Columbus, New Mexico lies four miles north of the International border between the United States and Mexico. The Mexican Revolutionary General Francisco "Pancho" Villa, along with 485 of his "Villista" guerrillas, launched a pre-dawn raid on the sleepy Luna County village of Columbus on March 9, 1916. Despite the immediate response by members of the 13th U.S. Army Cavalry Division, the attack left 18 U.S. citizens, 10 civilians and eight military, amoung the deceased. Each year on March 9 the Columbus Historical Society holds an annual Raid Day memorial Service to honor those killed by Pancho Villa.

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