The Mexican Front, That Is

Yes, it was for the troubles spilling over from the Mexican Revolution that George Severance, Jr. volunteered in March 1916.

By late April he was stationed at El Paso, Texas, in a camp about 200 yards from the Mexican border. He and his fellow soldiers were idle but in a constant state of alertness, never allowed to leave camp, wearing their arms day and night. Each man had a rifle, a revolver, 200 rounds of ammunition, and three days' rations, and was "ready to march at a minute's notice." Troops continued to pour into El Paso, which was under military rule. For the most part, the soldiers were on post duty.

On the other side of the Rio Grande, they could see about 1,200 Mexican troops, drilling for hours every day. Now and then bullets flew over the camp, but thus far no one had been hurt.

That soon changed. On the night of May 9, George was on post duty when the Mexicans attempted a raid. George was shot in the leg; several other pickets were wounded as well, but the raid was unsuccessful and the Americans took about 40 Mexican prisoners.

The raiders shot carpet tacks instead of bullets, George said, which caused blood poisoning.

George's wound was painful and slow to heal. On June 16 when his regiment was ordered to cross into Mexico, George could not march with them, being unable to walk much. But (he told his parents) he'd been promised a place on the next auto supply train, so he hoped that he wouldn't entirely miss out on the action.


Sources:
♦ Hobart Gazette 23 June 1916 [untitled item].
♦ "Hobart's Soldier Boy Wounded." Hobart Gazette 19 May 1916.
♦ "Writes From El Paso." Hobart Gazette 5 May 1916.