MWalsh Posted February 27, 2016 Share #1 Posted February 27, 2016 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? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pete-o MSU Posted February 27, 2016 Share #2 Posted February 27, 2016 I don't recall ever seeing one, it would be nice to see if any members have one. Great topic! Pete Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Adam R Posted February 27, 2016 Share #3 Posted February 27, 2016 Tompkins earned two Purple Hearts in Mexico and one in WWI. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MWalsh Posted February 27, 2016 Author Share #4 Posted February 27, 2016 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. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FFZFlyer Posted February 27, 2016 Share #5 Posted February 27, 2016 What a group that is! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wharfmaster Posted February 27, 2016 Share #6 Posted February 27, 2016 Wounded 3 times in 2 1/2 years. Not sure if he was very lucky or very unlucky. Fantastic medal group. W Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JBFloyd Posted February 27, 2016 Share #7 Posted February 27, 2016 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. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MWalsh Posted February 28, 2016 Author Share #8 Posted February 28, 2016 Thanks much Jeff! I had no idea the list was so lengthy. I don't recall having seen that article back in 2009 either. Great information. MW Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MWalsh Posted February 28, 2016 Author Share #9 Posted February 28, 2016 Now the next question, are there any Mexican Service Purple Hearts actually in collector hands? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pathfinder505 Posted February 28, 2016 Share #10 Posted February 28, 2016 Very interesting topic. Thanks for posting Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JBFloyd Posted February 28, 2016 Share #11 Posted February 28, 2016 I only know of one Mexican Border Service Purple Heart in collector hands and, for the life of me, I can't find the name. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wharfmaster Posted February 28, 2016 Share #12 Posted February 28, 2016 Makes you wonder how many men actually claimed their PH for service in Mexico. Perhaps 50 percent ? Wharf Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FFZFlyer Posted February 28, 2016 Share #13 Posted February 28, 2016 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. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
doyler Posted February 29, 2016 Share #14 Posted February 29, 2016 What a great topic.Honestly never thought about there being Purple Heart medals awarded for the actions.Fascinating Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JBFloyd Posted February 29, 2016 Share #15 Posted February 29, 2016 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. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JBFloyd Posted February 29, 2016 Share #16 Posted February 29, 2016 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 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Adam R Posted February 29, 2016 Share #17 Posted February 29, 2016 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.) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
scottplen Posted February 29, 2016 Share #18 Posted February 29, 2016 Wow !!! great rare Heart !!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheMariner Posted February 29, 2016 Share #19 Posted February 29, 2016 This is a great thread, a very interesting topic i never would have thought of. Does anyone know where Tompkins medals are right now ? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MWalsh Posted February 29, 2016 Author Share #20 Posted February 29, 2016 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? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jayhawker353 Posted March 28, 2016 Share #21 Posted March 28, 2016 Wow, I had seen the planchet listing, but it's great to see a group. Love the double thumbnail in the Tompkins photo. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jeffrey Magut Posted June 23, 2020 Share #22 Posted June 23, 2020 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). 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. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KASTAUFFER Posted June 23, 2020 Share #23 Posted June 23, 2020 Thanks for posting this! Thats a great group Jeffrey, Kurt Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hermanus Posted June 23, 2020 Share #24 Posted June 23, 2020 And again, wow..! Ultra rare I support. Regards Herman Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MWalsh Posted June 26, 2020 Author Share #25 Posted June 26, 2020 Thanks for posting the group, that is really something. I had forgotten about this thread too, thanks for brining it back up Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Create an account or sign in to comment
You need to be a member in order to leave a comment
Create an account
Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!
Register a new accountSign in
Already have an account? Sign in here.
Sign In Now