What was it like to have lunch with FDR?

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around personal memories and experiences related to having lunch with President Franklin D. Roosevelt, particularly from the perspective of a participant whose father served in the US Marines during World War II. The conversation touches on historical events, personal anecdotes, and the conditions faced by military personnel in the Aleutian Islands.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Historical
  • Meta-discussion

Main Points Raised

  • One participant shares a signed photograph of their father with FDR and recounts the story of having lunch with him, highlighting the significance of this memory.
  • Several participants express admiration and appreciation for the shared story and photographs.
  • Another participant mentions the harsh conditions and difficult fighting in the Aleutian Islands during World War II, suggesting that this history is not widely known outside of the United States.
  • Details are provided about a submarine incident in the harbor and the participant's father's role as the Admiral's orderly/bodyguard, which included facilitating the photograph's delivery to the White House.
  • Experiences of daily earthquakes and their impact on life in the Aleutians are discussed, with one participant sharing a personal anecdote about being on a ship during an earthquake.
  • There is mention of the historical context of Alaska not being a state at the time of the events discussed.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants generally agree on the significance of the memories shared and the historical context of the Aleutian Islands during World War II. However, there are no explicit resolutions to any disagreements or differing perspectives presented in the discussion.

Contextual Notes

The discussion includes references to specific historical events and personal experiences that may not be fully understood without additional context about World War II and the Aleutian campaign.

Who May Find This Useful

Readers interested in personal military histories, World War II, or the experiences of service members in unique environments may find this discussion engaging.

dlgoff
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In honor of my father's military service in the US Marines, who passed in April 2011, here's a picture I snapped of his signed photograph of himself with President Franklin D. Roosevelt and the associated letter from The White House .



Here's dad with the photograph as it appeared in a newspaper article which tells the story behind having the honor of setting to the right of FDR and having lunch.


Eudoran_William_Goff__t440.jpg



http://www2.ljworld.com/news/2006/dec/18/lunch_fdr_satisfying_memory/


His Proud Son
 
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Wonderful! What a nice story and image.
 
So wonderful dl!
 
Thanks guys. A few months before his sudden death, he gave me his account of all the photographs he had while stationed in the Aleutian islands.
 
It was for sure a great memory for him, and it definitely is a great memory for you :smile:
 
Very cool!
 
Thanks

Thanks.
If that stationing in the Aleutians was during the battle it was hard fighting and very harsh conditions, an episode not many people, outside American at least, know about.
 
epenguin said:
Thanks.
If that stationing in the Aleutians was during the battle it was hard fighting and very harsh conditions, an episode not many people, outside American at least, know about.

It was just after the battle but there was still plenty going on. He told me about the time a sub got through the nets and into the harbor. They waited until it had finished is business and moved out of the harbor where it was promptly eliminated. Dad was the Admiral's orderly/bodyguard who helped him get the this photo and another (not signed) through proper channels to the White House.

Oh. And there were daily earthquakes and trimmers. Maybe I'll snap a pic of his volcano photograph. I thinks it's the volcano that's been more active lately.
 
Here's the Mt. Shishaldin photograph and another of Dad with FDR.



 
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  • #10
That's so cool, Don! Alaska wasn't even a state then, btw.
 
  • #11
epenguin said:
Thanks.
If that stationing in the Aleutians was during the battle it was hard fighting and very harsh conditions, an episode not many people, outside American at least, know about.

I didn't know about it until I spent a summer long-line fishing black cod in the Aleutians. There were so many sunken Navy ships, some still poking above water!

dlgoff said:
It was just after the battle but there was still plenty going on. He told me about the time a sub got through the nets and into the harbor. They waited until it had finished is business and moved out of the harbor where it was promptly eliminated. Dad was the Admiral's orderly/bodyguard who helped him get the this photo and another (not signed) through proper channels to the White House.

Oh. And there were daily earthquakes and trimmers. Maybe I'll snap a pic of his volcano photograph. I thinks it's the volcano that's been more active lately.

Ah, the earthquakes. A sharp one hit under our ship. The whole ship rose and fell about an inch in a split second. Scared the bejeezus out of me (I think I actually said, should we check the rivets for leaking? :redface:), but the old salts just shrugged it off.
 
  • #12
lisab said:
Ah, the earthquakes. A sharp one hit under our ship. The whole ship rose and fell about an inch in a split second. Scared the bejeezus out of me (I think I actually said, should we check the rivets for leaking? :redface:), but the old salts just shrugged it off.
Dad said that he had been shaken out of his bunk many times but got use to it. :bugeye:
 

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