis caused by injuries he sustained in WWI. He volunteered for active duty in WWII anyway. He used this cane to help him walk.
In assigning Theodore Roosevelt Jr. to the 1st Division, Army chief of staff George C. Marshall called him “an A-No. 1 fighting man with rare courage and…unlimited fortitude.” Theodore Roosevelt Jr., the son of President Theodore Roosevelt, had fought with the First Division in WWI. He returned in WWII as Allen’s assistant commander. Like Allen, Roosevelt was tough and loved to fight. He loved his troops and they loved him in return. Allen and Roosevelt made a superb command team. Allen made the big decisions; Roosevelt handled the details. Together, they infused the 1st with a unique esprit de corps and identity that lasted through the war and beyond.