NMCentennialBlueBook

Company E Santa Fe
Company F Santa Fe
Company G Albuquerque
Company H Las Vegas
Company I & J Not identified
Company K Clovis
Company L Tucumcari
Company M Portales
Field Artillery (Battery A) Roswell
PANCHO VILLA’S RAID ON COLUMBUS, NEW MEXICO: The morning stillness
of March 9, 1916 was broken in the sleepy border town of Columbus, New Mexico by
gun shots and shouts of “Viva Villa!” Eighteen Americans and eighty “Villistas” were
killed and the town was set ablaze. Villa’s men attacked a detachment of the 13th Calvary
Regiment. Troopers rallied and gave chase. As soon as the gunfire was heard in nearby
Deming, New Mexico, Guardsmen from Company I, First New Mexico Infantry reacted.
On their own initiative, and without orders from headquarters, they made their way to
Columbus. They were the first unit to respond (other than the ones stationed there). Their
presence freed up more calvary troopers to pursue Villistas. The Deming men returned to
their armory shortly after and the entire New Mexico National Guard was put on alert and
later mobilized. Battery “A”, First New Mexico Field Artillery from Roswell, received
high marks for excellence when they were inspected by General Pershing months before
border trouble. Because of their proficiency, they were hand-picked to fire the honorary
salute when Pershing returned from Mexico and again when the body of Major General
Funston passed through Fort Bliss on its way to California. The Guard and the Buffalo
Soldiers spent one year on this border duty, hardening themselves to the rough field
conditions of the desert southwest.
WORLD WAR I: (1914-1918) That duty on the borders, as part of General “Black Jack”
Pershing’s punitive expeditionary force prepared the New Mexico National Guard for their
next federal duty during World War I. Upon mobilization for World War I, the Guard was
ready for the upcoming struggle. Upon activation into Federal Service, the First Regiment
of Infantry was assigned to the 40th Infantry Division in France. They provided training and
replacements to other units. Battery “A” First New Mexico Field Artillery was assigned
to the 41st Division and became Battery “A”, 146th Field Artillery Regiment, 66th Field
Artillery Brigade. This unit, under the leadership of Charles DeBremond, took part in
the action at Champagne-Marne, Aisne-Marne and Meuse-Argonne. Their monumental
record was as distinguished as any other unit in the American Expeditionary Force.
The 1st New Mexico Infantry Regiment returned from France and was demobilized in
1919 at Camp Grant, Illinois. Later that year they were reorganized into a cavalry unit,
the 1st Cavalry Regiment, New Mexico National Guard and in 1922 it was re-designated
as the 111th Cavalry Regiment. This structure was maintained until April 1940 when the
111th Calvary was converted to the 207th Coast Artillery Regiment (Antiaircraft). By July
it was re-designated as the 200th Coast Artillery Regiment (AA).
In 1921 a battalion of engineers was formed as the 1st Engineer Battalion, New Mexico
National Guard. The following year the unit was re-designated as the 137th Engineers, and
in 1923 the unit was re-designated once again as the 120th Engineers. This battalion was
made up of National Guard units from Oklahoma and was assigned to the 45th Division.
In 1921 Battery “A” first NM Field Artillery was reorganized into Battery “A” 158th Field
Artillery and assigned to the 45th Division. In 1941 this unit was re-designated as Battery
“A” 104th Anti-tank Infantry Battalion. Additional units were recruited to bring it up to
battalion strength. When the unit was federalized and sent overseas, it was re-designated
as the 804th Tank Destroyer Battalion.
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