Posted on 06/21/2007 8:50:10 AM PDT by DogByte6RER
(On This Day in History) June 21, 1916: (General John J.) Pershing attacked by Mexican troops
The controversial U.S. military expedition against Mexican revolutionary Pancho Villa brings the United States and Mexico closer to war when Mexican government troops attack U.S. Brigadier General John J. Pershing's force at Carrizal, Mexico. The Americans suffered 22 casualties, and more than 30 Mexicans were killed. Against the protests of Venustiano Carranza's government, Pershing had been penetrating deep into Mexico in pursuit of Pancho Villa. After routing the small Mexican force at Carrizal, the U.S. expedition continued on its southern course.
In 1914, following the resignation of Mexican leader Victoriano Huerta, Pancho Villa and his former revolutionary ally Venustiano Carranza battled each other in a struggle for succession. By the end of 1915, Villa had been driven north into the mountains, and the U.S. government recognized General Carranza as the president of Mexico.
In January 1916, to protest President Woodrow Wilson's support for Carranza, Villa executed 16 U.S. citizens at Santa Isabel in northern Mexico. Then, on March 9, he ordered a raid on the border town of Columbus, New Mexico, in which 17 Americans were killed and the center of town was burned. Cavalry from the nearby Camp Furlong U.S. Army outpost pursued the Mexicans, killing several dozen rebels on U.S. soil and in Mexico before turning back. On March 15, under orders from President Wilson, U.S. Brigadier General John J. Pershing launched a punitive expedition into Mexico to capture or kill Villa and disperse his rebels. The expedition eventually involved some 10,000 U.S. troops and personnel. It was the first U.S. military operation to employ mechanized vehicles, including automobiles and airplanes.
For 11 months, Pershing failed to capture the elusive revolutionary, who was aided by his intimate knowledge of the terrain of northern Mexico and his popular support from the people there. Meanwhile, resentment over the U.S. intrusion into Mexican territory led to a diplomatic crisis with the government in Mexico City. On June 21, the crisis escalated into violence when Mexican government troops attacked a detachment of the 10th Cavalry at Carrizal. If not for the critical situation in Europe, war might have been declared. In January 1917, having failed in their mission to capture Villa, and under continued pressure from the Mexican government, the Americans were ordered home.
Pancho Villa continued his guerrilla activities in northern Mexico until Adolfo de la Huerta took over the government and drafted a reformist constitution. Villa entered into an amicable agreement with Huerta and agreed to retire from politics. In 1920, the government pardoned Villa, but three years later he was assassinated at his ranch in Parral.
In 1916 it was Pancho Villa who was invading the U.S. murdering, pillaging and plundering. Now it seems that we have thousands of modern day "Pancho Villas" who illegally enter the U.S., join criminal gangs, commit rape and child molestations, sell drugs, advocate "reconquista" and commit other serious crimes and then abscond back across the border.
I wonder...will America have to send troops down to Mexico to stop the invasion across our southern border? Even more importantly, would America even have the political will to conduct such a military operation?
Pancho Villa = Mexican Osama bin Laden.
Generals John J Pershing, Pancho Villa, and Alvaro Obregon pose for a photo at Fort Bliss, TX, 1913. Immediately behind Gen. Pershing and to the left is his aide-de-camp, 1st Lt. George Patton
A great Missourian!
Very funny!
Great stuff. Excellent post.
Presidents Wilson and Polk were not traitors and were actually protecting the United States from invasion.
Yeah, but check out this website for the PANCHO VILLA STATE PARK in New Mexico:
http://www.emnrd.state.nm.us/prd/Panchovillaphototour.htm
It seems like some in New Mexico revere this early 20th century criminal and thug. For cryin’ out loud, the State of New Mexico has named a park after this thug who raided and murdered New Mexicans some 90 years ago! Outrageous!
Stockholm syndrome?
Here is the actual home page for the PANCHO VILLA STATE PARK:
http://www.emnrd.state.nm.us/PRD/PanchoVilla.htm
Description from the homepage:
“On March 9, 1916, soldiers led by Mexican Gen. Francisco “Pancho” Villa attacked the military camp at the sleepy border town of Columbus, New Mexico, killing 18 Americans. This was the only ground invasion of the continental U.S. since 1812.
Pancho Villa State Park’s extensive historical exhibits depicting the raid and the U.S. Army’s subsequent Punitive Expedition into Mexico are now housed in the park’s new $1.8 million 7,000 sq. ft. Exhibit Hall.”
I do NOT understand why this state park (funded by taxpayer $$$) would be named after Pancho Villa!
Did we name any of the WWII sites in Pearl Harbor, Hawaii after Tojo or Yamamoto? Of course not! Are the beaches in Normandy named after Hitler? Nope.
I am baffled as to why this state park is named after a foreign invader who murdered 18 Americans. Maybe the park should be renamed after Pershing or after the Americans who were murdered. This is just totally inppropriate...
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