U.S. troops cross Mexican border to hunt for Pancho Villa 100 years ago this hour (Mar 15 1916)

(Thursday, March 15, 1916, 12:00 p.m. local time; during the Mexican Revolution) — A U.S. expeditionary force of more than 4,000 troops led by Brig. Gen. John J. Pershing entered Mexico today on an ultimately futile mission to capture Pancho Villa, whose raiders had attacked Columbus, New Mexico, killing 18 U.S. citizens.