A Tribute to Wyoming’s First War Hero, Charles Duval Roberts
This weekend, we remember the brave men and women who gave their lives for our country.
Five soldiers who were either born or lived in Wyoming have been awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor. Here's a tribute to the first Wyoming native to receive the nation's highest military award, United States Army Brigadier General Charles Duval Roberts.
Roberts was born in 1873 at the Cheyenne Agency in the old South Dakota territory. After graduating from West Point in 1897, he enrolled for active duty at Fort D. A. Russell in Cheyenne.
The following year, Roberts was sent to Cuba to fight in the Spanish-American War. On July 1, 1898, he demonstrated remarkable courage, when he rescued several wounded infantry men from the front lines while facing heavy enemy fire during the charge on San Juan Hill.
After the Spanish-American War, Roberts continued his service to our country. In 1899, he was awarded the Medal of Honor for his valor in Cuba and sent to fight in the Philippine-American War.
Roberts then graduated from the Army School of the Line and Army Staff College before being sent back into battle once again, this time to serve in World War I.
In 1920, he completed training at the United States Army War College for senior officers and was elevated to the rank of General.
In 1937, after forty years of active duty and three wars, Roberts retired from the Army, He died in 1966 at the ripe old age of 93 and is interned at Arlington National Cemetery.