Lost in the Shadow of Fame

by William E. Lemanski

  “Even though he passed quite near one, he would rarely speak – not, as I have always believed, from a desire of not wanting to speak, but rather from a point of view of not having realized that he had passed you by.”

  This statement sounds clearly that it was coached beforehand: “… he would rarely speak – not, as I have always believed, from a desire of not wanting to speak, but rather…” Well, what/who enlightened him and changed his mind as he had always believed? Could it have been Moore prior to the testimony? Moore testified on June 7, Hahn on June 8, and the similarity of their complaints indicates that they may have discussed their testimony before hand.

  Hahn’s claim: He also lacked rhythm in his movements because he would tap on the floor with his feet while humming and whistling, the latter being out of rhythm with the former…” is somewhat silly. Does lack of syncopation between foot tapping and humming indicate mental instability? Perhaps Kermit was aware that he was living with two petty whiners and complainers and decided to give them the business. It’s hard to understand how Hahn, an Infantry Major could be so petty and presumptuous to claim that these annoyances were indicative of insanity. It is interesting to consider how Hahn would react if he were assigned to a combat infantry unit under hostile fire.

  1st Lt. Gordon D. Skeoch, Chief of Out Patients post hospital

  This line of questioning was in regard to the high alcohol level detected during the autopsy.

  Q. “Does the fact that the blood alcohol test was taken at approximately 2:30 PM have any bearing on the case in the elapsed time conditions in the blood could have changed?”

  A. “No sir, it would change the condition of the blood very little, but if it did

  change slightly it would go down and not up.”

  Q. “If he had been intoxicated at 1:30 AM could that alcohol have shown in the alcohol test you made the same afternoon?”

  A. “Yes sir, it could last that long but to have such a high alcohol level would definitely indicate that he had been drinking more recently.”

  Author Analysis

  How could he have been drinking more recently if Lt. Johnson said he passed him in the aisle on his way to the toilet at approximately 7:15 AM and didn’t smell any alcohol or consider Kermit drunk? Unless he consumed a large amount of alcohol after 7:15 before committing suicide. However, others searched his room and only one claimed to find empty bottles (the others didn’t), and besides, the official report said he shot himself around 8 AM. Would he chug that much alcohol in 45 minutes?

  T4/G Simeon Oliver

  Q. “Did you ever observe any action of his that would indicate mental instability or an unsound mental condition?”

  A. “He seemed perfectly sound to me.”

  Pvt. Landen H. Bentley

  Bently, an orderly assigned to the billet Kermit lived in was interviewed. He testified that the day before Kermit’s death he and a Lt. Saxell assisted Kermit to his room:

  Q. “Did you see him and talk to him the day before?”

  A. “Yes Sir, a few times.”

  Q. “What was the nature of your conversation?”

  A. “Well Sir, I was sweeping out and I heard somebody coming through the door. I thought it was the laundry coming in for it sounded like someone throwing something. So I just kept on working. I finished the apartment I was working on and looked to the foot of the stairs and saw Major Roosevelt lying there.”

  Q. “What time was that?”

  A. “About 2:30 or 3:00 PM, June 3, 1943. Lt. Saxell was in his room and I asked him to give me a hand to get Major Roosevelt up to his bed. We did that and that was the last I saw him.”

  Q. “Was he intoxicated or ill?”

  A. “He seemed to be intoxicated.”

  Q. “What time do you usually clean his apartment?”

  A. “I usually get to that end of the building between 2:30 & 3:00 PM.”

  Author Analysis

  A few issues come to mind: Bentley testified that he talked to Kermit a few times that day. However, he was questioned only on his claim to have helped Kermit to his room when “He seemed to be intoxicated.” What about the other conversations and what was his condition then and at what time? Saxell supposedly helped Bentley to get Kermit to his room, however, there is no testimony from Saxell; he never corroborated Bentley’s testimony. Perhaps rather than intoxication Kermit had a malaria attack if Bentley’s testimony is true. Bentley was questioned about his orderly duties:

  Additionally, his cleaning schedule for Kermit’s building implies that he cleans other apartments earlier in the day and Kermit’s later but he was not questioned if he heard any gunshots the following day.

  Major Edmund A. Meagher, Post Provost Marshal

  Q. “Will you state what was found upon your arrival at NCO building #167 including any facts as to the conditions, time of day, etc?”

  A. “I arrived at 1:25 PM and found Major Hoff and 1st Lt. Gordon Skeoch, MC inside the room. On a bed on the left side of the room was the body of Major Roosevelt dressed in pajamas. A .45 cal Model 1911 Colt Automatic pistol, serial no 95112, lay on his chest, with the muzzle pointed towards his face. The right thumb was near the trigger and the fingers of the right hand grasped the butt of the piece. The fingers of the left hand were over the barrel and slide. The piece was cocked with safety off and magazine in. An empty shell lay on the floor under the bureau about 7ft away. There was dried blood on two pillows, the mattress and the floor. The Major’s body was cold and rigor mortis had started. The Major had a bullet hole in the roof of his mouth, rather far back. Lt. Gordon Skeoch recovered the bullet from the upper pillow while I was present and gave it to me.

  I did not observe any indication that a struggle had taken place in the room. The Major’s money, wrist watch, and other valuables were undisturbed. I searched for a farewell note but was unable to discover any. I did find an unopened letter from Mrs. Edith Roosevelt, Oyster Bay, New York, postmarked May 27, 1943. In a bureau drawer I found a note written on a slip of paper which read ‘MAJOR ROOSEVELT Please contact G-2- 6/4/A.M. MAJOR P H HOFF.’

  I have no knowledge that Major Roosevelt had any enemies. I have not been able to find anyone who might have heard him express any intention to do away with himself.

  I have never seen the Major drunk or do any drinking on any of the occasions that I have been out with him or in his quarters.”

  Q. “In your contacts with Major Roosevelt at any time previous to his death did you observe any indications of an unsound mental condition?”

  A. “No. Major Roosevelt had an excellent memory, never failed to inquire after the health of my family, and always acted normal in my presence.”

  Q. “Is there anything else you would like to add that would throw light upon the matter?”

  A. “No nothing sir, except heresay. I haven’t been able to uncover any evidence of foul play during the course of my investigation. It is my opinion that Major Roosevelt’s death was due to suicide. I didn’t break the clip out of the gun because I did not wish to disturb any fingerprints. I fastened the safety catch on the pistol, wrapped it in a towel and delivered it to Lt. Col R. G. Williams, Hq ADC. I examined the walls for bullet holes and found none.”

  Author Analysis

  Despite the care Meagher exercised in handling the gun, no fingerprints were reported taken, no ballistics on the bullet or any forensic analysis of the scene. Interesting that he looked for bullet holes in the wall despite finding a bullet beneath Kermit’s head. Was he just trying to rule out a gun fight? If so, why after finding Kermit with the pistol in his hands and presumably a suicide would he look for additional bullets? Lt. Col R. G. Williams, Hq ADC who supposedly received the pistol was never called to testify about what he did with the gun. His comment of “heresay” in response to the question of: “Is there anything else you would like to add that would throw light upon the matter” was not questioned.

  Lt. Col Walter F. Choinski, G-2

  Q. “What were his du
ties in connection with his office?”

  A. “He was in charge of the revision of the ALASKA DIGEST, which is a compendium on the economic, geographic and political aspects of Alaska. This compendium is prepared for the MIS of the War Department.”

  Q. “Do you know about his physical condition?”

  A. “I have known him since December 1942 and knew that his physical condition wasn’t the best. He was continuously ailing from sinus trouble as well as stomach trouble which later became so aggravated that he was hospitalized. Since his return to Alaska he had been taking treatmet for malaria.”

  Q. “Did he have any peculiarities that would indicate an unsound mind?”

  A. “No, none whatsoever. I do think his mind wasn’t entirely on his work. I believe he was so engrossed in getting to the Forward Echelon that he didn’t give the office his full attention as he should have.”

  Q. “Do you know whether he used intoxicating liquor?”

  A. “Yes, I am quite sure that during the week prior to his death he was under the influence of liquor on two occasions. I didn’t observe it personally, but on May 31 Sgt. Oliver was working with Major Roosevelt and commented on the fact that the Major had been drinking and was in all probability under the influence of liquor. It was also reported that the Major was under the influence of liquor when he came to the main office for the key to the Quonset on May 30.”

  Author Analysis

  Sgt. Oliver was not called to corroborate Choinski’s claim of Kermit drinking on May 31 nor did Choinski state who reported Kermit was under the influence on May 30 nor was he asked.

  Major Sanford C. Monroe, Medical Corp.

  Monroe, a doctor at the post hospital was asked to comment on the metal attitude of Kermit: “He impressed me as one who was always mentally clear and alert but one whose reaction to medical advice was more of the type usually obtained from a child than from a person of his age and ability.”

  Q. “State whether there were any indications of an unsound mind or abnormal mental conditions.”

  A. “Nothing more than an abnormal desire to be closer to combat conditions.

  Q. “State the term used for such mental conditions as he might have had.

  A. “This abnormal desire might possibly lead to an acute mental depression but it was not obvious when last seen.”

  Q. “Would you say that since the autopsy showed 2.5 milligrams alcohol at the time of death that his condition would be such that he could not exercise ordinary judgment or control of his conduct?”

  A. “Yes.”

  Author Analysis

  The doctor’s claim Kermit’s display of “abnormal desire to be closer to combat conditions” could “…possibly lead to an acute mental depression…” is questionable. His desire to engage in combat was no different than the rest of his brothers and the ex-President of the United States, Theodore Roosevelt.

  Summary

  The foregoing details of Kermit’s death and the War Department’s treatment of his case before and after he died indicate one of two possibilities, either the Army was extraordinarily inept, superficial and hasty in their treatment of Kermit or the facts surrounding the cause of his death indicate something much more sinister. Either way, the claim that he was grasping the pistol, post mortem as stated in the official reports is highly improbable and immediately raises suspicions. Other issues also raise troubling questions that undermines the government’s claim, for example the inept investigation where testimony sometimes conflicted and no follow-up questioning occurring; the official conclusion justifying the suicide motive as resulting from a mental disturbance with no expert evaluation and most witnesses claiming otherwise. No ballistics on the weapon or the bullet, no fingerprint analysis, no one hearing the gunshot, no forensic study of the death scene and the autopsy claim of a high instance of alcohol in the blood when the testimony and time line render this improbable, unless there was a surreptitious entry of alcohol into Kermit’s body.

  Additionally, there is no reasonable explanation for the discovery of the bullet on or underneath his pillow. All of these issues render the official cause of Kermit’s death very implausible, similar to the peculiarities of the official wartime death of the tough General George H. Patton by a mere fender bender.

  The details surrounding the death of President John F. Kennedy also have raised many questions over the years. Many discount the claims of conspiracy, and yet, many of the details remain unanswered with the official investigation leaving many aspects of his death still wrapped in mystery.

  The present day expertise of the Army’s Criminal Investigation Command certainly exceeds the meager analytical capabilities of the wartime U.S. Army in 1943. This present day Federal organization (known as the CID for Criminal Investigation Division) was only formed in 1971 and provides a professional crime investigation service with extensive forensic capabilities. During World War II investigations of crimes within the military were a local command function conducted by generally inept Military Police within the Office of the Provost Marshal which could account for the shoddy investigation of Kermit’s death.

  Granted, forensic science has greatly improved in recent years, particularly with the development of DNA analysis. However, following the Saint Valentine’s Day Massacre in 1929, forensic scientist and army officer, Colonel Calvin Hooker Goddard and Philip Gravelle, provided invaluable evidence in solving the crime by analyzing the spent bullets and cartridge casings used in the crime.

  Goddard applied the same technology in upholding the convictions in the 1920, Sacco and Vanzetti case. In 1932 the Federal Bureau of Investigation crime laboratory was created, and naturally fingerprint analysis has been around since the latter 19th Century. Clearly, death of the ex-President's son and cousin to the sitting President would warrant an exhaustive, detailed investigation applying the latest scientific techniques.

  The record indicates FDR painstakingly attempted to quiet Kermit and failed. Both he and the War Department certainly had motives to suppress Kermit and raises the question and brings into the realm of possibility of official involvement in Kermit’s death. Aside from the probability of him causing great public embarrassment to the President and thereby a major propaganda tool for the enemy, as a Major in the U. S. Army he had access to classified material and besides, his philandering with a mysterious woman added to him being a significant security threat. FDR struggled with the dilemma of how to contain him. He first considered sending Kermit to Africa, then Hawaii and eventually exiled him to Alaska. But Kermit’s ongoing physical ailments brought him back to the states and his request for a Court Martial while at the Barnes Hospital to determine the basis for his spurious Seattle incarceration if held would have certainly become a public scandal for the Roosevelt Administration. Additionally, Kermit’s potential as a relative of the President, could have been a major propaganda tool for the enemy.

  The War Department’s effort to suppress any details of his death for so many years also raises intriguing questions. The only persons who were informed of his suicide were his wife and brother, Ted Jr. The obituary in the New York Times for June 6, 1943 stated the place of death was not revealed nor the cause, although “it was believed his death was due to natural causes.” On June 26th, 1943 a note in regard to Kermit’s file from a Colonel Easterbrook stated: “Have an immstakable (sic) flag placed on the top of the ‘Major Kermit Roosevelt’ file that no information is given out without the personal OK of the executor or myself.” Classifying his personnel records for sixteen years following his death is not unusual. However, even into the 1970s the government discouraged the release of any information on Kermit. Government records show that in March, 1969 on behalf of a General Theodore J. Conway, Commander in Chief of the U. S. Strike Command, a Major Rose at the Army War College requested information on “How he died.” The general was to reference this in a speech concerning the Kermit Roosevelt Fund.

  The response from the World War II office of the General Services Admini
stration was: “Advised Maj. Rose – ‘Died as a result of self inflicted gunshot wound’ also told Maj. Rose to tell Gen. Conway that this information was not to be released.” In February, 1972 the Dictionary of American Biography, under the auspices of the American Council of Learned Societies requested similar information from the Office of the Chief of Military History in Washington DC. The response was: “The requested information may be furnished only upon receipt of an authorization signed by the decedent’s next of kin.” Perhaps this was policy based upon sensitivity towards Kermit’s family. However, by 2010 Kermit’s wife, his siblings and his children were all deceased with only his grand and great grandchildren surviving. The author still experienced difficulty with the National Archives in gaining access to his records despite the National Archives web site listing Kermit’s files as being open and available as a “Person of Prominence.” Despite repeated attempts over a nine-month period the National Archives denied access and only released the file on Kermit’s death following the intercession of Congressman John Hall.

  After sixty-seven years, any questions of his death beyond the official version are mere speculation and will no doubt forevermore remain as such. However, a careful review of the official documentation pertaining to his death, although not concrete proof, does contain significant instances of gross oversight and improbable official conclusions that indicate the strong possibility of foul play and a government cover-up. This, coupled with a strong motive to silence him by the government raises doubt as to how his life ended leaving the reader to be the jury.

  Notes-

  01 Ref. Mornings on Horseback, David McCullough

  02 Ref. Edith Kermit Roosevelt Portrait of a First Lady, Sylvia Jukes Morris