Cinco de Mayo

Contrary to what many Americans think, Cinco de Mayo is not Mexican Independence Day.  That's September 16. 1810.  Cinco de Mayo commemorates the victory of Mexican forces against a far superior French invasion force on May 5, 1862 at Puebla.  Obviously, these photos weren't taken during the French occupation of Mexico, but they were very likely taken sometime during the Mexican Civil War that lasted, more or less, from 1910 to 1920.  It looks like the building in the second photo really took a beating.  And just for the record, in 1916 Mexican revolutionary Pancho Villa  attacked Columbus, New Mexico when he was sold defective ammunition by American arms dealers, so maybe this photo was taken in New Mexico, rather than old Mexico.

World War 1, Battle Damage

At the eleventh hour, of the eleventh day, of the eleventh month of 1918, the armistice that ended fighting in World War 1 went into effect.  Some of the heaviest fighting of the conflict were in the hours before the armistice.  The Treaty of Versailles, that actually ended the war, wouldn't be negotiated until 1919, and generals wanted to be in the best position possible, just in case fighting began again.

Written on the back, "O. D. Caldwell."  More photos from Mr. Caldwell in the next post.