Service Stars

In the great debating days before Pearl Harbor, isolationist critics of President Roosevelt liked to declaim: "How would you like your own sons to go to war?" Last week all four Roosevelt sons were deep in the war on many fronts--and doing well.

Major James, 34, the Marine Corps disclosed last week, had been bombed and strafed on an inspection trip to the Middle East last May, was under fire again in the Battle of Midway. He may be in the bitter, bloody Solomon Island offensive, dopesters said.

Lieut. Colonel Elliott, 31, of the Air Corps, had a close brush with the Luftwaffe in Africa last spring when his unarmed observation plane was chased by Nazi fighters. He returned to the U.S. for a minor operation, took charge of an aerial-photography unit in Colorado, was promoted to lieutenant colonel last fortnight.

Lieut, (j.g.) Franklin Jr., 28, served aboard a destroyer with the North Atlantic Patrol on convoy duty, was in London on Navy business at last official reports in June.

Ensign John, 26, was last heard from on the West Coast, where he was serving as a Navy disbursing officer.

To a belief held by some citizens, that the Roosevelt sons get swift and easy promotions, minus merit or danger, sources in the Army & Navy said privately that nearly all would have been farther along in the services if their father had not deliberately held promotions and even citations back from them.

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