On March 14, 1916, the U.S. Army began a little adventure down Mexico way. The impetus was the invasion of Columbus, New Mexico, on March 9 by paramilitary troops under the command of revolutionary Pancho Villa. About 500 of his men burned part of the town, and killed ten civilians and several members of the cavalry regiment stationed there. President Woodrow Wilson sent Brigadier General John J. Pershing and 10,000 men to Mexico to find Villa.
After a month in Mexico, another faction of the Mexican revolution mustered troops to resist the U.S. invasion. American forces remained in Mexico until February 1917 when the country entered World War I, and Pershing was needed elsewhere.
Villa was never captured, but assassinated in 1923. You can read more about the Mexican Revolution here.
These three photos show U.S. troops from Birmingham awaiting departure. Further comments below.
"Birmingham Citizen Soldiery Leave for the Mexican Frontier.""Battery C Awaiting Orders to March."
From the rotogravure section of the Birmingham Age-Herald, Sunday, July 30, 1916
From the rotogravure section of the Birmingham Age-Herald, Sunday, July 30, 1916
"Some of the Crowd Present to Say Farewell"
From the rotogravure section of the Birmingham Age-Herald,
Sunday, July 30, 1916
From the rotogravure section of the Birmingham Age-Herald,
Sunday, July 30, 1916
"In Solemn Lines Thousands Bade the Boys Godspeed."
From the rotogravure section of the
Birmingham Age-Herald, Sunday, July 30, 1916
From the rotogravure section of the
Birmingham Age-Herald, Sunday, July 30, 1916
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