Colonel Theodore Roosevelt of the Rough Riders

The Rough Riders, officially the 1st United States Volunteer Cavalry, was a military unit formed for the Spanish-American War in 1898. Led by Theodore Roosevelt, who would later become the 26th President of the United States, it was a diverse group of volunteers, including cowboys, Native Americans, college athletes, and law enforcement officials. The unit's formation was a response to public enthusiasm for the war and the need for additional troops. Despite their name, they primarily fought as infantry due to logistical challenges in transporting their horses to Cuba. Their most famous action was at the Battle of San Juan Hill, a pivotal moment in the war that significantly contributed to the American victory. American intervention in this war would profoundly influence the nation's foreign policy and interventionism.