"I, Pancho Villa, was a devoted guy, and fate brought me to fight for the welfare of the poor, and I will never betray or forget my duty," he said. Pancho Villa, number ten. "Humble individuals like myself battle for justice and greater fortune." He was a military hero who fought against the Spanish in Mexico before becoming one of the country's most famous revolutionaries. His famous quote comes from his sworn statement when arrested by Spanish authorities while trying to escape to join other rebels. It is believed that he wrote it himself because there are no records of anyone else being held captive at this time. He later added the word "insignificant" before the phrase "battle for justice and greater fortune." Pancho Villa was born on January 31st, 1877 in Oaxaca, Mexico. His father was a wealthy landowner who died when Pancho was only nine years old. Since then, he worked with his brother as a peon on their family farm. This is where he learned to be courageous and show leadership skills which would one day make him a great military man. At the age of 20, Pancho joined the Mexican army as an officer. Three years later, he was given his own command during an expedition into Spanish-controlled territory.