Original Item: Only One Available. The Mexican Border Service Medal was a U.S. service medal established by an Act of Congress on July 9, 1918. It was awarded for service between May 9, 1916 and March 24, 1917, or with the Mexican Border Patrol between January 1, 1916 to April 6, 1917.

The medal recognizes those military service members who were assigned to the U.S.-Mexico border at the period of time when the United States was on the verge of all-out war with Mexico. The United States was then engaged in the Pancho Villa Expedition, a military operation conducted by the United States Army against the paramilitary forces of Mexican revolutionary Francisco "Pancho" Villa from March 14, 1916, to February 7, 1917, during the Mexican Revolution 1910–1920.

The U.S.-Mexico border was thought to be a potential location for a German-funded invasion by Mexico. Border service went into effect when this possible threat was exposed with the British interception of the Zimmerman Telegram, which discussed Germany's proposal that Mexico join in an alliance with Germany if the U.S. were to enter the war (World War I); in January 1917, the telegram was intercepted and deciphered by British Intelligence and its contents were made public by the United States on March 1 (the U.S. declared war on Germany, April 6, 1917).

To be awarded the Mexican Border Service Medal, a service member must have served with the United States Army, along the Mexican border, or must have been assigned as a Regular or National Guard member to the Mexican Border Patrol. Those who had received the Mexican Service Medal were not eligible for the Mexican Border Service Medal. The United States National Guard was sent to guard the American side of the border as regular Army personnel were being depleted by the efforts in Mexico.

The Mexican Border Service Medal held dual status as both a U.S. Federal and National Guard medal. The first recipient was Major General Charles M. Clement, in recognition of his status as the longest-tenured National Guard officer eligible for the award at the time it was authorized.

The medal itself is in good condition, the ribbon however, is together but rather delicate. The ribbon is torn and faded but still somewhat intact. The medallion portion is still very legible but a little tarnished. There is no name engraved, there is however a number on the rim. The rim is numbered 9153 and after a quick search through the medal rolls we were able to identify the soldier! This medal was awarded to William F. Brill of Spring Valley, New York.

William Brill is seen as being a Sergeant with the 23rd Regiment where he was “transferred” out of the unit due to a promotion to 2nd Lieutenant. He remained in the regiment, but was now in the Machine Gun Company. He is listed as being injured in April of 1917, as for the cause we are unsure. He served during WWI and was overseas from May 10, 1918 to March 6, 1919 with the Machine Gun Company of the 106th Infantry. He was promoted to 1st Lieutenant in December of 1918. He left federal service on April 2, 1919. He left the National Guard on May 19, 1921 as a Captain with Company D, 1st Battalion, 106th Infantry, 53D Infantry Brigade.

It’s not very often you come across these early rim numbered medals that can be identified. You do not want to miss out on this opportunity!

Comes more than ready for further research and display.

The Pancho Villa Expedition—now known officially in the United States as the Mexican Expedition, but originally referred to as the "Punitive Expedition, U.S. Army"—was a military operation conducted by the United States Army against the paramilitary forces of Mexican revolutionary Francisco "Pancho" Villa from March 14, 1916, to February 7, 1917, during the Mexican Revolution of 1910–1920.

The expedition was launched in retaliation for Villa's attack on the town of Columbus, New Mexico, and was the most remembered event of the Mexican Border War. The declared objective of the expedition by the Wilson administration was the capture of Villa. Despite locating and defeating the main body of Villa's command who were responsible for the Columbus raid, U.S. forces were unable to achieve Wilson's stated main objective of preventing Villa's escape.

The active search for Villa ended after a month in the field when troops sent by Venustiano Carranza, the head of the Constitutionalist faction of the revolution and then head of the Mexican government, resisted the U.S. incursion. The Constitutionalist forces used arms at the town of Parral to resist passage of a U.S. Army column. The U.S. mission was changed to prevent further attacks on it by Mexican troops and to plan for the possibility of war.[8] When war was averted diplomatically, the expedition remained in Mexico until February 1917 to encourage Carranza's government to pursue Villa and prevent further raids across the border.

106th Infantry Regiment
The 106th Infantry Regiment, formerly the 23rd New York Infantry Regiment was a New York State National Guard Regiment that saw action in the Civil War, the Mexican Border dispute of 1916 and World War I. For service in WWI, the 23rd New York Infantry officially became the 106th Infantry and was strengthened by reinforcements drawn from the 14th Infantry. At the commencement of active fighting, the 106th had a total effective strength of 3,003 officers and men. The 106th was attached to the 53rd Brigade, along with the 105th Infantry Regiment. Following World War I, the 106th Infantry was transferred out of the division and renamed the 186th Field Artillery Regiment. The 10th New York Infantry Regiment was brought in as a replacement and was eventually given the numerical designation of the old 106th. The 106th shipped to Europe in May of 1918 and was initially placed in the East Poperinghe Line with the rest of the 27th Division.

On July 25th 1918 the 27th division was slowly rotated into the front line in relief of the British 6th Division. On August 31st 1918, operations of the Ypres-Lys Offensive began in an attempt to remove the Germans from the Dickebusch/Scherpenberg area. The 106th participated in the reconnaissance that opened the offensive. On September 3rd 1918 the Germans withdrew from the area, marking the successful completion of the Ypres-Lys Offensive. From September 24th to October 21st 1918 the 106th participated with the rest of the 27th Division in the Somme Offensive, which was a successful attempt to break the German’s Hindenburg defensive line. On October 21st 1918 the entire division was relieved. By March 19th 1919 the division had returned in full to the states where it was quickly mustered out.

During its service in World War I, the 106th sustained 1,955 casualties including 1,496 wounded, 376 killed, and 83 who later died of their wounds.