Letter from L. J. Weil to President Franklin D. Roosevelt

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Description

During World War II, the Marines distinguished themselves on land, sea, and in the air. Daring attacks and rescues were well covered in the paper and in newsreels. Marines became popular heroes — even Bugs Bunny wanted to be a Marine.

Twelve-year-old L. J. Weil of New Iberia, Louisiana, sent this letter to President Franklin D. Roosevelt in 1943. Weil asked if he could be the mascot of the Marines. He also offered for the President to “come down South” and stay with Weil if he ever got “tired up there in Washington” – as long as the President brought his ration book. Weil signed his letter “Your friend and also a Democrat.”

The official response from the Marine Corps is included, explaining that there was no authority to name official mascots.

Transcript

L.J. WEIL
239 W. ST. PETER ST.
NEW IBERIA, LA

Dear Mr. President,

I really don’t know how to write a letter to the President of the United States, but I’ll try to do my best. The point is I’d like to be mascot of the Marines. I’m 12 years old and a little young to get into anything right now, but when I’m a little older well just you wait and see. A lot of people are going to kid me about this letter but I don’t care. And if sometimes you get tired up there in Washington you can come down South and stay with us a little while. “of course that’s if you bring your ration book.”

Your friend and
also a Democrat
L.J. Weil

Citation

This primary source comes from the Records of the U.S. Marine Corps.

National Archives Identifier: 595164

Full Citation: Letter from L. J. Weil to President Franklin D. Roosevelt Asking to Be the Mascot of the Marines; 11/10/1943; 1535-95 Mascots; General Correspondence, 1/1/1939 – 6/30/1950; Records of the U.S. Marine Corps, Record Group 127; National Archives at College Park, College Park, MD. [Online Version, https://docsteach.org/document/weil-fdr/, April 10, 2026]

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