S02 E39 The Brilliance of Theodor

Theodor was born in Springfield Massachusetts on March 2, 1904. He was born to a German family who was considered prosperous, but as world War 1 broke out their German heritage brought them under suspicion, as it did every German in the United States. It was a time when the German Frankfurter became the ‘hot dog’, and sauerkraut became ‘liberty cabbage’.Regardless of the attitudes of others, the family continued to thrive. Though an occasional target of anti-German bullies. Theodor was not big, or strong, or a skilled fighter. But, he did possessed and ingenious and creative mind. And, he loved to participate in the boy scouts, Troop 13.In 1918, at the age of 14, Theodor’s enterprising nature led him to be one of the top 10 salesmen of war bonds in his Springfield MA boy scout’s organization. And, as a result, had the opportunity to meet a famous and patriotic President of the United States, with whom he shared a first name - President Theodor Roosevelt.On the appointed day Theodor, along with 9 of his peers were lined up onstage at the Springfield Municipal Auditorium. Where he waited his turn to have his namesake - Theodor Roosevelt the great hero and president - pin a medal on his chest proving him to be a Great American. After all he and his family had endured from the anti-German sentiment of neighbors in Springfield, he was to be exonerated, and his devotion to his country proven.There was a little mix-up, however.