Actually it was 99 years ago yesterday. One of those events which really don't make a lot of sense. But had long term effects on the Military, our relationship with Mexico and many other things.
It has been discussed and analyzed as to exactly Pancho decided to raid Columbus.
I find it strange that he raided a town with a US Army garrison. Units of 13th Calvary were stationed there.
The attack started in the early AM and caught the Troopers asleep.
After they woke up and got organized they put up a good defense and chased the Raiders back into Mexico.
There is a Pancho Villa NM State Park which is located on the old Army garrison area.
I was down there last weekend for the annual Pancho Villa Celebration.
I know some of you guys are quite knowledgable about the Southern Border.
But Columbus is strange even when compared to the other areas.
The celebration was sort of divide along ethnic lines.
The Anglos folks were mostly at the State Park , listening to lectures and visiting the museum.
The Hispanic faction was mostly down at the park in town.
Lots of horses, music, etc.
My only disappointment was the food was underwhelming. Looked like flea market food.
After all, I am one of those folks who have often gone to Mexico to eat!
But all in all, it is another interesting part of our American experience.

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NRA LIFE MEMBER

His decedents are smarter. They just moved into New Mexico and claimed it as their own, without firing a single shot.

My Grandmother lived in Albuquerque as a new bride when the Columbus raid took place. As far as she was concerned Poncho Villa was just a common bandit. However, the other side of the coin is the fact that she grew up on the Southern border of Iowa and had family connections is MO. In her opinion Jesse James was a fine man who was just looking out for the people. She nearly disowned me when I one time pointed out that Jesse and Frank James had connections to the infamous Quantrell raiders. A lot of history depends on which direction you were facing when it happened.

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Keep Shootin' and check 6

An interesting side story on Pancho Villa:

Villa employed a Norteamericano pilot with an airplane to perform surveillance flights during the punitive campaign. The first known use of an airplane for military purposes!

My Grandfather--fought against Villa and was credited with killing two of his men where he captured a Winchester rifle taken from someone in Colombus--as well as an odd-make six gun. The sixgun was stolen over twenty years ago due toone of my brothers being stupid,and about three years ago--gave that Winchester away, Grrrr.

In one of the early Government Conspiracy Theories, Villa did not raid Columbus. It was a faked raid, but it gave the US an excuse to go into Mexico, to "find and punish him", which in turn gave the US Army some practical field experience, that they would desperately need the next year when WE entered the War to End War.

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I always take precautions

Your grandmother sounds like a very wise woman. A little study of the tragic history of MO before and during that period and you may come to understand her positions a little better.

Wouldn't you know it, I was there also. As a matter of fact I'm still here.

I have some ties to the area. I lived in Douglas AZ for a number of years and went to Douglas HS. I was actually in Columbus in 65 working for a contractor salvaging copper wire from the abandoned railroad. I camped in the old depot building as it was abandoned also. Sometime in the 70's they decided to rehab it.

I would highly recommend the state park here if you are looking for an RV experience. It was full last week.

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That's just somebody talkin.

After the raid, the Army sent in more reinforcements.
One of the units was the First Aero Squadron.
They arrived by train with their 8 JN-3 Jenny aircraft and some cars- trucks.
This 8 Jennies was almost all the aircraft that the U S Military owned at that time.
Here's a Jenny replica which hangs in the Pancho Villa State Park museum.

http://www.historynet.com/1st-aero-s...ry-feature.htm

Attached Images

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NRA LIFE MEMBER

My Grandfather was in the Army about that time and, had his outfit boarded on a train and was ready to depart when Pancho was defeated so their orders were rescinded.

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I Cor. 10:13 "1611KJV"

I agree your fine opinion sir... Very much

Just another example of a political thug getting to big for his britches and paying the price

One of my roommates in college was Frank Caldwell. His father, Frank Caldwell Sr. was an engineer with Pratt & Whitney. He won the first Collier trophy for inventing the variable pitch propellor. He told us once he was sent into Mexico during the punitive expedition to find out why all the propellors were falling apart in flight. He determined it was the glue that held the laminated wood together, was being attacked by the hot, dry conditions. A new glue solved the problem.

More on aviation: once in the 1960s, I saw in a junkyard in El Paso, a 1918s vintage Bugatti/King aircraft engine. Anyone have any idea what that thing was doing here?

Rusting???

It probably weighed at least 500 pounds and most of it was aluminum so it wasn't rusting However there were probably a couple of hundred pounds of sand in it. Actually it was in pretty good, restorable, condition. I had to leave it, but I wake up at night in a cold sweat thinking of it.

As I understand it Villa was promised weapons and support from President Wilson who reneged on his promise and instead gave arms to Carranza who was too close to those who did not want enough reforms for Gnrl Villa. He attacked Columbus because the US Garrison was there not believing Pres. Wilson would go against Monroe Doctrine and invade without Congress declaring war.

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Front sight and squeeze

I've slept in my truck several times in Columbus. When you're oversize and it gets dark, you have to be adaptable.

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dd884
JMHO-YMMV