Mexican Border Service Medal

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Mexican Border Service Medal
MexBorder.gif
Awarded by United States military
Type campaign medal
Awarded for service at the Mexico – United States border
Statistics
Established 9 July 1918
First awarded 1 January 1916
Last awarded 6 April 1917
Mexican Border Service Medal ribbon.svg
ribbon

The Mexican Border Service Medal was a decoration of the United States military which was established by an act of the United States Congress on July 9, 1918. The decoration recognizes those military service members who performed military service on the U.S.-Mexico border between the dates of January 1, 1916 and April 6, 1917, a period of time where the United States was on the verge of all-out war with Mexico.[1] The United States was then engaged in the Pancho Villa Expedition, a military operation conducted by the United States Army against the paramilitary forces of Mexican revolutionary Francisco "Pancho" Villa from March 14, 1916, to February 7, 1917, during the Mexican Revolution 1910–1920.

To be awarded the Mexican Border Service Medal, a service member must have served with the United States Army, along the Mexican border, or must have been assigned as a Regular or National Guard member to the Mexican Border Patrol. Those who had received the Mexican Service Medal were not eligible for the Mexican Border Service Medal. The United States National Guard was sent to guard the American side of the border as regular Army personnel were being depleted by the efforts in Mexico.

The Mexican Border Service Medal held dual status as both a Federal award and a decoration of the United States National Guard. The first recipient was Major General Charles M. Clement, in recognition of his status as the longest-tenured National Guard officer eligible for the award at the time it was authorized.[2]

Congress created a similar award to present to members of the Texas National Guard who served on the border from December 8, 1917 to November 11, 1918, known as the Texas Cavalry Medal. These guardsmen deployed to the border to free up regular Army units for service during World War I.[3]

See also

References

  1. National Guard on the Mexican Border, 1916 - 1917, Major Brent Orr, North Carolina Army National Guard
  2. Harrisburg Telegraph, Clement Gets Two Medals, June 24, 1919
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