I'm not sure why he came out of this looking like a hero, but it certainly didn't hurt his public image any! Guess he had the makings of a true politician. He would probably fit right in with the guys in D.C.
The Pancho Villa Expedition
1916
How many Americans does it take to catch a Mexican bandit? At least 5,000, because John Pershing and his 4,800 American troops spent the better part of 1916 chasing Pancho Villa around Northern Mexico with almost nothing to show for the effort.
Pershing spent eleven months trying to capture Villa who had been raiding American border towns. Despite failing to complete his sole objective, Pershing was undeterred and in an enormously ballsy PR move declared the mission a great learning experience (and thus actually a success). Apparently, Texans ate that “learning experience” garbage up, since Pershing’s expedition was greeted by large crowds and applause upon their rather un-victorious return to El Paso.
Guess I've going about things all wrong for a long time! Of course, I never wanted to be a general or a hero either!
Coffee outside again this morning. Gonna be another really nice day!
