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Veteran Newsletter May 2010
Veteran Newsletter May 2010
Pharr; sixty miles from Brownsville, near the Indian decent, none spoke Spanish) and 300
mouth of the Rio Grande River (Mission, Americans. While on the border, General Order
McAllen and Pharr are presently established 7 was drafted and enforced, there will be no
towns in Texas from what was the original consumption of alcohol, all saloons, bars,
camps). This area of Texas was known as the brothels were off limits, and armed guards were
―disputed‖ area. Since the Mexican War of posted.
1846, the boundaries of the US and Mexico was The Commanding General expected the
disputed (the US claimed the Rio Grande as the 14th Regiment to be Spartans in their soldiering.
boundary, Mexico claimed the Nueces River as It is this training and isolation from a civilian
the boundary). Water in this area was in population that is credited with developing the
extreme short supply. The heat in the summer of seasoned discipline that would needed during
1916 often reached 120F during the day. The the Belgium and French campaigns. The Spartan
mission of the NY Guard was to be in reserve ideal was predominant in the National Guard
for Black Jack Pershing and to guard the Texas leadership at the time. Part of the Spartan way of
border areas. It was anticipated that there would the Guard included not wearing ceremonial
be a large-scale invasion of Mexico. uniforms, not displaying medals or ribbons,
Vincent Paul was promoted to Corporal rugged training, and sparse living conditions.
on July 24, 1916 while on the border. At this General O‘Ryan pointed out that Spartan
time, he was assigned regular infantry duty. As qualifications required physical dexterity, self-
such, he drilled in rifle, horses, bayonets, terrain sacrificing and dependable men, men who will
navigation, and participated in sports. Baseball, suffer and endure without reasonable complaint
boxing, and rodeo events were the common and that these qualities are not grown overnight.
forms of sporting events. In the area the
inhabitants consisted of 800 Mexicans (of local