This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list. Author: KyResearchNut Surnames: Langdon, Rough Riders Classification: queries Message Board URL: http://boards.rootsweb.com/localities.northam.usa.states.newyork.counties.dutchess/9661/mb.ashx Message Board Post: Article found in the Sunday, Aug 18, 1968 issue of Kentucky Advocate, Danville, Boyle Co, KY. ROUGH RIDER FINDS YOUTH TOO SOFT by Bill Wertz, Associated Press Writer LAS VEGAS, N.M. (AP) Eighty-seven year old Jesse D. Langdon, one of the last surviving members of Teddy Roosevelt's Rough Riders, hasn't much use for the younger generation. "They're soft, haven't got any opinions worth anything," said the Spanish-American War veteran here for the Rough Riders' 69th annual reunion. Teddy Roosevelt and more than 600 of his Rough Riders gathered in Las Vegas in 1899 for the group's first reunion. They voted to meet annually until the last man died. Langdon, who lives in Red Oak, N.Y., is one of three known survivors of the famous cavalry group that Roosevelt led up San Juan Hill. Arthur L. Tuttle, 88, Salinas, Calif., and Frank C. Brito, 91, Las Cruces, N.M., now are too ill to attend the reunion. Langdon said that Roosevelt asked him only one question. "Can you ride a horse?" He said he was offered a commission as a lieutenant in the regular Army after his service as a Rough Rider. "I turned it down," he said. "The Rough Riders were a good group and I got along, but my Daddy told me the first time I swatted an officer in the regular Army I'd be in Leavenworth. And I would have, too, I'm that kind of guy." ***note this is Las Vegas in New Mexico, not Las Vegas, Nevada. Important Note: The author of this message may not be subscribed to this list. If you would like to reply to them, please click on the Message Board URL link above and respond on the board.