There is so much about Geronimo that is appealing as a story. Geronimo the Man was a brilliant personal leader; strong and proud, and immensely spiritual--a hero in the real sense. As Geronimo's exploits became daily fare in the newspapers, the American government's Indian policy became the popular subject of political debate in that time period that extended even to the President. Raids, counterraids, traps and ambushes, Geronimo proved himself a master tactician and more. Always, just when the end seemed near, Geronimo and his band would disappear like ghosts back into the canyons and mountains of the desert southwest. Across thousands of square miles of the Great American Desert, Geronimo, along with a handful of Apache men, women and children, would lead thousands of soldiers of two nations on bloody chase. Consistently outgunned and always outmanned, Geronimo's legend would grow as he continually overcame enormous odds, persistent government agents and Apache scouts recruited by the US Government. Geronimo has the distinction of being "the last American Indian to formally surrender to the United States government" (Davis et al 88) --but only after a long struggle. Geronimo was born in June of 1829 in No-doyohn Caon, Arizona. His tribal name was Goyathley, which means "one who yawns". Later in life he became known as Geronimo, "Little Jerome" As he learned to talk, his mother told him stories of the sun, moon, stars, wild beasts, and of Usen the "Great Spirit who made everything and should be worshipped" (Trimble165). When he was 8 or 9 years old he began hunting. He first learned to stalk deer by crawling long distances from bush to bush, taking hours to creep close enough to launch his arrow. As he grew older he went after bigger game such as bears and mountain lions. The only weapons he used were spear...
