Patton Initially Engaged In Combat While Pursuing Pancho Villa

With A Troop of the 8th Cavalry, which was based in Sierra Blanca, Lieutenant Patton was given the responsibility of border patrol in 1915. Patton began carrying his M1911 Colt.45 on his belt rather than a holster while he was in the town. One night in a bar, his gun unintentionally went off, so he exchanged it for an ivory-handled Colt Single Action Army revolver, which would later come to symbolize Patton's persona.

Pancho Villa-aligned Mexican forces invaded New Mexico in March 1916 and assaulted the border town of Columbus. Numerous Americans were slain in the rioting in Columbus. The Pancho Villa Expedition was then sent into Mexico by the United States in reaction. The goal was to either capture or assassinate the Mexican revolutionary. Midway through April, Patton petitioned Pershing for the chance to lead an army, and he was given Troop C of the 13th Cavalry to help with the search for Villa and his lieutenants. On May 14, 1916, he took part in the first motorized offensive in American military history, gaining his first combat experience. During a foraging mission, three of Villa's men were surprised by a squad of ten troops and two civilian escorts led by the 6th Infantry, under Patton's command, in three Dodge touring cars, killing Julio Cárdenas and two of his guards. Although Patton was known to have wounded all three of the soldiers, it was unclear if he had personally killed any of them.

This indicated that Patton would play a part in planning the operation, and Pershing was pleased by his zeal and commitment to the job. Much of Patton's leadership style was based on Pershing, who preferred taking forceful, decisive action and leading from the front. As Pershing's assistant, Patton oversaw the planning of his travel arrangements and served as his personal messenger.