During a recent visit to a war memorial in Scranton, Pennsylvania, President Joe Biden shared a personal story about his uncle, Ambrose Finnegan. The president mentioned that his uncle’s plane was shot down during World War II over New Guinea, an area known for cannibals. He revealed that his uncle was never found and believed to have been eaten by cannibals.
President Biden paid tribute to his uncle Bosie, who served in the Army Air Corps and flew single-engine planes as a reconnaissance over war zones. He recounted how his uncle got shot down in New Guinea, a place where cannibals were present. The president’s emotional recounting of his uncle’s death differs from the account published by the Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency.
According to the agency’s report, Ambrose J. Finnegan’s plane was forced to ditch in the ocean off the north coast of New Guinea. The aircraft’s nose hit the water hard after both engines failed at low altitude. Despite an aerial search party, no trace of the missing aircraft or lost crew members was ever found. Second Lieutenant Finnegan is memorialized on the Walls of the Missing at the Manila American Cemetery in the Philippines.
White House Deputy Press Secretary Andrew Bates confirmed that President Biden is proud of his uncle’s service in the military and highlighted his story to emphasize the importance of honoring veterans. The president reiterated his commitment to equipping and taking care of those who serve in the military and their families when they return home. He emphasized that American veterans are not “suckers” or “losers.”