Today in MOH history
TSO sends this reminder;
LIEUTENANT COLONEL THEODORE ROOSEVELT UNITED STATES ARMY
[F]or conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty.
Lieutenant Colonel Theodore Roosevelt distinguished himself by acts of bravery on 1 July 1898, near Santiago de Cuba, Republic of Cuba, while leading a daring charge up San Juan Hill. Lieutenant Colonel Roosevelt, in total disregard for his personal safety, and accompanied by only four or five men, led a desperate and gallant charge up San Juan Hill, encouraging his troops to continue the assault through withering enemy fire over open countryside. Facing the enemy’s heavy fire, he displayed extraordinary bravery throughout the charge, and was the first to reach the enemy trenches, where he quickly killed one of the enemy with his pistol, allowing his men to continue the assault. His leadership and valor turned the tide in the Battle for San Juan Hill. Lieutenant Colonel Roosevelt’s extraordinary heroism and devotion to duty are in keeping with the highest traditions of military service and reflect great credit upon himself, his unit, and the United States Army.
President Roosevelt became the first president to earn the Medal of Honor, but he wasn’t awarded it until January 16, 2001 – 103 years after the event and 82 years after his death.
Category: Historical
Not to mention he went up Kettle Hill, not San Juan. He directed support fire from Kettle, and didn’t do any storming of San Juan until it was mostly secured.
Hearst (who was actually at the battle….unlike the modern day “reporters” of his corporation) wrote the original piece, and published the legend of Teddy and San Juan Hill.
John,
When I met with president Bush on human rights day last December, it was at the Roosevelt room in the White House. The POTUS sat at the end of the long conference room table with his back to a fireplace that was decorated with full Christmas regalia. I sat there with the president and other human rights bloggers for almost tow hours, and I, for the most part, contemplating how honored I was to be there for the work we do at Babalu on Human Rights issues in Cuba. As we were about to leave, after our photo ops, The President shook my hand, and turned back over his shoulder to a portrait that hung above the mantle of the fireplace.
“You know who that is?” the President asked me.
“yes sir. That’s President Roosevelt, sir.” I responded. Hanging there all that time was a portrait to teddy roosevelt in uniform, on horseback overlooking a hill.
President Bush looked me straight in the eyes, grinned and said ” That’s Teddy Roosevelt the Roughrider. In Cuba.”
I visited the Harvard Iibrary, where TR’s journals were kept. The librarian showed me a small, tattered leatherbound datebook. The entry for July 1 read: “warm day. Took Hill.”
TR was an extraordinary man who drew other extraordinary men to him. The Rough Riders included champion polo players and football players from the Ivy League, the best tennis player in the U.S., four NYC cops from TR’s Police Commissioner days, Indian fighters and Indians from his days in the Dakota badlands.Hamilton Fish, champion of the Columbia crew, served with Cherokee Bill and Rattlesnake Pete; professional gamblers served with clergymen. A full blooded Pawnee was the regimental clerk.
In my opinion, TR is second only to Washington as the finest president, the finest American, and the finest all around man this nation has ever produced…and it’s a very slim lead. TR earned a Medal of Honor and a Nobel Peace Prize.He delivered a Romanes Lecture at Oxford, was president of the American Historical Association and boxed with the middleweight champion of the U.S. He was the first president to publish a book while in office, on “The Deer Family.” He wrote 27 others.
The Museum of Natural History in NYC, which his father founded and to which he contributed, has several of his quotes in the entrance rotunda. His most telling is this:
“If I must choose between peace and righteousness, I choose righteousness.”
God, if ever we needed a man like him, we need him now.
thanks for honoring him.