Columbus, NM remembers Pancho Villa’s raid 100 years ago

On Wednesday, many remembered the anniversary of a bloody raid by Mexican revolutionaries in the border town of Columbus, New Mexico.

100 years ago, on March 9, 1916, a band of Mexican revolutionaries led by General Pancho Villa crossed the border from the southwest into Columbus. 18 Americans were killed by gunfire. An army of 10,000 U.S. soldiers led by General Pershing set out to find him but never did.

Tuesday’s commemoration was a family reunion for many, like the relatives of James T. Dean, a grocery store owner, who was gunned down in the attack.

“I love history and I didn’t know how much my family was involved in this history until about 4 years ago,” Dean’s great great granddaughter, Lauren Gillespie said. “I was just reading everything I could and with the family connection it just really brings it home.”