" It was good to read if not uncomfortable how Roosevelt and most other white Americans of his time viewed other people who weren't ancestors of the Vikings as he might put it. Roosevelt in describing bis desire to rid the Western world of the Spanish colonialists, describes how he had been wanting to fight them for axlong time. Choosing to lead a Calvary through Cuba, he first uses Ivy League college men and later men from the 4 territories, Texas, New Mexico, Indian and Arizona. Roosevelt does choose some Indians but mentions they look white and aren't pure blooded. Then he admits he used some pure blooded Indians too. Several calvaries ventured to Cuba including some Black calvary troops also. He gives a blow by blow account of the fighting and mentions several who died. A major factor they had not planned on was disease. Both Yellow Fever and malaria killed the troops faster than fighting did. In Theodore Roosevelt's true fashion, he is surprised when white and black troops died and became sick at the same rate. Yes the US won and Roosevelt's troops took San Juan hill, but the people of Santiago, especially women and children sickened and died as refugees and he and his troops, short on supplies and food themselves couldn't help much. Roosevelt's Rough Riders became legendary but at a great cost for some. Roosevelt was rather proud of the Rough Riders as president and kept up with some men he knew there. He gives a good accounting of people's lives and deaths. Malaria continued to kill back home and some died or were permanently weakened. Interesting story but the racism surprised me. I thought it was good for me to know the general audience of the day thought that way or Roosevelt wouldn't have assumed he was correct in his beliefs. "
— Lynn, 12/19/2013