Today in Guard history

March 9, 1916

Columbus, New Mexico — Mexican bandit leader Pancho Villa, leading about 500 men, attacks this town in the middle of the night.

They kill 18 civilians and soldiers responding from a nearby Camp Furlong.

This action caused the President Woodrow Wilson to immediately moved federalized Guardsmen from Texas, New Mexico, Arizona and California to protect the border against future raids. He soon authorized a partial mobilization of 158,664 Guardsmen from all states (except Nevada, which was just organizing its Guard) to move to protect in-depth the border areas.

While on the border these troops began serious large unit maneuvers in preparation for America's potential involvement in World War I then raging in Europe.

--National Guard Bureau