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USS Utah Photo Diary of the Tampico Affair and Invasion of Veracruz, Mexico - 91 RPCs [137096]

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USS Utah Photo Diary of the Tampico Affair and Invasion of Veracruz, Mexico - 91 RPCs [137096]
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In early April of 1914, the USS Utah was sent to the Gulf port of Tampico to take aboard American refugees who were caught up in the diplomatic conflict. Later that month, the Utah was part of an invasion force sent by US President Woodrow Wilson to capture the Mexican port of Veracruz. These 91 Real Photo Postcards (RPCs) and handwritten notes on the back appear to be written by USMC Charles ("Chas") Range to his beloved Bea. We do not know his rank or military assignment.

The images and notes are a unique and powerful, first-person photo diary of the events that unfolded in the disputes between the United States and Mexico during the Mexican Revolution.

These images are briefly catalogued below by date when known: Undated, presumably photographed in 1913 or 1914: 2 RPCs, one labeled "radio operators" showing six men at a table on the deck of the USS Utah, and an individual marine labeled "Charles Range - U.S. Marines of Washington D.C."Date 9-13 (meaning September 1913): 1 RPC of seven men, identified as "Our Radio Force" aboard the USS Utah.Date 3-14 (meaning March 1914), labeled Vera Cruz, Mexico: 12 RPCs of life aboard the USS Utah and in Vera Cruz during rare shore leave a month before the military action. Includes several scenes from a bull fighting arena and a mounted Vera Cruz policeman who was "friendly to the boys" but was likely among the first to be killed in the subsequent invasion.Date 3-29-14, on board the USS Utah: 1 RPC showing six men, identified on the back as "Our Radio Force."Date 4-4-14: 1 RPC of "Powder division having hammock inspection..." on the deck of the USS Utah.Date 4-14 (meaning April 1914, probably 4-9-1914) Tampico, Mexico: 9 RPC images showing American refugees from Tampico, Mexico, on board the USS Utah including men, women, and children -- some men in business suits (with one on crutches "shot by the Federals"), and a few women in nun's habits. One image shows a boat taking refugees to the USS Des Moines. He notes that some of these refugees had to be rescued from Tampico three times.Dated 4-14 (no specific day/date, but likely before and after the invasion of Veracruz): 9 RPC images of on-board and on-shore events: two images of the USS Utah's goat mascot; two images of a Mexican funeral train; an image of a Federal "who got in the way of our machine gun"; a shark on the deck; and "the first gent to discover oil in Mexico."Date 4-21-14: 10 RPCs of scenes aboard the USS Utah preparing for the invasion, also bringing the first wounded back aboard the ship. Includes two images of events ashore.Date 4-21-14: 21 RPCs of action during the invasion, including arrest of Mexican combatants, damage to the Mexican Naval Academy, and sailors and marines patrolling the streets.Date 4-23-145 RPCs of action in Veracruz, similar to the previous day.Date 4-24-14: 1 RPC showing distant smoke from the burning of 168 bodies of Mexicans who died in the invasion.Date 4-25-14: 2 RPCs showing the USS Utah cooks who "had to go armed even while preparing meals" and marines with the remains of a funeral pyre on the street.Date 4-26-14: 10 RPCs of various scenes in Veracruz and aboard the USS Utah after the city was secured. He describes how the dead were stacked and burned before they were required to bury them instead.Date 4-27-14: 3 RPCs, two scenes in Veracruz, one aboard the USS Utah.Date 4-28-14: 3 RPCs, scenes on the streets of Veracruz after the invasion.Date 4-29-14: 1 RPC of "Our field pieces ashore, nothing to do but wait for the Movies."All RPCs are in durable postcard sleeves and in excellent condition, with clearly legible handwritten notes and generally sharp black & white images.

Date: 1914
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Provenance: Ken Prag Collection