Mexican Border Service Medal
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The Mexican Border Service Medal or Mexican Border Defense Medal was a U.S. service medal established by an Act of Congress on July 9, 1918.<ref name="Almanac">Template:Cite book</ref> It was initially awarded for service on the border between May 9, 1916 and March 24, 1917.<ref name="Almanac"/> Additionally, recipients included those who performed duty with the Mexican Border Patrol between January 1, 1916 and April 6, 1917.<ref name="Almanac"/> This should not be confused with the Mexican Border Defense Medal (MBDM), a different service medal authorized in 2025 for service on the Mexico-United States border bearing the same design.
History
The Mexican Border Service Medal recognized military service members who were assigned to the U.S.-Mexico border when the United States was engaged in the Pancho Villa Expedition, a military operation conducted against the paramilitary forces of Francisco "Pancho" Villa during the Mexican Revolution.<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref> The U.S.-Mexico border was a potential location for a German-funded invasion by Mexico, which was exposed by British interception of the Zimmermann telegram, a communication that detailed Germany's proposal for Mexico to ally with Germany if the United States entered World War I.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Those who received the Mexican Service Medal were not eligible for the Mexican Border Service Medal.<ref name="Almanac"/> The first recipient was Major General Charles M. Clement of Pennsylvania, in recognition of his status as the longest-tenured National Guard officer eligible for the award at the time it was authorized.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Congress created a similar award for members of the Texas National Guard who served on the border between December 8, 1917 to November 11, 1918, the Texas Cavalry Medal.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref>
Description
As approved by the U.S. Congress:<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
The medal of bronze is 1 1/4 inches in diameter. On the obverse is a sheathed Roman sword hanging on a tablet on which is inscribed For service on the Mexican border. The tablet is surrounded by a wreath. The reverse is the same as that of the Spanish War Service Medal. The medal is suspended by a ring from a silk moire ribbon 1 3/8 inches in length and 1 3/8 inches in width composed of a green band (7/16 inch), yellow band (1/2 inch), and green band (7/16 inch).
See also
References
External links
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