War on the Border

Villa, Pershing, the Texas Rangers, and an American Invasion

By: Jeff Guinn

Narrated by: Timothy Andrés Pabon

An “engagingly written” (The Wall Street Journal) account of the “Punitive Expedition” of 1916 that brought Pancho Villa and Gen. John J. Pershing into conflict, and whose reverberations continue in the Southwestern US to this day.

Jeff Guinn, chronicler of the Southwestern US and of American undesirables (Bonnie and Clyde, Charles Manson, and Jim Jones) tells the “riveting and supremely entertaining narrative” (S.C. Gwynne, New York Times best-selling author of Empire of the Summer Moon) of Pancho Villa’s bloody raid on a small US border town that sparked a violent conflict with the US. The “Punitive Expedition” was launched in retaliation under Pershing’s command and brought together the Army, National Guard, and the Texas Rangers — who were little more than organized vigilantes with a profound dislike of Mexicans on both sides of the border. Opposing this motley military brigade was Villa, a guerrilla fighter who commanded an ever-changing force of conscripts in northern Mexico.

The American expedition was the last action by the legendary African American “Buffalo Soldiers.” It was also the first time the Army used automobiles and trucks, which were of limited value in Mexico, a country with no paved roads or gas stations. Curtiss Jenny airplanes did reconnaissance, another first. One era of warfare was coming to a close as another was beginning. But despite some bloody encounters, the Punitive Expedition eventually withdrew without capturing Villa.

Today Anglos and Latinos in Columbus, New Mexico, where Villa’s raid took place, commemorate those events, but with differing emotions. And although the bloodshed has ended, the US-Mexico border remains as vexed and volatile an issue as ever.

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Awesome book

Loved the book. A balanced and fair treatment of the subject. Recommended for all levels of subject knowledge.

Startling border war only 100 years ago (& I didn’t know)

I chose this book to learn about Poncho Villa, “Robin Hood” of Mexico, because he was a thorn in the side of Woodrow Wilson during the buildup to WW1. You also learn about Gen. Pershing and raucous Lt Patton. More importantly, Mexican-USA relations is discussed which reveals American abuse not dissimilar to other dark skinned peoples. This subject should be taught in schools along with African-American, Native American, & Asian studies.

Outstanding ! MUST READ-Listen

I was mesmerized! I thought I was well aware of the facts regarding the pre-WW1 US Pershing- Mexican incursion from readings and TV documentaries, and therefore almost did not download this book. BOY was I wrong! This book gives much more context to the event then I ever imagined. I had not heard about the "de San Diego Plan" or the fact that there were numerous on going border "incidents" both before and after Villa's Columbus raid and Pershing's Mexico invasion .This book provides the political, social and personality context better then anything I have thus far read or scene on any visual documentary. In fact the media documentaries thus far should be ashamed of their superficial manner in which they treat this subject! Caveat! I am not associated in any way nor know or am connected with the author, narrator, publisher or amazon-audiobooks. I make this review as a simple audio-reader as yourself.

Mexico, America, & WWI

This is an excellent work regarding Mexican/American relations during the Mexican Revolution and WWI. It’s focus remains on Pancho Villa and Pershing’s interactions in 1916, but also provides sufficient background and after story. This was an interesting work to listen to regarding these topics.

Great story, good performance, except...

The narrator kept mispronouncing adjutant as ad-JOO-tant, which drove me nuts. Other than that, fascinating look at how close we came to war with Mexico.

Excellent as always

Guinns historical accounts do well to wrap the topic with a greater picture of events surrounding them. While not as heavily layered as his majestic Bonnie and Clyde, Manson books, he does well to capture the atmosphere in the borderlands at the time that has led to the relationship that the US has with its southern neighbor today. Heavy in detail this qualifies as military history.

Great history lesson of little known

Jeff does a great job in the telling of the US war with Mexico in the early 1900s. I felt it unbiased and well researched. Spotlights some of America's and Mexico's greatest soldiers; Pancho Villa, Pershing and Patton.

Information filled beyond my expectations

I really enjoyed this book! I learned many new things about our troubled history with Mexico and it’s people.

Fascinating history, decently told

The strength of this book is that it covers a portion of history rarely talked about in general settings. I found it fascinating to learn more about ongoing tensions between the US and Mexico past the war. I knew the Germans appealed to them but did not realize we were close to another war with Mexico prior to WWI. It was interesting to learn the background of Pancho VIlla, who was for me just a reference in Westerns. It was also interesting to discover the involvement of Pershing and Patton in the conflict with Mexico.
Curiously, the narrator consistently mispronounced the word, "adjutant."

quit rolling your rrrrrrrrrrr's

Pabon is no doubt proficient in Spanish, but his rolling Rs are outlandish. I am used to hearing Spanish spoken semi-regularly but his theatrical pronunciation goes too far. Another issue is his sometime oddity of English. The pronunciation of adjutant was so odd I had to repeat it several times to make sure that that was the word I thought it was ,
This ought to be a very interesting book , but he ruins it .