The Alamo remembered

William Malone, an 18-year-old native Georgian, left home after getting drunk because he couldn't face the wrath of his father.

John Flanders, 36, had an argument with his father and left the family factory in Massachusetts.

David Cummings, 27, had delivered a box of rifles from Pennsylvania to Sam Houston the year before and decided to stay on.

These represent only a few of the disparate backgrounds of the Alamo defenders. Volunteers swarmed to Texas from all over the United States. The Texan dream of self-government and the generous promise of land grants were a lure for those desiring to begin a career or simply get a fresh start.

The motion picture "The Alamo," which opened in theaters today, depicts how in 1836 a group of hopelessly outnumbered men held together, and — even in defeat — sparked a diverse group of Texans to become a nation and, eventually, a state.

The revolution

Stephen Austin established an American colony in what is now Texas in 1821 (the year of Mexican independence from Spain). The initial group of 300 grew to more than 27,000 by 1836. The alarming growth of the Americans and differing views on slavery eventually led to revolt in 1835.

Davy Crockett

Born: 1786

Limestone, Tenn.

Noted frontiersman. War of 1812. Tennessee State Legislature and U.S. Congress.

Died: 1836 (Alamo)

James Bowie

Born: 1796

Louisiana

Land speculator, slave smuggler and frontiersman. Credited with the invention of the Bowie knife.

Died: 1836 (Alamo)

Sam Houston

Born: 1793

Virginia

Statesman and soldier. First president of Texas. Congressman, senator and governor (Tenn.).

Died: 1863

Antonio Lopez de Santa Ana