On July 1, 1898, near Santiago de Cuba, Republic of Cuba, Lt. Col. Theodore Roosevelt distinguished himself by acts of bravery while leading a charge up San Juan Hill, accompanied by only four or five men. This action encouraged his troops to continue the assault and turned the tide of battle. He was awarded the Medal of Honor on January 16, 1901. He served as president of the United States from September 14, 1901 until March 4, 1909. From 1884 to 1886 he ranched in the badlands of what would become North Dakota, and he has long been considered an honorary citizen of the state.