Posted 12 years ago
Militarist
(296 items)
Like most Wisconsin Mexican Border Service medals this one is scarce if not rare. This nice looking medal was part of a friend’s collection and he was proud of it. Unfortunately it was not issued on a ribbon like the other Wisconsin Mex. Border medals, this one was on a bronze brooch originally. Beware of the “any ribbon is better than no ribbon” school of thought.
OK, nobody else seems to be springing! What is the connection between Wisconsin & the Mexican border? Wisconsin, TX/AZ/NV/CA?
1916 Mexican Border service-- regiments from about every state participated.
scott
I would really feel stupid except why don't they do that now? Oh yeah, immigration gives anybody citizenship anyway!
The military presence along the border in 1916 – 1917 was to deter invasion, and not by illegal immigrants. From 1910 till after 1917, Mexico was in a full blown revolution, and in addition to Americans being killed in Mexico, cross border bloodshed also occurred. The most famous was when Poncho Villa crossed the border and attacked the town of Columbus New Mexico in 1916.
In 1917, the Zimmerman Telegram was leaked. It was a secret German proposal that if the U.S. appeared likely to enter WWI, Germany would seek an alliance with Mexico. If Mexico could keep US Forces engaged along the border instead of in Europe, then Germany promised Mexico it could have back the territory it lost in Texas, New Mexico and Arizona. Mexico ignored the proposal, but the US took the possibility of an invasion - by military or desperados - very seriously.
Thanks every one. I see that my simple ribbon observation started a good historical dicussion. One thing I would add is that with WWI on our horizon the call up of the national guard for border duty was a good shake down run to test the guard's readiness. A lot of older and unfit guardsmen were washed out and a reorganization began. The resulting medals are very popular with collectors and have a dedicated following. All together there are 15 different Mexican Border Service medal types from Wisconsin alone.
Thanks for the history lesson. I always thought that action was just under the heading of the U.S. Army instead of a confederation of forces.
The US army actually crossed the border into Mexico chasing after Pancho Vila while the national guard stayed in the US guarding the border.
The Army’s punitive expedition against Poncho Villa was the most famous, and I believe largest operation on Mexican territory during this time, but there were a hand full of skirmishes on both the Mexican and American sides of the border during this period. I have no idea if National Guard units participated in any of them. There was a second medal, besides the Mexican Border Service Medal. The Mexican Service Medal was created by the Federal government to recognize the following clashes:
Veracruz, Mexico 1914.
Punitive Expedition against Villa in Mexico 1916-1917
Buena Vista, Mexico 1917
San Bernadino Canyon, Mexico 1917
La Grulla Texas Border 1918
Pilares Mexico 1918
Nogales AZ/Nogales Mexico 1918
El Paso/Ciudad Juarez Mexico 1919
Bellin if you are so close and like medals I hope you know about the large gun show in Fondy 2-3 times a year at the expo center. I have lost track but over the years I have found some good items there.