In 1916, the United States faced escalating unrest along the Texas–Mexico border, prompting one of the largest National Guard mobilizations in the nation’s history. A Border in Crisis explores this pivotal moment through three interrelated presentations that examine how the deployment of the Texas and Illinois National Guards exposed weaknesses, generated innovation, and ultimately strengthened America’s military capacity.
In “Texas Could Whip Mexico If She Had To,” Jeff Hunt (Texas Military Forces Museum) explores how the Texas National Guard responded to the call to defend the border amid raids and instability, tracing the roots of a long history of cross-border military activity stretching back to the Texas Revolution.
Adriana Schroeder (Illinois National Guard) follows with “Illinois National Guard on the Border, 1916,” demonstrating how the state’s deployment became an invaluable training ground—revealing organizational shortcomings and setting the stage for rapid mobilization during World War I.
In “There is More to Logistics Than Beans and Bullets: The Positive Effects of ‘The Great Call-Up’ on U.S. Military Readiness,” Stephen S. Cure (Texas Historical Commission) analyzes how the 1916 mobilization highlighted logistical challenges but ultimately enhanced America’s preparedness for global conflict.
Together, these papers offer new insight into the lessons learned from the 1916 border deployment and how the crisis on the Texas frontier helped modernize U.S. military policy and infrastructure.
Session Chair: Lloyd M. Uglow, Nelson University
