page_title: Will Rogers Jr.
section_title: Early life and military service
hierarchical_section_title: Will Rogers Jr. / Early life and military service
caption_attribution_description: English: Will Rogers, Jr. spent two weeks touring Alaska during the later part of 1967 or early part of 1968. In this photo, he is on stage at the Grant Hall auditorium at Alaska Methodist University, showing attendees tricks with a lasso.
context_page_description: William Vann Rogers, generally known as Will Rogers Jr., was an American politician, writer, and newspaper publisher. He was the eldest son of humorist Will Rogers and his wife, the former Betty Blake. He was a Democratic U. S. Representative from California from January 3, 1943, until May 23, 1944, when he resigned to return to the United States Army.
context_section_description: Rogers was born in New York City, where his father was performing.  He grew up in Los Angeles, and attended school there.  He received a Bachelor of Arts degree from Stanford University in 1935.  On completing his studies, he served as publisher of the Beverly Hills Citizen newspaper, a role in which he continued until 1953.  He had been commissioned a second lieutenant through the Reserve Officers' Training Corps, but did not go on active duty.  With U.S. entry into World War II, however, he enlisted as a private in June 1942, and was commissioned in the field artillery the following month and assigned to the 893rd Tank Destroyer Battalion.
  While on active duty, Rogers was elected to the House of Representatives from California, and was sworn into office on January 3, 1943. He served in the 78th Congress.  He did not complete his term, however, returning to active duty in the Army after resigning from Congress on May 23, 1944.
  
  As part of his confidential 1943 report for the British government about the United States House Committee on Foreign Affairs, Foreign Office analyst Isaiah Berlin described Rogers’ political leanings and his prospective post-war positions regarding world order and, more specifically, the British Empire:
  A new-comer to the House. Son of a very celebrated father. A sincere and somewhat impassioned young man who believes strongly in the Wallace type of internationalism and in cooperation with the United Nations. A trifle callow and politically inexperienced, he will undoubtedly be a vigorous and enthusiastic champion of all-out post-war co-operation with the United Nations. His fervent adherence to the liberal ideals of the "New Republic" may tend to make him critical of the British Empire.
  After his resignation, Rogers was assigned to the 814th Tank Destroyer Battalion and served in the European campaign in George Patton's Third United States Army. Rogers was wounded in action and also received a Bronze Star. He was released from active duty on March 1, 1946.
caption: Rogers at Alaska Methodist University during the 1967–1968 academic year, showing attendees his skill with a lasso.
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