Franklin D. Roosevelt: Typed Bronze Star Approval Letter Signed as President....

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A wonderful, historic and very unique item, a Bronze Star Medal approval letter by FDR for an officer of the British Army in 1944, signed by FDR as Commander-in-Chief of the United States of America! The document, on The White House Washington letterhead, 8 x 10 ½," in which FDR approves the awarding of the Bronze Star Medal to Colonel Clive E. Temperley, British Army. In full: "CITATION FOR BRONZE STAR MEDAL/ Colonel Clive E. Temperley, British Army. For meritorious service in connection with military operations against an enemy of the United States from January to July 1944. As Provisional Commissioner, Allied Military Government, Foggia Province, Italy, Colonel Temperley administered his office with unusual ability and directed its activities to furnishing all possible administrative aid to the Army Air Forces operating in the area. He rendered material assistance in carrying out the malarial control program and in furthering the agricultural activities of the region./ APPROVED:/ Franklin D. Roosevelt." Colonel Temperley was a noted archer and before Britain's entry into World War II the Chairman of the Royal Surrey Bowmen, founded on St George's Day in 1790 with H.R.H. The Duke of Clarence as Patron. The club disbanded during the Napoleonic Wars and was reformed in 1937. The original venue for the club was the "Everglades," Epsom Downs, and the present club is still based in the vicinity. A snake has appeared on all club records, and is thought to have originated because of the adders natural habitat in the Everglades. The club motto "Labor Ipse Voluptas" ("Labor Itself is Pleasure") has been used since 1790. The Bronze Star Medal was established by Executive Order 9419, February 4, 1944 (superseded by Executive Order 11046, August 24, 1962). The Bronze Star Medal is awarded to any person who, while serving in any capacity in or with the Army of the United States after December 6, 1941, distinguished himself or herself by heroic or meritorious achievement or service, not involving participation in aerial flight, in connection with military operations against an armed enemy; or while engaged in military operations involving conflict with an opposing armed force in which the United States is not a belligerent party. Interestingly, the wonderful, one of a kind, historic FDR-related collection of the papers of Mr. William M. Carrigan, the American Red Cross Field Director in Foggia, Italy from 1944 to 1945, the year of FDR's awarding of the Bronze Star Medal to Colonel Temperley, is also part of this FDR Collection. A wonderful approval letter awarding the Bronze Star Medal to a British Army officer, in the year 1944 during World War II, the very year that the Bronze Star Medal was first authorized by FDR, approved and signed by Commander-in-Chief Franklin D. Roosevelt.