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Mexican Border Expeditions Purple Hearts


MWalsh
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So this morning I was reading an article about General Pershings expedition into Mexico to hunt down Pancho Villa. The article I read on it summarized the entire campaign.

 

Basically, in March, April, May and June of 1916 U.S. Army troops from various units, mostly Cavalry, were involved in numerous fights and skirmishes with Mexican troops and bandits, which resulted in a number of American troops killed and wounded.

 

I know that there are Purple Hearts known to have been awarded to men for Civil War, Span Am War, Philippine Insurrection, and WW1 wounds. Those awards have been discussed here and in some books.

 

What I do not recall seeing though, are any Purple Heart awards from the Mexican Service or the Mexican Border Service campaigns. I have to think there may be a handful out there possibly.

 

Anyone know of any or have any from then?

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Thanks Adam! He must have been in the thick of it to get TWO in Mexico, given that there were a limited number of skirmishes and so few wounded over all.

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This is an extract from an article I published through Planchet Research Group in 2009, listing the casualties the Army reported back to the War Department (Killed, wounded, injured). The data are: name, date of action, unit and status.The numbers at the end of some of the lines are the numbers of the issued Mexican Border Service Medals. Under the criteria of the time, only the wounded would have qualified for a Purple Heart in 1932.

 

 

Barmazel, Michael 9 Mar 16 13th Cavalry Wounded 11839
Behr, Fred 21 Oct 15 3rd Cavalry Wounded
Birck, Joseph 5 May 16 14th Cavalry Wounded
Boeniger, John J. 21 Oct 15 3rd Cavalry Wounded 10723
Boyd, George 28 Nov 14 9th Cavalry Wounded 8569
Bradford, Leroy J. 5 Oct 14 10th Cavalry Wounded
Brasher, Claude J. 18 Oct 15 6th Cavalry Injured (train wreck)
Burger, Michael 1/2 Nov 15 7th Infantry Wounded
Butler, Thomas 9 Mar 16 13th Cavalry Killed
Cain, Allen 30 Nov 14 9th Cavalry Wounded 1532
Cansler, Louis 21 Oct 15 Signal Corps Wounded 4010
Cates, Herbert L. 26 Nov 15 12th Infantry Wounded 12317
Clay, Cassious H. 27 Nov 14 10th Cavalry Wounded 1969
Cohen, William 5 May 16 14th Cavalry Killed
Coloe, Stephen J. 5 May 16 14th Cavalry Killed
Curtis, William M. 2 Aug 15 12th Cavalry Wounded
Davies, George G. 3 Jun 13 14th Cavalry Wounded
Defrees, Frank 5 May 16 14th Cavalry Wounded
Dobbs, Mark A. 9 Mar 16 13th Cavalry Killed
Dudley, Frank 1/2 Nov 15 7th Infantry Wounded
Everhart, Early 11 Oct 14 9th Cavalry Wounded 6526
Ewing, Thomas H. 15 Jun 16 14th Cavalry Wounded
Flowers, Charles F. 15 Jun 16 23rd Infantry Killed
Forney, Harold T. 13 Sep 15 12th Cavalry Died of wounds
Furman, Harry 18 May 16 23rd Infantry Killed
Griffin, Fred A. 9 Mar 16 13th Cavalry Killed
Hallenbeck, Benj. H. 21 Oct 15 3rd Cavalry Wounded
Havlina, Tony 15 Jun 16 14th Cavalry Wounded
Henson, George J. 18 Oct 14 10th Cavalry Wounded 6773
Hubly, Victor 21 Oct 15 3rd Cavalry Wounded
Jackson, Emmons B. 16 Aug 15 12th Cavalry Wounded
Johnson, Richard J. 24 Sep 15 12th Cavalry Captured in Texas, shot by Mexicans
Jones, Harry J. 1 Nov 15 11th Infantry Died of wounds
Joyce, Martin F. 21 Oct 15 Signal Corps Killed
Katonah, Edward G. 15 Jun 16 23rd Infantry Killed
Katzorke, Theodore 9 Mar 16 13th Cavalry Wounded 2868
Kindvall, Frank T. 9 Mar 16 13th Cavalry Killed
Langlands, Paul M. 21 Oct 15 3rd Cavalry Wounded 11787
Laymon, Carl 18 Oct 15 3rd Cavalry Injured (train wreck)
Littles, Stephen 26 Nov 15 12th Infantry Killed
Lumpkin, John H. 21 Nov 14 9th Cavalry Wounded
Mays, Walter 1/2 Nov 15 7th Infantry Wounded
McBee, Albert T. 18 Oct 15 3rd Cavalry Died (train wreck)
McCalister, Noah 11 Dec 14 9th Cavalry Wounded
McCalister, Noah 11 Oct 14 9th Cavalry Wounded
McCarver, Ponce N. 17 Oct 14 9th Cavalry Wounded
McConnell, Herbert 21 Oct 15 Signal Corps Killed
McMillin, Mungo 16 Aug 15 12th Cavalry Wounded 4138
Mercer, Allen M. 8 Aug 15 12th Cavalry Wounded
Miller, John W. 4 Dec 14 10th Cavalry Wounded
Minaden, James 15 Jun 16 14th Cavalry Died 15 Jun 16
Minnette, Elmer W. 15 Jun 16 14th Cavalry Wounded
Moore, Herman E. 24 Oct 15 4th Infantry Wounded train holdup (died 25 Oct 15)
Nagy, Steve 1/2 Nov 15 18th Infantry Wounded
Natisoff, Harry 15 Jun 16 14th Cavalry Wounded
Nievergelt, John G. 9 Mar 16 13th Cavalry Killed
Norman, Willie 21 Nov 15 10th Cavalry Wounded 5726
Oberlies, William 15 Jun 16 14th Cavalry Died 22 Jun 16
Patterson, Walter 7 Dec 14 10th Cavalry Wounded 9071
Poole, Clem 23 Nov 15 10th Cavalry Wounded
Rauch, James E. 15 Jun 16 14th Cavalry Wounded
Reedy, George E. 8 Aug 15 12th Cavalry Wounded
Rogers, Hudson 5 May 16 14th Cavalry Killed
Salvini, John M. 4 Sep 15 3rd Cavalry Wounded 4986
Sanders, Lee W. 10 Jun 16 12th Cavalry Wounded
Saupe, Arthur L. 26 Nov 15 12th Infantry Wounded
Semler, James 20 Nov 14 9th Cavalry Wounded 9410
Shaffer, Ernest 18 Oct 15 3rd Cavalry Killed
Simon, Paul 9 Mar 16 13th Cavalry Killed
Smart, Charles H. 6 Dec 14 10th Cavalry Wounded 5096
Smith, Herbert R. 21 Oct 15 Signal Corps Wounded
Smith, Nathan 17 Oct 14 10th Cavalry Wounded
Smyth, Charles E. 5 May 16 14th Cavalry Wounded 8246
Tank, Edward 1/2 Nov 15 11th Infantry Wounded
Taylor, Jesse P. 9 Mar 16 13th Cavalry Died 10 Mar 16
Thompson, Louis 31 Jul 16 8th Cavalry Wounded
Twoney, John J. 31 Jul 16 8th Cavalry Killed
Tyree, Roscoe C. 5 May 16 14th Cavalry Wounded
Venner, James 9 Mar 16 13th Cavalry Wounded
Wakefield, Daniel 17 Oct 14 9th Cavalry Wounded
Walsh, James J. 13 Sep 15 12th Cavalry Wounded
Watson, Robert B. 17 Oct 14 9th Cavalry Wounded (died 20 Oct 14)
Whiddon, Ollie G. 1/2 Nov 15 7th Infantry Wounded
Wilson, Howard 4 Oct 14 10th Cavalry Wounded
Wiswell, Harry E. 9 Mar 16 13th Cavalry Killed
Woods, Charles 8 Aug 15 12th Cavalry Wounded
Yarbrough, John V. 9 Mar 16 13th Cavalry Wounded

There was a separate list for the Punitive Expedition casualties.

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Interesting that Tompkins is not listed.

 

Even more interesting to me, nearly 20 members of the 9th and 10th Cav are listed, including one guy hit twice! Talk about unique PH's to have in your collection. Wonder if any have ever surfaced.

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Two clarifications:

 

The casualty list above only covers Regular Army personnel on the US side of the border. I don't know of any similar National Guard lists of casualties. There is a separate list for Punitive Expedituion casualties.

 

Tompkins (Major, 13th Cavalry) was wounded (gsw, left breast) on 12 April 1916 at Parral, Mexico, when part of the Punitive Expedition. He received Mexican Service Medal #32.

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Here's the Punitive Expedition casualty roll (with Mexican Service Medal numbers on the right):

 

 

Adair, Henry R. 21 Jun 16 Carrizal 1Lt C, 10th Cavalry Killed

Barbell, Joe 29 Mar 16 Guerrero Pvt C, 7th Cavalry Left upper forearm

Bay, Ralph A. 22 Apr 16 Tomachic Saddler L, 7th Cavalry Killed

Bennett, Joseph C. 29 Mar 16 Guerrero Pvt C, 7th Cavalry Ankle

Boushee, Oliver 22 Apr 16 Tomachic Pvt H, 7th Cavalry Killed

Boyd, Charles T. 21 Jun 16 Carrizal Capt 10th Cavalry Killed 2463

Brown, Thomas P. 29 Mar 16 Guerrero Pvt C, 7th Cavalry Cheek, back, shoulder 5914

Clifton, Ellis E. 10 Apr 16 Lajoya/Santa Cruz Pvt E, 11th Cavalry Wounded 11896

Conway, James F. 10 Apr 16 Lajoya/Santa Cruz Pvt E, 11th Cavalry Wounded

Cooke, Frank B. 21 Jun 16 Carrizal Cpl K, 10th Cavalry Wounded 2269

Day, James E. 21 Jun 16 Carrizal Pvt K, 10th Cavalry Killed

Farrior, Dalley 21 Jun 16 Carrizal Sgt C, 10th Cavalry Wounded

Gardner, Walter M. 29 Mar 16 Guerrero Pvt C, 7th Cavalry Left hand 4784

Gleeton, Walter A. 21 Jun 16 Carrizal Pvt C, 10th Cavalry Killed

Graham, Elsie 21 Jun 16 Carrizal Pvt K, 10th Cavalry Wounded 2290

Gutkowski, Joseph J. 10 Apr 16 Lajoya/Santa Cruz Pvt E, 11th Cavalry Wounded 12472

Harris, Sam H. 21 Jun 16 Carrizal Pvt C, 10th Cavalry Wounded 10105

Harris, Will 21 Jun 16 Carrizal Farrier K, 10th Cavalry Wounded 2272

Henry, Thomas 22 Apr 16 Tomachic Pvt L, 7th Cavalry Left leg

Hines, Will 21 Jun 16 Carrizal Sgt C, 10th Cavalry Killed

Hulett, George O. 25 May 16 Cruces Pvt G, 17th Infantry Above left knee 12500

Jones, Archie 21 Jun 16 Carrizal Hshoer K, 10th Cavalry Wounded 2283

Kirby, Herman E. 10 Apr 16 Lajoya/Santa Cruz Pvt M, 11th Cavalry Killed

Kraink, Louis 22 Apr 16 Tomachic QMSgt H, 7th Cavalry Right arm and elbow 6258

Ledford, Hobert 12 Apr 16 Parral Pvt M, 13th Cavalry Killed

Lyons, Walter 21 Jun 16 Carrizal Sgt C, 10th Cavalry Wounded 566

Mandeville, Valmor E. 29 Mar 16 Guerrero Farrier C, 7th Cavalry Left forearm

Marksbury, Davis 25 May 16 Cruces Pvt MG Co, 7th Infantry Killed

Mathews, Charlie 21 Jun 16 Carrizal Pvt K, 10th Cavalry Killed

Matthias, William F. 22 Apr 16 Tomachic Pvt L, 7th Cavalry Right side

McGehee, Benjamin 12 Apr 16 Parral Cpl M, 13th Cavalry Died 2 May 16

Morey, Lewis S. 21 Jun 16 Carrizal Capt 10th Cavalry Wounded

Moses, Thomas C. 21 Jun 16 Carrizal Pvt C, 10th Cavalry Killed

Nicholson, Geo. F. 25 May 16 Cruces Pvt M, 17th Infantry Arm and leg, serious

Ord, James B. 12 Apr 16 Parral 2Lt 6th Infantry Left ear 751

Richley, Jay 12 Apr 16 Parral Sgt M, 13th Cavalry Killed

Roberts, William F. 21 Jun 16 Carrizal Pvt C, 10th Cavalry Killed

Rucker, Dewitt, T. 21 Jun 16 Carrizal Pvt K, 10th Cavalry Killed

Schomburger, L. M. 12 Apr 16 Parral Pvt K, 13th Cavalry Left hip, slight 5957

Talbott, Lee 21 Jun 16 Carrizal Hshoer C, 10th Cavalry Killed

Tannous, Richard 12 Apr 16 Parral Cpl K, 13th Cavalry Elbow and arm

Tompkins, Frank 12 Apr 16 Parral Major 13th Cavalry Shot, left breast 32

Ware, William 21 Jun 16 Carrizal Pvt K, 10th Cavalry Killed

Watson, Andrew J. 22 Sep 16 El Valle Wgnr Sup Trp, 5th Cavalry Killed

Willingham, Elliott 12 Apr 16 Parral Cpl K, 13th Cavalry Left leg 12467

Winrow, William 21 Jun 16 Carrizal 1st Sgt C, 10th Cavalry Killed

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A friend just sent me these photos of a Punitive Expedition Purple Heart group. Garbell was WIA in 1916 while serving with Troop C of the 7th Cavalry. (Note that he's mistakenly listed as Barbell on Jeff's list.)

post-10651-0-84987100-1456773432.jpg

post-10651-0-47177100-1456773439.jpg

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Jeff and Adam, thanks for the great information and photos. You both are very giving of your time and knowledge.

 

The Mexican Border incidents and Expedition are such a footnote in history, being overshadowed by the events in Europe, yet at the time I imagine they were quite an event, with issues of sovereignty at play, and then all the National Guard troops from various states being drawn into it.

 

There sure is a total lack of source material on it all it seems, at least that I have ever come across, seen, or heard about.

 

I would imagine that the total number of Purple Heart awards from the pre-WW1 fights from the Civil War, must be quite small. I know that Span Am and Insurrection awards do turn up, probably in greater numbers than anything else pre-WW1, but even those are not often found.

 

I wonder what there were from the pre-WW1 period - maybe a couple thousand all totaled?

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  • 4 weeks later...
Jayhawker353

Wow, I had seen the planchet listing, but it's great to see a group. Love the double thumbnail in the Tompkins photo.

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  • 4 years later...
Jeffrey Magut

I am resurrecting this topic to add a Mexican Service Purple Heart group. The Purple Heart is named and numbered, and the Mexican Service Medal is also numbered. The Philippine Insurrection Service Medal is numbered and engraved with the year 1910, which corresponds with this soldier's service time in Jolo, P.I. (The campaign medal numbers are outside the traceable range).100_1361.JPG.99794b2a19299ac7562341c62cfdb5d6.JPG100_1358.JPG.aaef7d7467d15fd99d93dd95d4b5af47.JPG

 

The Purple Heart was awarded for a gunshot wound to the knee suffered on November 1-2, 1915, during the Second Battle of Agua Prieta, Mexico.  The 7th Infantry Regiment was detailed to Douglas, Arizona to prevent Pancho Villa's troops from flanking the Mexican Government troops and entering U.S. territory. On the night of Nov 1, 1915, Pvt Burger and his company were digging a trench near the international border. Mexican Government troops used a huge searchlight to scan the battlefield. The light silhouetted the Americans digging their trench, and Villa's troops shot Burger and several other Americans.

 

An unusual medal, earned in 1915, for a wound received in Arizona from a bullet fired in Mexico.

100_1359.JPG

100_1362.JPG

100_1363.JPG

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Thanks for posting the group, that is really something. I had forgotten about this thread too, thanks for brining it back up

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