Julio Cardenas
Encyclopedia
Julio Cárdenas was a Captain in Pancho Villa
's Villista military organization. He was second-in-command to Villa and the head of his personal bodyguard. The Battle of Columbus, New Mexico
, in which 18 Americans were killed, sparked the campaign, led by 'Black Jack' Pershing
, to eradicate the Villa gang. One of Pershing's aides-de-camp was Lt. George S. Patton
. Cárdenas was hiding in a house as Patton drove by with ten Americans, leading a procession of cars. Cárdenas and his men opened fire on the Americans, resulting in a small firefight between the two groups.
In the skirmish, Lt. Patton shot Cárdenas with his six-gun. Patton then put a notch in his gun, and strapped Cárdenas to the hood of his car (along with two other dead villistas). He later took Cárdenas's spurs as a souvenir. These spurs are now in the Museum of WWII, all that remains of Cárdenas' legacy.
Pancho Villa
José Doroteo Arango Arámbula – better known by his pseudonym Francisco Villa or its hypocorism Pancho Villa – was one of the most prominent Mexican Revolutionary generals....
's Villista military organization. He was second-in-command to Villa and the head of his personal bodyguard. The Battle of Columbus, New Mexico
New Mexico
New Mexico is a state located in the southwest and western regions of the United States. New Mexico is also usually considered one of the Mountain States. With a population density of 16 per square mile, New Mexico is the sixth-most sparsely inhabited U.S...
, in which 18 Americans were killed, sparked the campaign, led by 'Black Jack' Pershing
John J. Pershing
John Joseph "Black Jack" Pershing, GCB , was a general officer in the United States Army who led the American Expeditionary Forces in World War I...
, to eradicate the Villa gang. One of Pershing's aides-de-camp was Lt. George S. Patton
George S. Patton
George Smith Patton, Jr. was a United States Army officer best known for his leadership while commanding corps and armies as a general during World War II. He was also well known for his eccentricity and controversial outspokenness.Patton was commissioned in the U.S. Army after his graduation from...
. Cárdenas was hiding in a house as Patton drove by with ten Americans, leading a procession of cars. Cárdenas and his men opened fire on the Americans, resulting in a small firefight between the two groups.
In the skirmish, Lt. Patton shot Cárdenas with his six-gun. Patton then put a notch in his gun, and strapped Cárdenas to the hood of his car (along with two other dead villistas). He later took Cárdenas's spurs as a souvenir. These spurs are now in the Museum of WWII, all that remains of Cárdenas' legacy.