Biden's Claim About Uncle Eaten by Cannibals in WWII Contradicted by Military Records

President Joe Biden recently claimed that his uncle, 2nd Lieutenant Ambrose J. Finnegan, was eaten by cannibals in New Guinea during World War II after his plane was shot down. However, official military records contradict this account, indicating that Finnegan's plane actually crashed into the Pacific Ocean due to engine failure, and his body was never recovered.

During a visit to a war memorial in Scranton, Pennsylvania that bears his uncle's name, Biden stated that Finnegan was "shot down" over New Guinea and that his remains were never found because there were "a lot of cannibals" in that region at the time. "They never found his body. He got shot down in New Guinea, and they never found him. There used to be a lot of cannibals in New Guinea," Biden said.

But records from the Pentagon's Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency tell a different story. They confirm that on May 14, 1944, the plane Finnegan was aboard as a passenger, not the pilot, was forced to ditch in the ocean off the north coast of New Guinea for "unknown reasons." Three crew members, including Finnegan, failed to emerge from the sinking wreck and were lost in the crash, while one was rescued.

The White House has since acknowledged that Finnegan "lost his life when the military aircraft he was on crashed in the Pacific after taking off near New Guinea." Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said Biden was having an emotional moment and honoring his uncle's service, but she did not address the discrepancy between his comments and the official record.

Why this matters: Biden's remarks have drawn criticism from historians and experts in Papua New Guinea, who called them "crazy" and a perpetuation of outdated stereotypes about the region. While cannibalism was historically practiced in specific cultural contexts there, they noted it was inaccurate and offensive for the U.S. president to suggest Finnegan was eaten by cannibals. The incident highlights the need for accuracy and cultural sensitivity when discussing other nations and peoples on the world stage.

This is not the first time Biden has shared a questionable story about his relatives' military service. He previously claimed to have awarded his deceased uncle Frank Biden the Purple Heart, but no records support that assertion. The president's tendency to embellish details or make misstatements has led to increased scrutiny of his public comments. As one analyst in Papua New Guinea put it, "It paints PNG in a bad light when such comments come from the head of state of the USA. Such comments are not acceptable."

Key Takeaways

• Biden claimed his uncle was eaten by cannibals in WWII, but records show his plane crashed.
• Official records indicate Finnegan's plane crashed into the Pacific due to engine failure, not combat.
• Biden's comments perpetuated outdated stereotypes about Papua New Guinea, drawing criticism from experts.
• This is not the first time Biden has shared questionable stories about his relatives' military service.
• The incident highlights the need for accuracy and cultural sensitivity in presidential statements.