General Pershing's Expedition (Pershing's Punitive Expedition)

General Pershing's Expedition, also known as Pershing's Punitive Expedition, was a military campaign conducted by the United States in 1916-1917 along the U.S.-Mexico border. Its primary goal was to pursue and capture Pancho Villa, a Mexican revolutionary leader who had raided U.S. border towns. Led by General John J. Pershing, the expedition involved sending U.S. troops into northern Mexico to locate Villa and deter his attacks. Although Villa was never captured, the operation demonstrated U.S. military readiness and helped prepare forces for World War I. The campaign emphasized border security and regional stability during a turbulent period in Mexican-American relations.