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Chinese refugees brought by John Pershing arrive at Fort Sam Houston in San Antonio[source]

Pershing’s Chinese

The first Chinese arrived in Texas with the railroads in the mid-19th century. But when the railroad boom died down, many of them left. In 1882, the Chinese-Exclusion Act was signed, prohibiting immigration from China. Chinese immigration to Texas would be pretty much non-existent until the act’s repeal in 1943.There was, however, one notable exception.

In 1916 and 1917, John Pershing led an expedition across the border into Mexico after Pancho Villa. While his troops searched the desert, they were often supplied by Chinese immigrants to Mexico, who would sell them food and other essentials while the locals were often decidedly hostile. Many of these Chinese had immigrated to Mexico after the Chinese-Exclusion Act was passed and they could no longer get into the US. Parts of Mexico still have a large Chinese population to this day. 

John Pershing in 1919. By Harris & Ewing - This image is available from the United States Library of Congress’s Prints and Photographs division under the digital ID cph.3c13824, Public Domain, [source]

Despite their inability to capture or kill Pancho Villa, the expedition was declared a success in 1917 and President Wilson ordered the troops to return to the US. Pershing, however, was very aware of what would happen to those who had been friendly to the American troops after they left the area. Pershing appealed to his superior officers and was allowed to bring the Chinese (as well as American Mormons and Mexican citizens) who had helped the army back to the US. Altogether, about 525 Chinese came back to New Mexico, with the condition that they would work for the army.

When Pershing was sent to San Antonio shortly after his return, about 425 of the Chinese followed him. They assisted in clearing ground and building a new army flight training center, as well as cooking, cleaning, and doing laundry. They also threw themselves into the community life of San Antonio, organizing dinners with traditional Chinese foods to raise money for the Red Cross.

The More You Know!  ★ ★ ★