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What role did George S. Patton play in the expedition to capture Pancho Villa?
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George Patton
George S. Patton, 1945.
During the 1916 punitive expedition into Mexico to capture Pancho Villa, George S. Patton served on the staff of Brig. Gen. John J. Pershing.1
While the broader mission failed to apprehend Villa, Patton gained significant attention for leading a raid that resulted in the deaths of three of Villa’s men. This engagement was historically notable as the first instance in which the U.S. Army utilized automobiles in combat.1