Beginning September 14^th and continuing through the week many have watched the public television series: “The Roosevelts: An Intimate History” by Ken Burns. The program on September 19^th described Eleanor Roosevelt's frequent visits to military installations here and abroad during World War II.

In the Summer, 2002 issue of Inklings and Idlings, Dr. Richard Sandburg, a nephew of Carl Sandburg, who grew up in Galesburg, contributed an article. He wrote of his meeting Mrs. Roosevelt on Christmas Island. It was a refueling station for American forces near the equator south of Hawaii. Having been trained as a podiatrist, he was assigned to the hospital where he performed blood tests in the laboratory. He was also given the task of driving to a farm to test fresh milk for e.coli bacteria before it was served to patients and officers. Since he knew how to type, he filled in all the reports generated in the laboratory.

He had been a private for over a year—until Eleanor Roosevelt visited the island. This is how he remembered the incident.

“She was very gracious, warmly shook hands with everyone she met, and when we were introduced, she asked, 'Sandburg? Would you be related to Carl?'

“After receiving an affirmative reply, she gave me a second handshake, and said her husband had invited Carl to the White House on several occasions for counseling and friendly visits.

“From that point on, my stock soared, our detachment officers usually spoke first, before receiving my salute, and shortly afterward, I was promoted to a T/5 rating, comparable to a corporal.

“Some time later, I was invited by the detachment commander for lunch at the officers' quarters. After several months of eating from a steel helmet, it was unique to be served at a table with a linen tablecloth and napkins. Our main course was rabbit, which we raised in the laboratory, and the liquid refreshment was either coffee or cool, tasty milk.

“Eleanor Roosevelt was frequently chided by the media for her unattractive appearance, and protruding teeth. She was not beautiful, but had a warm friendly charm. I always had the dismal feeling that if it hadn't been for her, I would have remained a private for the duration.

“After the war, dedicated volunteers, led by Adda George and Juanite Bednar, were struggling to refurbish the rickety Carl Sandburg Birthplace.

“The project was financed by interested Sandburg admirers, and, on one of my visits to the home, I observed a roster of names, listed alphabetically, of those who had made contributions. I was very pleased to see my name immediately below that of Eleanor Roosevelt.”

Additional Resource: Eleanor Roosevelt's Tour of the South Pacific, Aug-Sept 1943. (YouTube Video)