This is just a brief response to the "Why Davy Crocket" query.

My Dad was born in Beaumont, Texas, on the gulf coast. His great-grandfather, John McGaffey, was the first settler at Sabine Pass, in about 1822. Two relatives later died in the Alamo battle and another participated in the one at San Jacinto. That does not make me any sort of authority, but did cause me to do a great deal of reading on the battle and events leading to it. Like many who visit the Alamo, as I did in 2000, I was struck by how this small chapel was ever thought to be defensible. A lot of "ordinary" and otherwise unknown men died there, but most remember the names of Bowie, Crockett and Travis.

David Crockett undoubtedly became a major focus of the Alamo fight simply because he had created a larger than life persona for himself long before arriving from Tennessee. He had served in Congress and was well known, unlike many of the other participants. Tall tales had already been told of Crockett's exploits (both real and imagined) before he ever set foot in Texas. Myth weavers need their champions, and he certainly was an easy fit. None of this detracts from the honor accorded him for his participation at San Antonio. As his Mexican conquerers later said, "He fought and died well and honorably." So, of course, did many others.