Punitive Expedition into Mexico

The Punitive Expedition was a military campaign launched by the United States in 1916-1917 aim ed at capturing the Mexican revolutionary leader Pancho Villa. After Villa's forces attacked the town of Columbus, New Mexico, killing several Americans, the U.S. government sought to punish and apprehend him. Under General John J. Pershing, American troops crossed into northern Mexico to pursue Villa across the border. The operation aimed to capture Villa but ultimately did not succeed, and the campaign was called off in early 1917 as U.S. focus shifted to World War I. It was a rare example of active U.S. military intervention in Mexico at that time.