This commemorative medal was commissioned and distributed personally by Teddy Roosevelt upon the regiment’s mustering out of service at Camp Wikoff, Long Island on September 15, 1898 and is mentioned in Colonel Roosevelt’s history of The Rough Riders as “the medal I gave my men.” Brigaded with the 1st and 10th US Cavalry, the Rough Riders were in service only 133 days, but left a colorful legacy second to none, having sustained more casualties – 26 killed, 104 wounded — more than any other unit in Cuba. The medal is rarely encountered with just over 1200 men receiving the token at muster out.
This is my reproduction of the medal because of the high value of the real ones (teh last real one sold at auction for $4025.00) I have made two slight changes to prevent them as being sold as real. The pin is not a T-bar and the planchet has a loop on the top. This is die struck to the same size etc.
I have been unable to locate the correct ribbon so I am using a wool felt for the background. The ribbon is 2 inches wide and very rare to be made today in natural fiber.
I was reading through the list of fallen soldiers and and came across the
name of SGT Roy A. Wood.
I served proudly with him with the 73rd Field Hospital in St. Petersburg. I
did not know he was killed and I grieve for him today.
Thanks for publishing his name. I won't forget.
