Geronimo: The Native American General and his 75 year war with the U.S. Army

Geronimo (real name “Goyalle”) was an Apache medicine man (not a chief) who, upon losing his wife and children to a Mexican Army attack, proceeded to make war on the United States and Mexico during the great western expansion. He garnered his name from a battle with the Mexican Army in which he attacked them with a knife, killing many while they shot at him with rifles. The Mexican Army began screaming “Geronimo!!” as he fought and the name stuck. He was a brilliant tactician which resulted in the longest war the United States has ever fought and was partially concluded in his surrender. He was put on show with Pawnee Bill’s traveling circus and spent some time in Florida at the Castillo de San Marcos fort in St. Augustine where people could pay money to go see him in a cell. A great deal of the Apaches with Geronimo died in Florida of tuberculosis. He rode horseback in President Roosevelt's inaugural parade in 1905 in full headdress with other Indian leaders to show their intent to “bury the hatchet” and show peaceful intentions. In 1909 Geronimo was thrown from a horse, spent all night freezing before someone found him and died of Pneumonia the next morning at age 79. His name became synonymous with bravery when the 501st Parachute Infantry Regiment began yelling “Geronimo!”as they jumped out of airplanes and is probably what most people liken to hearing his name.

If one man, who was a spiritual leader, can change the course of language itself with visions of reckless bravery, what can you accomplish? Valor is in you. Set it free.