US President Joe Biden caused a stir with an anecdote about an uncle who was possibly eaten by cannibals during World War II. “He was shot down over New Guinea and they never found his body because there were really a lot of cannibals in that part of New Guinea,” Biden said during a campaign appearance in Pittsburgh. However, the story turned out to be a legend.
Biden also told reporters the anecdote about the cannibals. The US president had previously paid tribute to his uncle Ambrose J. Finnegan during a visit to a war memorial in his hometown of Scranton. He died as a second lieutenant in the U.S. Army in 1944, when Biden was still a toddler.
Landed in the sea, out of reach of cannibals
But as with many family stories, it soon became clear that it was most likely a legend. The Pentagon agency DPAA, which is responsible for investigating prisoners of war and missing soldiers, said the plane with Biden’s uncle on board had to land off the island’s coast in 1944 “for unknown reasons” on a courier flight to New Guinea.
It was also said that the plane hit the sea surface hard and three crew members failed to surface. A reconnaissance flight the next day discovered no trace of the missing aircraft or its crew.
Biden spokeswoman Karine Jean-Pierre confirmed that Biden’s uncle died when his plane crashed off the coast of New Guinea. Biden highlighted his uncle’s story because he wanted to underscore his support for U.S. military veterans. He wanted to distance himself from former president and designated Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump, who has reportedly insulted American soldiers killed in combat as “losers” and “idiots.”
Found something to eat for opponents
The fact that the anecdote Biden told is not true is, conversely, a source of inspiration for his opponents. A video of his performance in the election campaign is shared by numerous conservative accounts on Platform X to portray the American president as a liar on the one hand and senile on the other.
Source: Krone
I am Wallace Jones, an experienced journalist. I specialize in writing for the world section of Today Times Live. With over a decade of experience, I have developed an eye for detail when it comes to reporting on local and global stories. My passion lies in uncovering the truth through my investigative skills and creating thought-provoking content that resonates with readers worldwide.
