On March 6, 1836, after 13 days of intermittent fighting, the Battle
of the Alamo came to a gruesome end and capping off a pivotal
moment in the Texas Revolution.

Mexican forces were victorious in recapturing the fort, and nearly
all of the roughly 200 Texan defenders—including frontiersman
Davy Crockett—died.

The defense of the Alamo remains a symbol of resistance and
revolution. The battle has been immortalized in several TV
series and films, including 1960’s The Alamo, starring John
Wayne as Davy Crockett. 

On February 24, 1836, in San Antonio, Texas, Colonel William
Travis issued a call for help on behalf of the Texan troops
defending the Alamo, an old Spanish mission and fortress
under siege by the Mexican army.

Though Santa Ana’s 5,000 troops heavily outnumbered the
several hundred Texans, Travis and his men determined
not to give up. On February 24, they answered Santa Ana’s
call for surrender with a bold shot from the Alamo’s cannon.

Furious, the Mexican general ordered his forces to launch a
siege. Travis immediately recognized his disadvantage and
sent out several messages via couriers asking for some
reinforcements. Addressing one of the pleas to “The People
of Texas and All Americans in the World,” Travis signed off
with the now-famous phrase “Victory or Death.” 

MIKE GRACIA

Actor, comedian and filmmaker Robert (Rob) Reiner
First came to national prominence with the role of
Michael Stivic on the CBS sitcom All in the Family
(1971-1979). Rob is 73 years old today.

1990

    1986