In photos: The last invasion of Mexico by the United States. 100 years before Trump.
The "Punitive Expedition" against Pancho Villa was a U.S. military campaign that began March 14, 1916, in an attempt to capture the Mexican revolutionary leader. After Villa attacked the village of Columbus, New Mexico, the U.S. government authorized a military expedition of 10,000 soldiers that entered through the state of Chihuahua, Mexico. Over 11 months, the troops failed in their objective. Though their goal was the capture of Villa, the U.S. military also fought Mexican constitutional forces, which strained diplomatic relations and nearly sparked the formal outbreak of a war.
'Villistas' are captured by U.S. soldiers in Chihuahua, on April 27, 1916.
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General John Pershing , Commander of the Punitive Expedition against Pancho Villa. Over 11 months, 4,800 U.S. soldiers (which later rose to close to 12,000) traveled through the mountains of Chihuahua and hundreds of miles inside Mexico, and arrived at the city of Parral.
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General John Pershing, the commander of the U.S. troops sent to Mexico to capture Pancho Villa, 1917.
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United States troops meet Mexican constitutionalist soldiers, loyal to Venustiano Carranza, in San Antonio, Chihuahua, Mexico.
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Pancho Villa, revolutionary Mexican general. After attacking the city of Columbus in New Mexico, he was persecuted within Mexican territory by U.S. troops.
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U.S. troops walk back to the United States between Rancho Corralitos and Ojo Federico, near Ciudad Juárez, Chihuahua, México, on January 29, 1917.
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Soldiers from the United States Army pose for a photograph with Mexican constitutionalist soldiers in San Antonio, México, April 27, 1916.
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United States Army camp in Valle de las Cruces, Chihuahua, Mexico. April 10, 1916.
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Soldiers of the tenth United States Army cavalry regiment, who were taken prisoner in the Battle of El Carrizal against the Mexican federal army.
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Soldiers of the American army commanded by John Pershing, entrenched near El Paso, Texas. 1916.
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U.S. troops in Columbus, New Mexico, after Pancho Villa's attack. 1916.
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U.S. troops en route to Chihuahua, México. December 31, 1915.