"Ride with Pancho Villa" recruitment poster, January 1915

A call to arms south of the border

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This poster sought to recruit gringos to come to Mexico to fight with Francisco "Pancho" Villa in the Mexican Revolution (1910–1920).

Villa was one of the most well-known military leaders of the Mexican Revolution, due in large part to a deal he made with Hollywood to film many of his battles. Villa actively recruited soldiers and mercenaries outside of Mexico for his army. This advertisement specifically targeted skilled professionals, promising weekly payment in gold for dynamiters, machine gunners, and railroaders. He obtained the gold by confiscating it from Mexican banks.

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"Ride with Pancho Villa" recruitment poster, January 1915 Artifact from Galveston
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