--- title: "This was the WWI battle between Mexico and the US" date: "2022-01-06" modified: "2022-01-06" authors: - name: "Blake Stilwell" job_title: "Editor-In-Chief, Air Force Veteran" link: "https://www.wearethemighty.com/authors/blake/" url: "https://www.wearethemighty.com/popular/this-was-the-wwi-battle-between-mexico-and-the-us/" categories: - "History" - "War History" - "World War I" --- # This was the WWI battle between Mexico and the US ![]() In 1917, British codebreakers intercepted a message from the German Foreign Minister bound for the German Legation to Mexico. The infamous message, [now known as the Zimmerman Telegram](), offered Mexico the territory it "lost" to the United States if they joined the ongoing World War I on the German side should the Americans join with the British. They very nearly did when one border clash almost sparked a full-scale war. --- ![]() *The U.S. never forgot the message (once the British showed it to them… and it was published in the United States press). It would turn President Wilson's sentiment against Germany and help lead the Americans into the European war.* At home, it exacerbated tensions in towns on the American-Mexican border, which were already feeling tense because of Pancho Villa's raids across the border and Gen. John J. Pershing's "Punitive Expedition" into Mexico. One border town, in particular, was feeling the tension. [Nogales, which straddles the border in the U.S. state of Arizona and the Mexican state of Sonora](), was a town where anyone could cross into either country by simply walking across the street – International Street. ![]() *Nogales, Sonora, Mexico (left) and Nogales, Ariz., USA in 1899. Arizona was not yet a U.S. state. (National Archives)* In 1918, the U.S. Army's Intelligence Division began receiving reports of "[strange Mexicans]()" explaining military tactics and movements to the Federal Mexican garrison stationed in and around Nogales. After the publishing of the Zimmerman Telegram, these reports warranted seriously attention. Even some of Pancho Villa's former troops, who were disgusted by men they called Germans, addressed crowds and agitated the Mexican populace against the United States. The Army began to suspect German influence was at work and moved elements of the 10th Cavalry – the Buffalo Soldiers – into Nogales. ![]() *Nogales, Sonora, Mexico (left) and Nogales, Ariz., USA (right) around 2008.* The tension boiled over on Aug. 27, 1918, when a Mexican carpenter was trying to cross the border. He ignored U.S. customs officials who ordered the man to stop (because he was listening to Mexican customs officials ordering him to continue). Shots were fired by the Americans. The Mexicans returned fire. The Battle of Ambos Nogales had begun. Between [two and five Mexican customs officers]() and an Army private were killed (the carpenter was not) as citizens in Mexico ran to their homes to grab their weapons and ammo. Meanwhile, the Buffalo Soldiers arrived and captured the hills overlooking the city. Mexican snipers also began to take shots in the streets of American Nogales. Mexican troops began to dig trenches as American troops began to move house-to-house. By this time, the American soldiers were taking heavy fire from the Mexicans, both regular troops and citizens. So, American citizens took to their homes – and their guns – to take firing positions near the border. The U.S. 35th Infantry even fired a machine gun into the Mexican positions. ![]() *Machine Gun Co, 35th Infantry, Nogales, Ariz. 1917. (Photo courtesy of John Carr)* Suddenly, a lone figure walked among the bodies of Mexicans and U.S. troops in the street, waving a white handkerchief tied to a cane, the mayor of Mexican Nogales tried to de-escalate the situation by pleading with his citizens to put down their arms. [He was shot from the Arizona side]() of the border. It wouldn't be until 7:45 that day, after just over three hours of fighting, that the Mexicans waved a white flag from their customs house. American buglers sounded "Cease Fire" and order was, eventually, restored. In order to prevent such violence from happening again, the town constructed the first-ever border fence between Mexico and the United States. ## Author Blake Stilwell is We Are The Mighty's Editor-in-Chief, covering military news, entertainment, and history, along with veteran education, employment and entrepreneurship. He is a former U.S. Air Force combat cameraman with degrees in Graphic Design, Television and Film, International Relations, Public Relations, Business Management and Middle Eastern Affairs. After leaving the military, he began working in film and television production in New York and Los Angeles, work that included ABC News, NBC Olympics, and HBO Sports. He then spent two years in Washington with White House Communications, before joining the Near East Foundation. At NEF he served as an International Development Fellow, then Communications Officer, and finally, Media Officer for the Middle East and Africa. Based in the Palestinian Territory, he coordinated strategic communications between eight country offices, international media, and government and NGO partners. He began a career focused on writing and editing in 2015 with We Are The Mighty. He left in 2019 for Military.com, but returned as Editor-in-Chief in 2025. Blake’s work has been seen on CBS News, Fox News, CBC, The Chicago Tribune, Task & Purpose, Military Times, Recoil, Skillset, American History, and was shockingly even used in a Supreme Court argument. He is an avid traveler and small business owner in Ohio, where he spends most of his energy fixing up a very old house. ### Author social links [Facebook]() [Twitter]() [Instagram]() [LinkedIn]()