On 9 March 1916, Mexican General Francisco "Pancho" Villa and 1,000 of his revolutionaries attacked the small border town and military camp of Columbus, New Mexico. Several fuildings were burned and 18 Americans killed.   

US General Frederick Funston, who had been sent to occupy the city of Veracruz in 1914, quickly wired Washington, recommending pursuit of Pancho Villa and strong protection of the border.

Brigadier General John J. Pershing, a younger officer than Funston, was selected to head the punitive expedition of 10,000 men to suppress Villa and his men.

Funston was directed to provide any transportation the force required. Permission to use the railroads was denied by Mexican officials.

While the Army had been experimenting since 1904 with trucks, they were used primarily at arsenals and depots. The Quartermaster had set specifications for a field truck and proposed a tentative organization.

The Quartermaster Corps bought a total of 544 trucks - 13 different types from 8 different manufacturers. This created numerous problems, ranging from repair and spare parts to competent repair personnel and drivers.

Brig Gen John J. Pershing, 1916

The 1st Aero Squadron had been using trucks for maintenance since 1913 and had developed some expertise. They were ordered to Columbus, New Mexico, arriving with 8 Curtiss JN-3 biplanes, 10 motor trucks and 6 motorcycles.

For the first few days of the advance, 1st Aero Squadron trucks provided the only motorized supply capability for the expedition. They also carried a load of field telegraph wire 40 miles to Boca Grande, and became known as the Field and Combat Train of the 1st Aero Squadron.

Members of the 1st Aero prepared the trucks as they arrived, and civilian drivers provided by the Jeffery Truck Company established the first repair shop.

The Quartermaster tentatively organized 18 truck companies and repair shops. In the final organization, a truck company had 33 trucks, one automobile, 1 officer and 51 other ranks.

Moving Supplies into Mexico

Curtiss JN-3 biplanes - or "Jennies" - were flown into Mexico, primarily on scouting and communications missions.

The squadron flew 540 missions between 15 March and 15 August 1916, the average mission length being 36 miles.  Their greatest contribution was maintaining communications between Pershing's columns, which penetrated 700 miles into Mexico.

A 1916 Jennie was so underpowered by its 100-hp engine and flew so low, it drew fire from the ground.

Captain Benjamin D. Foulois, commander of the 1st Aero Squadron, sits on the running board with other men from the squadron. Promoted to Major by 1917, he rose rapidly through the ranks and soon commanded the U.S. Air Service of the First Army during World War I.

Specifications:
Span: 43 ft, 7 in
Lenght: 27 ft 4 in
Height: 9 ft 10 in
Weight: 1,430 lbs
Cost: $5,465
Max Speed: 75 mph

 Soldiers helped unload trains and provided supplies to the invading forces.

Calling up the State Militia

President Woodrow Wilson called the National Guard of all the states into Federal service. Over 150,000 troops were called, the majority serving along the Mexican-U.S. border.

The 7^th, 10^th, 11^th, and 13^th Cavalry regiments, 6^th and 16^th Infantry regiments, and the 6^th Field Artillery crossed into Mexico by mid-March, followed later by the 5^th Cavalry.

Assembling wagons and making the trip to the border was the first task.

Early Truck Companies

Competent drivers were a serious problem. Civilian drivers from Jeffery and White manned Truck Companies No. 1 and 2. Hired drivers from San Antonio and El Paso were poorly qualified and did not know how to live in the field.

QM personnel had never driven a vehicle, and QM sergeants were old timers who refused to do 'jobs beneath their dignity.'
 

QM Truck Company #73, Mexico, 1916. The FWD Model B truck was the most reliable of the 4-wheel drive trucks. 147 of the 3-ton FWDs were ordered for the expedition.

Mexican laborers loading gasoline into wagons (left) to carry south to the truck companies, and (right) are part of a road repair gang.

Personalities Along The Border

Many young officers who gained prominence later were stationed along the border. Matthew B. Ridgeway was a 2nd Lieutenant serving at Eagle Pass, Texas. Lucian K. Truscott was a 2nd Lieutenant with the 17th Cavalry at Douglas, Arizona. Jonathan M. Wainwright was a Captain with the 1st Cavalry. William J. "Wild Bill" Donovan served with the NY National Guard. Leslie J. McNair served with Pershing. George C. Marshall was a 1st Lieutenant with the 18th Infantry.

Carl A. Spaatz was a West Point graduate and served with the 1st Aero Squadron. He is shown here with a Martin Trainer aircraft.

George S. Patton served with the 8th Cavalry, and was aide-de-camp to General Funston in 1914.

Omar Nelson Bradley was a new 2nd lieutenant with the 14th Infantry. For 7 months, he was at Douglas, Arizona where he lived "in absolutely miserable circumstances." He participated in one of the
300-mile convoys

Trucks were here to stay

While Pancho Villa was neither captured nor killed, his forces were dispersed and the American effort was considered successful.
Normal relations with Mexico were eventually restored by diplomatic negotiation, and U.S. troops were withdrawn in February 1917.

Army tests concluded that while escort wagons and pack animals were still important for direct support, the makeup of Army transport had dramatically and irrevocably changed.

General Pershing's men were the first forces to use the motorized vehicle in wartime. Secretary of War Newton Baker recognized that "the development of the motor truck, able to traverse wild, unbroken country, transport soldiers and their supplies, will be evolved into a sounder foundation for subsequent use by the Army."