African American troops fought alongside Medal of Honor recipient and former U.S. President Theodore Roosevelt in his famous and heroic charge up San Juan Hill in the Spanish-American War.

Lieutenant Colonel Roosevelt had the Rough Riders all to himself but he did not have the battle for San Juan Heights all to himself. There were 8,000 men in the operation, a total of thirteen Regular Army regiments and two regiments of volunteers, including TRs Rough Riders. The force also included about 1,250 black troopers of the 9th and 10th Cavalry and the 24th Infantry.

Critics have complained that Roosevelt erroneously and undeservedly claimed credit for the victory at San Juan Hill when he actually was involved in the assault on Kettle Hill. In fact, he did play a prominent role in the fight for Kettle Hill. His volunteers,the Rough Riders, took part of Sumners dismounted cavalry force, reached the top of Kettle Hill alongside black and white regulars. The actions of Color Sgt. George Berry of the 10th Cavalry, who carried the colors of the white 3d Cavalry up that hill along with his own regiments standard, reflected the shared nature of the operation, with black and white regulars and Rough Riders fighting side by side and with one group sometimes indistinguishable from the others.

Roosevelt became a hero at San Juan Hill and later claimed that was the greatest day in his life. However, it was less glorious than this picture suggests. Most of the time, Roosevelt was the only one on a horse. Also, a black unit from the 10th Cavalry, the famous "Buffalo Soldiers," went first; despite Roosevelt's protests, they didn't get credit.