On Wednesday, President Joe Biden spoke about his uncle, 2nd Lt. Ambrose J. Finnegan Jr., who died in World War II, aiming to contrast reports that former President Donald Trump had made disrespectful comments about fallen service members. Biden mentioned that his uncle was shot down in New Guinea and his body was never recovered, adding that there were cannibals in the area. However, government records do not attribute Finnegan’s death to hostile action or cannibals. Biden also mentioned a family tradition of saying three Hail Marys when visiting a gravesite, a practice he followed at his uncle’s memorial.
Biden criticized Trump, saying he was unworthy of being commander in chief for his son and uncle. Biden’s son, Beau, died in 2015 after serving in Iraq, and the president believes his deployment may have contributed to his son’s death due to exposure to burn pits. Former Trump officials have claimed that Trump referred to fallen service members as “suckers” and “losers,” which the former president denied. Biden’s uncle, known as “Bosie,” died in a plane crash in the Pacific Ocean in 1944, and his body was never recovered. The Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency confirmed the details of Finnegan’s death.
While speaking about his uncle’s military service, Biden mistakenly stated that his uncles enlisted the day after D-Day in June 1944, when they actually joined the military after the attack on Pearl Harbor in December 1941. After Finnegan’s death, a local newspaper published a telegram from Gen. Douglas MacArthur expressing condolences to the Finnegan family. Biden mentioned his uncle briefly in his 2008 book, describing him as a flyer killed in New Guinea. White House spokesman Andrew Bates did not address the discrepancy between Biden’s account and the official records, but emphasized that Biden was proud of his uncle’s service and highlighted his story to advocate for better care for veterans and their families.
Despite the inaccuracies in Biden’s recounting of his uncle’s death, the president’s intention was to honor his uncle’s sacrifice and draw attention to the importance of supporting veterans and recognizing their service. The contrast between Biden’s tribute to his uncle and the allegations against Trump regarding his comments about fallen service members highlights the different perspectives on honoring those who have served in the military. Biden’s personal connection to his uncle’s story adds a layer of emotion and relevance to his advocacy for better treatment of veterans and their families. The discrepancy in details about Finnegan’s death does not detract from the president’s broader message about the importance of honoring and caring for those who have served in the military.
