I want to correct the reference in the review to Harvard Skull and Bones to Yale Skull and Bones. Thank you, Carter Rila

Having met one of the authors of this work while mining some of the same sources in the files of the National Archives, I can say that I appreciate the shrewd and incisive way they have pulled together diverse sources from many depositories to cover some of the more obscure facets of the "Border Days". The books is an omnium gatherum of a number of articles published in various scholarly journals known mostly to specialists in the period. Much of the detail of the gun running and undercover operations was gleaned from files of the Customs, the Immigration, the Army, the Bureau of Investigation, and the State Department.
Of all the tales that needed to be told is the discovery of the famous saddlebags lost by the Villista forces during the Columbus Raid in March 1916, which raid triggered the Punitive Expedition commanded by John J. Pershing and indirectly led to Pershing's eventual field command in France of the American Expeditionary Force.
Later in June 1916 the entire National Guard of the United States was called up for border service. Thus again contributing to the US successful intervention in WW I. And the Army gained experience in motor transport and management. All of this has led to a current appreciation that Pancho Villa, in a moment of desperation, indirectly had a major impact on the defeat of the Central Powers.
The other major revelation herein, and the only story included which made the national papers, particularly USA Today, is the discussion of the carrying off of Pancho Villa's skull in the mid 20s, and the supposed deposition of that object in the clubhouse of the famous Yale University Skull and Bones secret society. (Some of the most prominent members of the society have been the George Bushes, father and son.) But the secret of Villa's cranium has yet to be confirmed.:) After all, that is the purpose of a secret society -- to keep secrets. So, if you have a scholarly interest or just a curiousity about the more obscure aspects of the border running days, this book is your meat. A husky meal of research and well written as well.