Border Service Trucks and Drivers

[world war I nerd]

Here's an unusual image of "contract" truck drivers employed by the U.S. Army to ferry supplies for the Punitive Expedition into Mexico in 1916.

 

The back-story is: When the expedition entered Mexico, they assumed that the Mexican government would allow Pershing's troops to use the Mexican railway system to move men, equipment & supplies throughout the northern Mexican state of Chihuahua. That however, was not the case. The Mexican government refused the "Americanos" access to their railroads.

 

Thus, Uncle Sam was forced to buy dozens of motor-trucks and get them down to the border as fast as possible. The only problem was that the U.S. Army, which had always relied on the U.S. railroads, as well as horses and mules to move its supplies, did not have enough qualified motor-truck drivers. The quickest solution was to hire civilian drivers. And that's exactly what they did. I don't have any statistics, but as many drivers as possible were rounded up from El Paso, assigned a loaded truck and then pointed in the direction of Mexico.

 

The civilian drivers, as seen in this photo, wore a mixture of civilian attire and Army issue clothing. Even though the truck convoys were escorted by armed Army guards, most, if not all of the contract drivers also armed themselves with shotguns, hunting rifles and cowboy six-shooters.

 

I think the canvas cover on far-left truck reads "Field Hospital No. 2", which was assigned to the Punitive Expedition and went into Mexico.

[world war I nerd]

Close up No. 1 ...

[world war I nerd]

Close Up No. 2 ...

 

Is that a baseball jersey next to the overalls guy?

[Dragoon]

Some great photos, I like seeing the photos of the drivers as you say such a mix of clothing and accoutrements., it is great spotting various military clothing and items.