John Joseph Pershing
September 13, 1860(1860-09-13) – July 15, 1948 (aged 87)
Nickname	Black Jack
Place of birth	near Laclede, Missouri
Place of death	Washington, D.C.
Allegiance	United States of America
Service/branch	United States Army
Years of service	1886 - 1924
Rank	General of the Armies
Commands	8th Brigade American Expeditionary Force Army Chief of Staff 1916 Mexican Punitive Expedition
Battles/wars	Indian Wars Spanish American War Philippine American War World War I
Awards	Distinguished Service Cross Distinguished Service Medal Order of the Bath Légion d'honneur

John Joseph "Black Jack" Pershing, GCB (September 13, 1860 – July 15, 1948) was an officer in the United States Army. Pershing is the only person, while still alive, to rise to the highest rank ever held in the United States Army—General of the Armies—equivalent only to the posthumous rank of George Washington. Pershing led the American Expeditionary Force in World War I and was regarded as a mentor by the generation of American generals who led the United States Army in Europe during World War II, including George C. Marshall, Dwight D. Eisenhower, Omar Bradley and George S. Patton. is the 256th day of the year (257th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... 1860 is the leap year starting on Sunday. ... is the 196th day of the year (197th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1948 (MCMXLVIII) was a leap year starting on Thursday (link will display the 1948 calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... Image File history File links Download high resolution version (3730x4533, 1254 KB) Description U.S. General John Pershing. ... Laclede is a city located in Linn County, Missouri. ... For other uses, see Washington, D.C. (disambiguation). ... The United States Army is the largest and oldest branch of the armed forces of the United States. ... In the United States Army military hierarchy, General of the Armies is traditionally considered a rank superior to a five-star general. ... Officers of the American Expeditionary Forces and the Baker mission The American Expeditionary Forces or AEF was the United States military force sent to Europe in World War I.(In France, AEF is a news agency specialised in Education and Formation) The AEF fought alongside allied forces against imperial German... The Flag of the Chief of Staff of the United States Army The Chief of Staff of the United States Army (CSA) is the highest ranking officer in the United States Army and is member of the Joint Chiefs of Staff [1]. Prior to 1903, the military head of the... The Pancho Villa Expedition was an abortive punitive expedition conducted by the United States against the military forces of Mexican Revolutionary General Pancho Villa in retaliation for Villas invasion of the United States and attack on the village of Columbus, New Mexico. ... For wars involving India, see Military history of India. ... The Spanish-American War took place in 1898, and resulted in the United States of America gaining control over the former colonies of Spain in the Caribbean and Pacific. ... The Philippine-American War was a war between the armed forces of the United States and the Philippines from 1899 through 1913. ... “The Great War ” redirects here. ... The Distinguished Service Cross (DSC) is the second highest military decoration of the United States Army which is awarded for extreme gallantry and risk of life in actual combat with an armed enemy force. ... The Distinguished Service Medal is a military award of the United States Army which is presented to any person who, while serving in any capacity with the United States military, has distinguished himself or herself by exceptionally meritorious service to the Government in a duty of great responsibility. ... Badge of a Companion of the Order of the Bath (Military Division) Ribbon of the Order of the Bath The Most Honourable Order of the Bath (formerly The Most Honourable Military Order of the Bath)[1] is a British order of chivalry founded by George I on May 18, 1725. ... Chiang Kai-sheks Légion dhonneur. ... Badge of a Companion of the Order of the Bath (Military Division) Ribbon of the Order of the Bath The Most Honourable Order of the Bath (formerly The Most Honourable Military Order of the Bath)[1] is a British order of chivalry founded by George I on May 18, 1725. ... is the 256th day of the year (257th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... 1860 is the leap year starting on Sunday. ... is the 196th day of the year (197th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1948 (MCMXLVIII) was a leap year starting on Thursday (link will display the 1948 calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... The United States Army is the largest and oldest branch of the armed forces of the United States. ... The United States Army is the largest and oldest branch of the armed forces of the United States. ... General of the Armies of the United States is the highest possible rank in the United States military hierarchy, equal to a Generalissimo. ... George Washington (February 22, 1732 – December 14, 1799)[1] led Americas Continental Army to victory over Britain in the American Revolutionary War (1775–1783), and in 1789 was elected the first President of the United States of America. ... Officers of the American Expeditionary Forces and the Baker mission The American Expeditionary Forces or AEF was the United States military force sent to Europe in World War I.(In France, AEF is a news agency specialised in Education and Formation) The AEF fought alongside allied forces against imperial German... “The Great War ” redirects here. ... George C. Marshall George Catlett Marshall (December 31, 1880–October 16, 1959), an American military leader and statesman, was born into a middle-class family in Uniontown, Pennsylvania. ... Dwight David Eisenhower, born David Dwight Eisenhower (October 14, 1890 – March 28, 1969), nicknamed Ike, was a five-star General in the United States Army and U.S. politician, who served as the thirty-fourth President of the United States (1953–1961). ... Omar Nelson Bradley (February 12, 1893 – April 8, 1981) was one of the main U.S. Army field commanders in North Africa and Europe during World War II and a General of the Army of the United States Army. ... George Patton redirects here. ...

Early life

John J. Pershing was born on a farm near Laclede, Missouri. His father, John F. Pershing, was a businessman who owned a general store. When the Civil War began, Pershing senior worked as a sutler for the 18th Missouri Volunteer Infantry Regiment, but did not serve in the military. Laclede is a city located in Linn County, Missouri. ... Combatants United States of America (Union) Confederate States of America (Confederacy) Commanders Abraham Lincoln, Ulysses S. Grant Jefferson Davis, Robert E. Lee Strength 2,200,000 1,064,000 Casualties 110,000 killed in action, 360,000 total dead, 275,200 wounded 93,000 killed in action, 258,000 total...

Pershing attended a school in Laclede that was reserved for the more intelligent children who were children of high profile citizens. As Pershing's father was well known in Laclede, Pershing and his brother attended this early form of university preparatory school.

Upon graduation from secondary school in 1878, Pershing became a local teacher and became involved with educating local African American children. In this way, although living in an atmosphere of 19th century United States racism, Pershing developed an understanding of racial issues that would later come to play in his military career when he commanded a racially diverse unit of soldiers. An African American (also Afro-American, Black American, or simply black) is a member of an ethnic group in the United States whose ancestors, usually in predominant part, were indigenous to Africa. ...

Between 1880 and 1882, Pershing attended the North Missouri Normal School (now Truman State University) in Kirksville, Missouri. In 1882, he applied to the U.S. Military Academy after hearing that West Point offered excellent college level education. Pershing later admitted that a desire to serve in military was secondary to attending West Point and that he mainly applied to the school because the education offered was better than that of rural Missouri. Truman State University is a public liberal arts and sciences university in Missouri and a member of the Council of Public Liberal Arts Colleges. ... Kirksville is a city in Adair County, Missouri, United States. ... Alternate meanings: West Point (disambiguation). ...

West Point years

Cadet Pershing in 1886

John J. Pershing was sworn in as a West Point cadet in the fall of 1882. He was selected early for leadership and rose to become First Corporal, First Sergeant, First Lieutenant, and First Captain, the highest possible cadet rank at West Point. Cadet First Captain Pershing commanded ex officio the West Point Honor Guard that escorted the funeral of President Ulysses S. Grant. Image File history File links John J. Pershing as a West Point Cadet File history Legend: (cur) = this is the current file, (del) = delete this old version, (rev) = revert to this old version. ... Image File history File links John J. Pershing as a West Point Cadet File history Legend: (cur) = this is the current file, (del) = delete this old version, (rev) = revert to this old version. ... This page includes English translations of several Latin phrases and abbreviations such as . ... Federal courts Supreme Court Circuit Courts of Appeal District Courts Elections Presidential elections Midterm elections Political Parties Democratic Republican Third parties State & Local government Governors Legislatures (List) State Courts Local Government Other countries Atlas  US Government Portal      For other uses, see President of the United States (disambiguation). ... Ulysses S. Grant,[2] born Hiram Ulysses Grant (April 27, 1822 – July 23, 1885), was an American general and the eighteenth President of the United States (1869–1877). ...

Pershing graduated from West Point in the summer of 1886 and was commended by the Superintendent of West Point, General Wesley Merritt, as having high leadership skills and possessing "superb ability". Wesley Merritt (June 16, 1834 – December 3, 1910) was a general in the U.S. Army during the American Civil War and the Spanish-American War. ...

Just prior to graduation, Pershing briefly considered petitioning the Army to let him study law and delay his commission. He applied for a furlough from West Point, but soon withdrew the request in favor of active Army duty. He was commissioned a Second Lieutenant in the United States Army in the fall of 1886, at the age of twenty six, graduating 30th in a class of 77 from West Point. Second Lieutenant is the lowest commissioned rank in many armed forces. ... The United States Army is the largest and oldest branch of the armed forces of the United States. ...

Early career

Pershing reported for active duty on September 30, 1886, and was assigned to Troop L of the 6th U.S. Cavalry stationed at Fort Bayard, in the New Mexico Territory. While serving in the 6th Cavalry, Pershing participated in several Indian campaigns and was cited for bravery for actions against the Apache. is the 273rd day of the year (274th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1886 (MDCCCLXXXVI) was a common year starting on Friday (link will display the full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar (or a common year starting on Wednesday of the 12-day slower Julian calendar). ... The 6th Cavalry was organized in August, 1861, where it took to the fields as part of the Army of the Potomac. the regiment took part in sixteen campaigns, among them Antietam, Gettysburg, the Wilderness Campaign and Appomattox. ... Fort Bayard National Cemetery is a United States National Cemetery in the city of Bayard, in Grant County, New Mexico. ... The New Mexico Territory became an organized territory of the United States on September 9, 1850, and it existed until New Mexico became the 47th state on January 6, 1912. ... For other uses, see Apache (disambiguation). ...

Between 1887 and 1890, Pershing served with the 6th Cavalry at various postings in California, Arizona, and North Dakota. He also became an expert marksman and, in 1891, was rated second in pistol and fifth in rifle out of all soldiers in the U.S. Army. This article is about the U.S. state. ... Official language(s) English Spoken language(s) English 74. ... Official language(s) English Capital Bismarck Largest city Fargo Area  Ranked 19th in the US  - Total 70,762 sq mi (183,272 km²)  - Width 210 miles (340 km)  - Length 340 miles (545 km)  - % water 2. ...

On December 9, 1890, Pershing and the 6th Cavalry arrived at Sioux City, Iowa where Pershing played a role in suppressing the last uprisings of the Lakota (Sioux) Indians. He participated as 2nd Lieutnant in the Wounded Knee Massacre. is the 343rd day of the year (344th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1890 (MDCCCXC) was a common year starting on Wednesday (link will display the full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar (or a common year starting on Monday of the Julian calendar). ... Sioux City (pronounced ) is a city located in northwest Iowa in the United States. ... The Sioux (pronounced ) are a Native American and First Nations people. ... A Sioux in traditional dress including war bonnet, circa 1908. ... Belligerents Sioux United States Commanders Big Foot† James W. Forsyth Strength 120 men 230 women and children 500 men Casualties and losses 178 killed 89 wounded 150 missing 25 killed 39 wounded For other uses, see Wounded Knee (disambiguation). ...

A year later, he was assigned as an instructor of military tactics at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. Pershing would hold this post until 1895, but was not promoted, remaining as a second lieutenant at the age of 35. The University of Nebraska–Lincoln is a state-supported institution of higher learning located in Lincoln, Nebraska, USA. Often referred to as simply Nebraska or UNL, it is the flagship and largest campus of the University of Nebraska system. ...

While in Nebraska, Pershing also attended law school and graduated in 1893. Additionally, he formed a drill company, Company A, in 1891 that won the Omaha Cup. In 1893, Company A became a fraternal organization, changing its name to the Varsity Rifles. The group changed its name for the last time in 1894, renaming itself the Pershing Rifles in honor of its founder. A Pershing Rifles color guard competing at the 2004 NATCON drill competition held at Fort Monroe, VA. The Pershing Rifles, a military drill team organization for college-level students, was founded by then 1st Lt. ...

On October 1, 1895, Pershing was promoted to first lieutenant and took command of a unit within the United States Army's 10th Cavalry Regiment (one of the original Buffalo Soldier regiments), which was composed of African-American soldiers under white officers. From Fort Assinniboine in north central Montana, he commanded an expedition to the south and southwest that rounded up and deported a large number of Cree Indians to Canada. Though, like most of the nation at the time, he was unsympathetic to Native Americans, Pershing was an outspoken advocate of the value of African American soldiers in the U.S. military. is the 274th day of the year (275th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1895 (MDCCCXCV) was a common year starting on Tuesday (link will display full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar (or a common year starting on Sunday of the 12-day-slower Julian calendar). ... First Lieutenant is a military rank. ... The United States Army is the largest and oldest branch of the armed forces of the United States. ... 10th Cavalry Regiment distinctive unit insignia The 10th Cavalry Regiment was a unit in the United States Army. ... Not to be confused with Golgotha, which was called Calvary. ... Saddle and accessories of the Buffalo Soldier. ... Languages Predominantly American English Religions Protestantism (chiefly Baptist and Methodist); Roman Catholicism; Islam Related ethnic groups Sub-Saharan Africans and other African groups, some with Native American groups. ... Fort Assinniboine, a fort in the U.S. state of Montana, was built in 1879, in the aftermath of the disastrous defeat of U.S. Army forces led by General Custer at the Battle of Little Big Horn on June 25, 1876. ... Cree camp near Vermilion, Alberta The Cree form an aboriginal nation of North America. ...

In 1897, Pershing became an instructor at West Point, where he joined the tactical staff. While at West Point, cadets upset over Pershing's harsh treatment and high standards took to calling him "Nigger Jack", in reference to his service with the 10th Cavalry. This was softened (or sanitized) to the more euphonic "Black Jack" by reporters covering Pershing during World War I. // Nigger is a racial slur used to refer to dark-skinned people, especially those of African ancestry. ... Euphony describes flowing and aesthetically pleasing speech. ... “The Great War ” redirects here. ...

Spanish and Philippine-American wars

Captain John J. Pershing, c.1902

Upon the outbreak of the Spanish-American War, First Lieutenant Pershing (then 38 years old) was offered a brevet rank and was commissioned a Major of Volunteers on August 26, 1898. He fought with distinction at Kettle and San Juan Hill in Cuba and was cited for gallantry. In 1919, he was awarded the Silver Citation Star for these actions and, in 1932, the award was upgraded to the Silver Star Medal. Image File history File links CAPTJPershing. ... Image File history File links CAPTJPershing. ... Belligerents United States Republic of Cuba Philippine Republic Kingdom of Spain Commanders Nelson A. Miles William R. Shafter George Dewey Máximo Gómez Emilio Aguinaldo Patricio Montojo Pascual Cervera Arsenio Linares Manuel Macías y Casado Ramón Blanco y Erenas Casualties and losses 385 KIA USA 5,000... In the US military, brevet referred to a warrant authorizing a commissioned officer to hold a higher rank temporarily, but usually without receiving the pay of that higher rank. ... is the 238th day of the year (239th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1898 (MDCCCXCVIII) was a common year starting on Saturday (link will display the full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar (or a common year starting on Monday of the 12-day-slower Julian calendar). ... Belligerents United States Republic of Cuba Kingdom of Spain Commanders William Rufus Shafter Joseph Wheeler[1] Arsenio Linares Strength 15,000 regulars 4,000 guerrilleros 12 field guns 4 Gatling guns 800 regulars 5 field guns Casualties and losses 124 dead 817 wounded 58 dead 170 wounded 39 captured The... Example of Citation Star on WWI Victory Medal The Citation Star was an award of the United States Army which was first established by the United States Congress on July 9, 1918. ... The Silver Star is the fourth highest military decoration that can be awarded to a member of any branch of the United States Armed Forces. ...

In March 1899, after suffering from malaria and spending a sick furlough in the United States, Pershing was put in charge of the Office of Customs and Insular Affairs which oversaw occupation forces in territories gained in the Spanish-American War, to include Cuba, Puerto Rico, the Philippines, and Guam. Malaria is a vector-borne infectious disease caused by protozoan parasites. ...

When the Philippine-American War broke out, Pershing was ordered to Manila and reported for duty on August 17, 1899. He was assigned to the Department of Mindanao and Jolo and commanded efforts to suppress the Philippine resistance. On November 27, 1900, Pershing was appointed Adjutant General of his department and served in this posting until March 1, 1901. He was cited for bravery for actions on the Cagayan River while attempting to destroy a Philippine stronghold at Macajambo. Belligerents United States Philippine Constabulary Philippine Scouts First Philippine Republic several groups post-1902 Commanders William McKinley Theodore Roosevelt Emilio Aguinaldo Miguel Malvar several unofficial leaders post-1902 Strength 126,000 soldiers[1] First Philippine Republic: 80,000 soldiers Casualties and losses ~5,000-7,000[1][2] ~12,000... For other meanings of the word, see Manila (disambiguation). ... is the 229th day of the year (230th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1899 (MDCCCXCIX) was a common year starting on Sunday (link will display the full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar (or a common year starting on Friday [1] of the 12-day-slower Julian calendar). ... Mindanao is the second largest and easternmost island in the Philippines. ... Jolo is an island in the southwest Philippines. ... is the 331st day of the year (332nd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Äž: For the film, see: 1900 (film). ... is the 60th day of the year (61st in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1901 (MCMI) was a common year starting on Tuesday (link will display calendar) of the Gregorian calendar (or a common year starting on Monday [1] of the 13-day-slower Julian calendar). ... Image:CagayanRiver. ...

In the spring of 1901, Pershing's brevet commission was revoked and he was recommissioned as a captain in the Regular Army. He served with the U.S. 1st Cavalry Regiment in the Philippines, continuing actions against the Philippine resistance. He later joined the U.S. 15th Cavalry Regiment where he served as an intelligence officer, participating in actions against the Moros, where he was cited for bravery once again at Lake Lanao. In June 1901, he also briefly served as Commander of Camp Vicars, Philippines, after the previous camp commander had been promoted to brigadier general. The Regular Army is the permanent force of the United States Army or any Countrys army that is maintained during peacetime, as opposed to those persons who may be part of a reserve or national guard outfit. ... To meet Wikipedias quality standards, this article or section may require cleanup. ... To meet Wikipedias quality standards, this article or section may require cleanup. ... Lake Lanao a large lake in the Philippines, located in Lanao del Sur province in the countrys southern island of Mindanao. ... A Brigadier General, or one-star general, is the lowest rank of general officer in the United States and some other countries, ranking just above Colonel and just below Major General. ...

Rise to General

In June 1903, Pershing was ordered to return to the United States. He was forty-three years old and still a captain in the U.S. Army. President Theodore Roosevelt petitioned the Army General Staff to promote Pershing to colonel. At the time, Army officer promotions were based primarily on seniority, rather than merit, and although there was widespread acknowledgment that Pershing should serve as a colonel, the Army General Staff declined to change their seniority based promotion tradition just to accommodate Pershing. They would not consider a promotion to lieutenant colonel or even major. This angered Roosevelt, but since the President could only promote army officers in the General ranks, his hands were tied. For other persons named Theodore Roosevelt, see Theodore Roosevelt (disambiguation). ... For other uses, see Colonel (disambiguation). ... Lieutenant Colonel is a rank of the United States armed forces which is currently used by the United States Army, United States Air Force, United States Marine Corps, and United States National Guard. ... Major is a military rank the use of which varies according to country. ...

In 1904, Pershing was assigned as the Assistant Chief of Staff of the Southwest Army Division stationed at Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. In October 1904, he attended the Army War College and then was ordered to Washington, DC for "general duties unassigned". Since Theodore Roosevelt could not yet promote Pershing, he petitioned the United States Congress to authorize a diplomatic posting and Pershing was stationed as military attaché in Tokyo in 1905. Also, in 1905, Pershing married the daughter of powerful U.S. Senator Francis E. Warren, a Wyoming Republican and chair of the U.S. Military Appropriations Committee. Critics alleged that this union greatly helped his military career. Nickname: Location in Oklahoma County and the state of Oklahoma. ... The United States Army War College is a U. S. Army school located in Carlisle, Pennsylvania, specifically in the historic Carlisle Barracks. ... Aerial photo (looking NW) of the Washington Monument and the White House in Washington, DC. Washington, D.C., officially the District of Columbia (also known as D.C.; Washington; the Nations Capital; the District; and, historically, the Federal City) is the capital city and administrative district of the United... Type Bicameral Houses Senate House of Representatives President of the Senate President pro tempore Dick Cheney, (R) since January 20, 2001 Robert C. Byrd, (D) since January 4, 2007 Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi, (D) since January 4, 2007 Members 535 plus 4 Delegates and 1 Resident Commissioner Political... For other uses, see Tokyo (disambiguation). ... Francis Emroy Warren (June 20, 1844-November 24, 1929) was an American politician of the Republican Party best known for his years in the United States Senate from Wyoming. ... Official language(s) English Capital Cheyenne Largest city Cheyenne Area  Ranked 10th  - Total 97,818 sq mi (253,348 km²)  - Width 280 miles (450 km)  - Length 360 miles (580 km)  - % water 0. ... GOP redirects here. ...

After serving as an observer in the Russo-Japanese War, Pershing returned to the United States in the fall of 1905. In a move that shocked the army establishment, President Roosevelt convinced Congress to authorize the appointment of Pershing as a brigadier general, skipping three ranks and more than 835 officers senior to him. This promotion outraged several high ranking Army officers who would state, for the rest of their careers, that Pershing's appointment was the result of political connections and not military abilities. However, many other officers supported Pershing and believed that, based on his demonstrated ability to command combat forces, the promotion to general, while unusual, was not out of line. Combatants Russian Empire Principality of Montenegro [1] Empire of Japan Commanders Emperor Nicholas II Aleksey Kuropatkin Stepan Makarov â€  Emperor Meiji Oyama Iwao Heihachiro Togo The Russo–Japanese War (Japanese: Nichi-Ro Sensō, Russian: Russko-Yaponskaya Voyna, Chinese: RìézhànzhÄ“ng, February 10, 1904–September 5, 1905) was a conflict... A Brigadier General, or one-star general, is the lowest rank of general officer in the United States and some other countries, ranking just above Colonel and just below Major General. ...

In 1908, Pershing briefly served as a U.S. military observer in the Balkans, an assignment which was based out of Paris. Upon returning the United States, at the end of 1909, Pershing was assigned once again to the Philippines, an assignment which he served until 1912. While in the Philippines, he served as Commander of Fort McKinley, near Manila, and also was the governor of the Moro Province. The last of Pershing's four children was born in the Philippines and it was during this time that he became an Episcopalian. Balkan redirects here. ... This article is about the capital of France. ... This article is about the Episcopal Church in the United States. ...

Pancho Villa, personal tragedy and the Mexican Revolution

Pershing with his wife and three of their children.

In January 1914, Pershing was assigned to command the Army 8th Brigade in Fort Bliss, Texas, responsible for security along the U.S.-Mexico border. In March 1916, under the command of General Frederick Funston, Pershing led the 8th Brigade on the failed 1916–17 Punitive Expedition into Mexico in search of the revolutionary leader Pancho Villa. General Pershing was assigned a 1915 Dodge Brothers touring car, serial number 3066. During this time, George S. Patton served as one of Pershing's aides. Fort Bliss is a census-designated place and United States Army post in El Paso County, Texas, United States. ... The international border between Mexico and the United States runs a total of 3,141 km (1,951 miles) from San Diego, California, and Tijuana, Baja California, in the west to Matamoros, Tamaulipas, and Brownsville, Texas, in the east. ... Brig. ... The Pancho Villa Expedition was an abortive punitive expedition conducted by the United States against the military forces of Mexican Revolutionary General Pancho Villa in retaliation for Villas invasion of the United States and attack on the village of Columbus, New Mexico. ... For the Filipino boxer, see Francisco Guilledo. ... Alternate use: Dodge (disambiguation) Categories: Automobile stubs | Corporation stubs | Automobiles | Car companies of the United States | Chrysler | Corporations sponsoring NASCAR drivers ... Horatio Nelson Jackson in his 2-seat Winton touring car, The Vermont, drives across America A touring car was a popular car body style in the early 20th century, being a larger alternative to the runabout. ... George Patton redirects here. ...

After a year at Fort Bliss, Pershing decided to bring his family there. The arrangements were almost complete, when on the morning of August 27, 1915, he received a telegram telling him of a tragic fire in the Presidio of San Francisco, where a lacquered floor blaze had rapidly spread, resulting in the smoke inhalation deaths of his wife and three young daughters. Only his six-year-old son Warren was saved. Many who knew Pershing said he never recovered from the deaths. After the funerals at Lakeview Cemetery in Cheyenne, Wyoming, Pershing returned to Fort Bliss with his son, Warren, and his sister Mae, and resumed his duties of commanding officer. is the 239th day of the year (240th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1915 (MCMXV) was a common year starting on Friday (link will display the full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar (or a common year starting on Thursday[1] of the 13-day-slower Julian calendar). ... The Parade Grounds at the Presidio of San Francisco. ... Nickname: Location in Wyoming Coordinates: , Country State County Laramie Founded 1867 Government  - Mayor Jack R. Spiker Area  - Total 21. ...

World War I

Major General Pershing of the National Army

At the start of World War I President Woodrow Wilson considered mobilizing an army to join the fight. Frederick Funston, Pershing's superior in Mexico, was being considered for the top billet as the Commander of the American Expeditionary Force (AEF) when he died suddenly from a heart attack on February 19, 1917. Following America's entrance into the war, Wilson named Pershing to command, a post which he retained until 1918. Pershing, who was a major general, was promoted to full general (the first since Philip Sheridan in 1888) in the National Army, and was made responsible for the organization, training, and supply of a combined professional and draft Army and National Guard force that eventually grew from 27,000 inexperienced men to two armies (a third was forming as the war ended) totalling over two million soldiers. Image File history File linksMetadata Download high-resolution version (3608x5071, 1169 KB) File links The following pages on the English Wikipedia link to this file (pages on other projects are not listed): John Pershing Metadata This file contains additional information, probably added from the digital camera or scanner used to... Image File history File linksMetadata Download high-resolution version (3608x5071, 1169 KB) File links The following pages on the English Wikipedia link to this file (pages on other projects are not listed): John Pershing Metadata This file contains additional information, probably added from the digital camera or scanner used to... The National Army was the combined conscript and volunteer force that was formed by the United States War Department in 1917 to fight in World War I. The National Army was formed from the old corps of the United States Army, augmented by units of the United States National Guard... “The Great War ” redirects here. ... Thomas Woodrow Wilson (December 28, 1856—February 3, 1924), was the twenty-eighth President of the United States. ... Insignia of a United States Air Force Major General German Generalmajor Insignia Major General is a military rank used in many countries. ... Philip Henry Sheridan (March 6, 1831 – August 5, 1888) was a career U.S. Army officer and a Union general in the American Civil War. ... The National Army was the combined conscript and volunteer force that was formed by the United States War Department in 1917 to fight in World War I. The National Army was formed from the old corps of the United States Army, augmented by units of the United States National Guard...

During this time, George C. Marshall served as one of Pershing's assistants, and Douglas MacArthur served in turn as chief of staff of, then as a brigade commander in, and then for the final month of the war, commander of the 42nd "Rainbow" Division. Pershing's initial chief of staff was James Harbord, who would work as Pershing's closest assistant through the years and remain extremely loyal to Pershing. George C. Marshall George Catlett Marshall (December 31, 1880–October 16, 1959), an American military leader and statesman, was born into a middle-class family in Uniontown, Pennsylvania. ... This article is about the American general; for the municipality in the Philippines, see General MacArthur, Eastern Samar. ... James Harbord was a U.S. Army officer and a business executive. ...

Pershing at General Headquarters in Chaumont, France, October 1918.

Pershing arrived in France in 1917; although he is reputed to have said the famous line "Lafayette, we are here" at his reception in Paris, this line was in fact spoken by his aide, Colonel Charles E. Stanton.^[1] Token American forces were deployed in Europe at the end of 1917, with an enormous tonic effect on Allied morale, and in early 1918, entire divisions were beginning to serve on the front lines alongside French troops. Pershing insisted that the AEF fight as units under American command rather than being split up by battalions to augment British and French regiments and brigades (although the U.S. 27th and 30th divisions, loaned during the desperate days of spring 1918, fought with the British/Australian/Canadian Fourth Army until the end of the war, taking part in the breach of the Hindenburg Line in October). Download high resolution version (500x718, 70 KB)Description: General John Pershing. ... Download high resolution version (500x718, 70 KB)Description: General John Pershing. ... Lieutenant General & National Guard Commander-in-Chief Lafayette in 1792 at ~35yrs. ... Charles E. Stanton was an important soldier during World War One from the United States of America. ... The Hindenburg Line was a vast system of defences in Northern France constructed by the Germans during the winter of 1916– 17 during World War I; the Germans called it the Siegfried Line. ...

Due to the affects of trench warfare on soldiers' feet, in January, 1918, Pershing oversaw the creation of an improved combat boot, the "1918 Trench Boot", which became known as the "Pershing Boot" upon its introduction.^[2][3] These paratrooper boots have rubber lug outsoles and side zips. ...

American forces first saw serious action during the summer of 1918, contributing eight large divisions, alongside 24 French ones, at the Second Battle of the Marne. Along with the Fourth Army's victory at Amiens, the Franco-American victory at the Second Battle of the Marne marked the turning point of the war on the Western Front. Combatants  France  United Kingdom  United States  German Empire Casualties 168,000 The Second Battle of the Marne, or Battle of Reims, was a major World War I battle fought from July 15 to August 5, 1918, near the Marne River. ... Combatants United Kingdom, France, Canada, Australia Germany Commanders Henry Rawlinson Georg von der Marwitz Strength 4 Aus. ... Combatants Belgium British Empire Australia[1] Canada[2] India[3] Newfoundland[4] New Zealand[5] South Africa[6] United Kingdom France and French Overseas Empire Portugal[7] United States Germany Commanders No unified command until 1918, then Ferdinand Foch Moltke → Falkenhayn → Hindenburg and Ludendorff → Hindenburg and Groener Casualties ~4,800...

By the autumn, the U.S. First Army had been formed, at first under Pershing's direct command and then, when the Second Army under Robert Bullard was added, under that of Hunter Liggett. After a quick victory at Saint-Mihiel, east of Verdun, some of the more bullish AEF commanders had hoped to push on eastwards to Metz, but this did not fit in with the plans of the Allied Supreme Commander, Marshal Foch, for three simultaneous offensives into the "bulge" of the Western Front (the other two being the Fourth Army's breach of the Hindenburg Line and an Anglo-Belgian offensive, led by Plumer's Second Army, in Flanders). Instead, the AEF was required to redeploy and, aided by French tanks, launched a major offensive northwards in very difficult terrain at Meuse-Argonne. Initially enjoying numerical odds of eight to one, this offensive eventually engaged 35 or 40 of the 190 or so German divisions on the Western Front, although to put this in perspective, around half the German divisions were engaged on the British Expeditionary Force (BEF) sector at the time. Hunter Liggett was a general of the United States Army. ... Combatants United States German Empire Commanders John J. Pershing Georg von der Marwitz Strength American Expeditionary Force German Fifth Army Casualties 7,000 2000 dead and 5500 wounded The Battle of Saint-Mihiel was a World War I battle fought between September 12 - 15, 1918, involving the American Expeditionary Force... Ferdinand Foch OM GCB (October 2, 1851 – March 20, 1929) was a French soldier, military theorist, and writer credited with possessing the most original and subtle mind in the French Army in the early 20th century. ... Herbert Onslow Plumer, 1st Viscount Plumer (1857–1932) was a British colonial official and soldier. ... Belligerents United States German Empire Commanders John J. Pershing Georg von der Marwitz Strength American Expeditionary Force German Fifth Army Casualties and losses 26,277 killed 95,786 wounded 122,063 total 28,000 killed 92,250 wounded 120,250 total The Meuse-Argonne Offensive, also called the Battle of... The British Expeditionary Force (BEF) was the British army sent to France and Belgium in World War I and British Forces in Europe from 1939–1940 during World War II. The BEF was established by Secretary of State for War Richard Haldane following the Second Boer War in case the...

Speech sample

"Address from France"

A speech given from Allied Headquarters, Chaumont, France, 1918

Problems listening to the file? See media help.

When he arrived in Europe, Pershing had openly scorned the slow trench warfare of the previous three years on the Western Front, believing that American soldiers' skill with the rifle would enable them to avoid costly and senseless fighting over a small area of no man's land. This was regarded as unrealistic by British and French generals, and (privately) by a number of American generals such as Army Chief of Staff Tasker H. Bliss and Lieutenant General Hunter Liggett. The AEF had done well in the relatively open warfare of the Second Battle of the Marne, but the eventual U.S. casualty rates against German defensive positions in the Argonne (120,000 U.S. casualties in six weeks, against 35 or 40 German divisions) were not noticeably better than those of the Franco-British offensive on the Somme two years earlier (600,000 casualties in four and a half months, versus 50 or so German divisions). More ground was gained, but then the German Army was in worse shape than in previous years. {{subst:empty template|}} {{Copyviocore |url= |month = {{subst:CURRENTMONTHNAME}} |day = {{subst:CURRENTDAY}} |year = {{subst:CURRENTYEAR}} |time = {{subst:CURRENTTIME}} |timestamp = {{subst:CURRENTTIMESTAMP}}}} Trench warfare is a form of warfare where both combatants have fortified positions and fighting lines are static. ... 29th Infantry Battalion, 2nd Division, Canadian Corps. ... Gen. ... For other battles known as Battle of the Somme, see Battle of the Somme (disambiguation). ...

Some writers (e.g., David Trask (1993)) have speculated that Pershing's frustration at the slow progress through the Argonne was the cause of two incidents which then ensued. Firstly, he ordered the U.S. First Army to take "the honor" of recapturing Sedan, site of the French defeat in 1870; the ensuing confusion (an order was issued that "boundaries were not to be considered binding") exposed U.S. troops to danger not only from the French on their left, but even from one another, as the 1st Division tacked westward by night across the path of the 42nd (accounts differ as to whether Douglas MacArthur was really mistaken for a German officer and arrested). Liggett, who had been away from headquarters the previous day, had to sort out the mess and implement the instructions from Supreme Commander Marshal Foch, allowing the French to recapture the city; he later recorded that this was the only time during the war in which he lost his temper. Sedan is a town and commune in France, a sous-préfecture of the Ardennes département. ... Combatants Prussia Bavaria France Commanders Wilhelm I Helmuth von Moltke Napoleon III Patrice MacMahon Auguste-Alexandre Ducrot Strength 200,000 774 cannon 120,000 564 cannon Casualties 2,320 dead 5,980 wounded 700 missing (9,000 total) 3,000 dead 14,000 wounded 21,000 captured 82,000 surrendered...

Secondly, Pershing sent an unsolicited letter to the Allied Supreme War Council, demanding that the Germans not be given an armistice and that instead, the Allies should push on and obtain an unconditional surrender. Although in later years, many, including President Franklin D. Roosevelt, felt that Pershing had had a point, at the time, this was a breach of political authority. Pershing narrowly escaped a serious reprimand from Wilson's aide, Colonel House, and later apologized. FDR redirects here. ... Edward Mandell House (July 26, 1858 – March 28, 1938) was an American diplomat, politician and presidential advisor from the time of World War I until well into the 1930s. ...

At the time of the Armistice, another U.S.-French offensive was due to start on 14 November, thrusting towards Metz and into Lorraine, to take place simultaneously with further BEF advances through Belgium. Front page of the New York Times on Armistice Day, 11 November 1918 The armistice treaty between the Allies and Germany was signed in a railway carriage in Compiègne Forest on November 11, 1918, and marked the end of the First World War on the Western Front. ...

In his memoirs, Pershing claimed that the U.S. breakout from the Argonne at the start of November was the decisive event leading to the German acceptance of an armistice, because it made untenable the Antwerp-Meuse line. This is probably an exaggeration; the outbreak of civil unrest and naval mutiny in Germany, the collapse of Bulgaria, Turkey, and particularly Austria-Hungary following Allied victories in Salonika, Syria, and Italy, and the Allied victories on the Western Front were among a series of events in the autumn of 1918 which made it clear that Allied victory was inevitable, and diplomatic inquiries about an armistice had been going on throughout October. President Wilson was keen to tie matters up before the mid-term elections, and the other Allies did not have the strength to defeat Germany without U.S. help, so had little choice but to follow Wilson's lead. Thessaloniki or Salonica (Greek: ) is Greeces second-largest city and the capital of Macedonia, the largest Region of Greece. ...

By the end of the war, U.S. troop strength in Europe (1.8 million or more) was slightly greater than that of the BEF (1.7m). French strength (three Army Groups, totalling 2.5m) was still greater, but much of it was deployed in quiet sectors such as Alsace, and after horrendous casualties and mutiny earlier in the war, France was only able or willing to undertake major offensives in conjunction with U.S. troops. Combatant strength was approximately 60% of these ration strengths in each case. Although the war ended before U.S. front-line strength vastly outstripped that of the other Western Allies as would happen in 1944-5, the threat of ever-greater U.S. commitment was another factor driving the German leadership to ask for an armistice.

American successes were largely credited to Pershing, and he became the most celebrated American leader of the war. Critics, however, would claim that Pershing commanded from far behind the lines and was critical of commanders who personally led troops into battle. This critique would become a sore point with Douglas MacArthur, who saw Pershing as a desk soldier, and the relationship between the two men deteriorated by the end of the war. Similar criticism of senior commanders by the younger generation of officers (the future generals of World War II) was made in the British and other armies, but in fairness to Pershing it should be noted that, although it was not uncommon for brigade commanders to serve near the front and even be killed, the state of communications in World War I made it more practical for senior generals to command from the rear. This article is about the American general; for the municipality in the Philippines, see General MacArthur, Eastern Samar. ... Combatants Allied powers: China France Great Britain Soviet Union United States and others Axis powers: Germany Italy Japan and others Commanders Chiang Kai-shek Charles de Gaulle Winston Churchill Joseph Stalin Franklin Roosevelt Adolf Hitler Benito Mussolini Hideki Tōjō Casualties Military dead: 17,000,000 Civilian dead: 33,000...

Later career

Gen. Pershing as Army Chief of Staff

In 1919, in recognition of his distinguished service during World War I, the U.S. Congress authorized the President to promote Pershing to General of the Armies of the United States, the highest rank possible for any member of the United States armed forces and was created especially for him and one that only he held at the time (General George Washington was posthumously promoted to this rank by President Gerald Ford in 1976). Pershing was authorized to create his insignia for the new rank, and chose to wear four gold stars for the rest of his career, which separated him from the four (temporary) silver stars worn by Army Chiefs of Staff, and even the five star General of the Army insignia worn by Marshall, MacArthur, Bradley, Eisenhower, and H. 'Hap' Arnold in World War II (Pershing outranked them all). Image File history File links GEN_Pershing_as_Chief_Of_Staff. ... Image File history File links GEN_Pershing_as_Chief_Of_Staff. ... Congress in Joint Session. ... In the United States Army military hierarchy, General of the Armies is traditionally considered a rank superior to a five-star general. ... George Washington (February 22, 1732 – December 14, 1799)[1] led Americas Continental Army to victory over Britain in the American Revolutionary War (1775–1783), and in 1789 was elected the first President of the United States of America. ... For other persons named Gerald Ford, see Gerald Ford (disambiguation). ... This article is about the United States Army rank General of the Army. ... General of the Air Force Henry Harley Hap Arnold GCB (June 25, 1886 – January 15, 1950) was an aviation pioneer and Chief of the United States Army Air Corps (from 1938), Commanding General of the U.S. Army Air Forces (from 1941 until 1945) and the first and only General...

There was a movement to make Pershing President of the United States in 1920, but he refused to actively campaign. In a newspaper article, he said that he "wouldn't decline to serve" if the people wanted him and this made front page headlines. Though Pershing was a Republican, many of his party's leaders considered him too closely tied to the policies of the Democratic Party's President Wilson. The Republican nomination went to Senator Warren G. Harding of Ohio, who won the 1920 presidential election. Federal courts Supreme Court Circuit Courts of Appeal District Courts Elections Presidential elections Midterm elections Political Parties Democratic Republican Third parties State & Local government Governors Legislatures (List) State Courts Local Government Other countries Atlas  US Government Portal      For other uses, see President of the United States (disambiguation). ... The Democratic Party is one of two major political parties in the United States, the other being the Republican Party. ... Warren Gamaliel Harding (November 2, 1865 – August 2, 1923) was an American politician and the 29th President of the United States, from 1921 to 1923. ... This article is about the U.S. State. ... Presidential electoral votes by state. ...

Bronze relief of Pershing, Kansas City, Missouri, Liberty Memorial

In 1921, Pershing became Chief of Staff of the United States Army, serving at this posting for three years. He created the Pershing Map, a proposed national network of military and civilian highways. The Interstate Highway System instituted in 1956 bears considerable resemblance to the Pershing map. In 1924, then 64 years old, Pershing retired from active military service, yet continued to be listed on the active duty rolls as part of his commission as General of the Armies. Image File history File linksMetadata Size of this preview: 394 × 599 pixel Image in higher resolution (898 × 1366 pixel, file size: 643 KB, MIME type: image/jpeg) photo by Einar Einarsson Kvaran aka Carptrash 17:16, 18 December 2006 (UTC) - Reilief of John Pershing by Walker Hancock at the Kansas... Image File history File linksMetadata Size of this preview: 394 × 599 pixel Image in higher resolution (898 × 1366 pixel, file size: 643 KB, MIME type: image/jpeg) photo by Einar Einarsson Kvaran aka Carptrash 17:16, 18 December 2006 (UTC) - Reilief of John Pershing by Walker Hancock at the Kansas... Liberty Memorial Liberty Memorial, in Kansas City, is dedicated to the victory of liberty over oppression, in World War I against the Triple Alliance. ... The Flag of the Chief of Staff of the United States Army The Chief of Staff of the United States Army (CSA) is the highest ranking officer in the United States Army and is member of the Joint Chiefs of Staff [1]. Prior to 1903, the military head of the... This article or section needs to be wikified. ... Interstate Highways in the 48 contiguous states. ...

Pershing's tombstone at Arlington National Cemetery.

On November 1, 1921 Pershing was in Kansas City to take part in the groundbreaking ceremony for the Liberty Memorial that was being constructed there. Also present that day were Lieutenant General Baron Jacques of Belgium, Admiral David Beatty of Great Britain, Marshal Ferdinand Foch of France and General Armando Diaz of Italy. One of the main speakers was Vice President Calvin Coolidge of the United States. In 1935, bas-reliefs of Pershing, Jacques, Foch and Diaz by sculptor Walker Hancock were added to the memorial. Image File history File linksMetadata Size of this preview: 603 × 599 pixel Image in higher resolution (1080 × 1073 pixel, file size: 372 KB, MIME type: image/jpeg) File links The following pages on the English Wikipedia link to this file (pages on other projects are not listed): John J. Pershing... Image File history File linksMetadata Size of this preview: 603 × 599 pixel Image in higher resolution (1080 × 1073 pixel, file size: 372 KB, MIME type: image/jpeg) File links The following pages on the English Wikipedia link to this file (pages on other projects are not listed): John J. Pershing... This article or section does not cite any references or sources. ... is the 305th day of the year (306th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1921 (MCMXXI) was a common year starting on Saturday (link will display the full calendar). ... Nickname: Location in Jackson, Clay, Platte, and Cass Counties in the state of Missouri. ... Liberty Memorial Liberty Memorial, in Kansas City, is dedicated to the victory of liberty over oppression, in World War I against the Triple Alliance. ... David Beatty, 1st Earl Beatty David Beatty, 1st Earl Beatty (17 January 1871- 11 March 1936), was an admiral in the Royal Navy. ... Ferdinand Foch OM GCB (October 2, 1851 – March 20, 1929) was a French soldier, military theorist, and writer credited with possessing the most original and subtle mind in the French Army in the early 20th century. ... General Armando Diaz Armando Diaz (December 5, 1861–February 29, 1928) was a Marshal of Italy. ... John Calvin Coolidge, Jr. ... Walker Kirkland Hancock (born June 28, 1901, St. ...

On October 2, 1922, amidst several hundred officers, many of them combat veterans of World War I, General of the Armies, John J. "Black Jack" Pershing formally established the Reserve Officers Association (ROA) as an organization at the Willard Hotel in Washington, D.C. ROA is a 75,000-member, professional association of officers, former officers, and spouses of all the uniformed services of the United States, primarily the Reserve and United States National Guard. It is a congressionally chartered Association that advises the Congress and the President on issues of national security on behalf of all members of the Reserve Component. Serving Those Who Serve The Reserve Officers Association is a 75,000-member, professional association of officers, former officers, and spouses of all the uniformed services of the United States, primarily the Reserve and United States National Guard. ...

During the 1930s, Pershing maintained a private life, but was made famous by his memoirs, My Experiences in the World War, which were awarded the 1932 Pulitzer Prize for history. The following are the Pulitzer Prizes for 1932 . ...

In 1940, Pershing was an outspoken advocate of aid for the United Kingdom during World War II. In 1944, with the creation of the new five star rank General of the Army, Pershing was acknowledged as the highest ranking officer of the United States military. When asked if this made Pershing a six star General, the then Secretary of War (Henry L. Stimson) commented that it did not, since Pershing never wore more than four stars but that Pershing was still to be considered senior to the present five star generals of World War II. Combatants Allied powers: China France Great Britain Soviet Union United States and others Axis powers: Germany Italy Japan and others Commanders Chiang Kai-shek Charles de Gaulle Winston Churchill Joseph Stalin Franklin Roosevelt Adolf Hitler Benito Mussolini Hideki Tōjō Casualties Military dead: 17,000,000 Civilian dead: 33,000... General of the Army is a military rank used in some countries of the world to denote a senior military leader, usually a General in command of a nations Army. ... The Secretary of War was a member of the United States Presidents Cabinet, beginning with George Washingtons administration. ... Henry L. Stimson Henry Lewis Stimson (September 21, 1867 – October 20, 1950) was an American statesman, who served as Secretary of War, Governor-General of the Philippines, and Secretary of State at various times. ...

During World War II, Pershing was visited by Free French leader General de Gaulle, who, when Pershing asked after the health of his old friend, Marshal Petain (now heading the pro-German Vichy regime), replied tactfully that as far as he knew, the marshal was quite well. The Free French Forces (Forces Françaises Libres in French) were French fighters who decided to go on fighting against Germany after the Fall of France and German occupation and to fight against Vichy France in World War II. General Charles de Gaulle was a member of the French Cabinet in... Charles André Joseph Marie de Gaulle (  listen?) (November 22, 1890 – November 9, 1970), in France commonly referred to as le général de Gaulle, was a French military leader and statesman. ... World War II and Vichy France After the fall of France during World War II, in the spring of 1940, the Chamber of Deputies appointed Pétain as Prime Minister of France and granted him extraordinary powers. ...

On July 15, 1948, he died at the Walter Reed Army Hospital in Washington, D.C. (his home after 1944). Pershing is buried in Arlington National Cemetery, near the grave sites of the soldiers he commanded in Europe, after a state funeral. is the 196th day of the year (197th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1948 (MCMXLVIII) was a leap year starting on Thursday (link will display the 1948 calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... This article or section does not cite any references or sources. ... The examples and perspective in this article or section may not represent a worldwide view. ...

Family

It was during his initial assignment in the American west that his mother died.^[4] On March 16, 1906, Pershing's father died.^[4] is the 75th day of the year (76th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1906 (MCMVI) was a common year starting on Monday (link will display full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar (or a common year starting on Sunday of the 13-day-slower Julian calendar). ...

Warren Pershing, John J. Pershing's son, served in the Second World War as an advisor to Army Chief of Staff George C. Marshall and ended the war as a full Colonel. He was father to two sons, Richard W. Pershing and John Warren Pershing III. Richard Pershing served as a 2nd Lieutenant in the 502nd Infantry and was killed in action on 17 February 1968 in Vietnam.^[5] John Pershing III served as a special assistant to former Army Chief of Staff General Gordon R. Sullivan, and helped shape Army and Army ROTC programs nationwide.^[6] George C. Marshall George Catlett Marshall (December 31, 1880–October 16, 1959), an American military leader and statesman, was born into a middle-class family in Uniontown, Pennsylvania. ... 502nd PIR Distinctive Unit Insignia During World War II, the 502nd Parachute Infantry Regiment (502d PIR) was a regiment of the 101st Airborne Division of the United States Army. ... is the 48th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1968 (MCMLXVIII) was a leap year starting on Monday (link will display full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... General Gordon R. Sullivan General Gordon R. Sullivan (born September 25, 1937 in Boston, Massachusetts) was a U.S. Army general. ... The Reserve Officer Training Corps (ROTC) is a training program of the United States armed forces present on college campuses to recruit and educate commissioned officers. ...

Summary of service

Dates of rank

No Insignia in 1886	Second Lieutenant, United States Army: August 1886
	First Lieutenant, United States Army: October 1895
	Brevet Major of Volunteers, U.S. Army: August 1898
	Captain, U.S. Army (reverted to permanent rank): June 1901
	Brigadier General, United States Army: September 1906
	Major General, United States Army: May 1916
	General, National Army, Army of the United States: October 1917
	General of the Armies of the United States, Army of the United States: September 3, 1919 As there was no official insignia, General Pershing wore four gold stars. Second Lieutenant is the lowest commissioned rank in many armed forces. ... The United States Army is the largest and oldest branch of the armed forces of the United States. ... Image File history File links US-OF1A.svg‎ US military insignia Pay Grade: O-2 NATO Equivalent: OF-1 File links The following pages on the English Wikipedia link to this file (pages on other projects are not listed): First Lieutenant Philadelphia Fire Department Category: ... First Lieutenant is a military rank. ... Major is a military rank the use of which varies according to country. ... For other uses, see Captain (disambiguation). ... A Brigadier General, or one-star general, is the lowest rank of general officer in the United States and some other countries, ranking just above Colonel and just below Major General. ... Insignia of a United States Air Force Major General German Generalmajor Insignia Major General is a military rank used in many countries. ... This does not adequately cite its references or sources. ... The National Army was the combined conscript and volunteer force that was formed by the United States War Department in 1917 to fight in World War I. The National Army was formed from the old corps of the United States Army, augmented by units of the United States National Guard... Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... General of the Armies of the United States is the highest possible rank in the United States military hierarchy, equal to a Generalissimo. ... is the 246th day of the year (247th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1919 (MCMXIX) was a common year starting on Wednesday (link will display the full calendar). ...

Signature of John Pershing as General of the Armies

Image File history File links John J. Pershings signature File history Legend: (cur) = this is the current file, (del) = delete this old version, (rev) = revert to this old version. ... Image File history File links John J. Pershings signature File history Legend: (cur) = this is the current file, (del) = delete this old version, (rev) = revert to this old version. ...

Assignment history

General Pershing lands in France in 1917

• 1882: Cadet, United States Military Academy
• 1886: Troop L, Sixth Cavalry
• 1891: Professor of Tactics, University of Nebraska-Lincoln
• 1895: Commanding Officer, 10th Cavalry Regiment
• 1897: Instructor, United States Military Academy, West Point
• 1898: Major of Volunteer Forces, Cuban Campaign, Spanish-American War
• 1899: Officer-in-Charge, Office of Customs and Insular Affairs
• 1900: Adjutant General, Department of Mindanao and Jolo, Philippines
• 1901: Battalion Officer, 1st Cavalry and Intelligence Officer, 15th Cavalry (Philippines)
• 1902: Officer-in-Charge, Camp Vicars, Philippines
• 1904: Assistant Chief of Staff, Southwest Army Division, Oklahoma
• 1905: Military attaché, U.S. Embassy, Tokyo, Japan
• 1908: Military Advisor to American Embassy, France
• 1909: Commander of Fort McKinley, Manila, and governor of Moro Province
• 1914: Brigade Commander, 8th Army Brigade
• 1916: Commanding General, Mexican Punitive Expedition
• 1917: Commanding General for the formation of the National Army
• 1918: Commanding General, American Expeditionary Forces, Europe
• 1921: Chief of Staff of the United States Army
• 1924: Retired from active military service
• 1925: Chief Commissioner assigned by the United States in the arbitration case for the provinces of Tacna and Arica between Peru and Chile.

John Pershing lands in France. ... John Pershing lands in France. ... Tokyo (東京; Tōkyō, lit. ... The National Army was the combined conscript and volunteer force that was was formed by the United States War Department in 1918 to fight in World War I. The National Army was formed from the old corps of the United States Army, augmented by units of the United States National... The Tacna Arica compromise was a series of documents that settled the territorial dispute of both Tacna and Arica provinces. ... Tacna is a city in southern Peru, located only 35 km (21 mi) north from the border with Chile. ... Morro de Arica Arica is a port city in northern Chile, located only 18 km (11 miles) south of the border with Peru. ...

Awards and decorations

Pershing's ribbons as worn during the First World War

Image File history File links Pershing World War I Ribbons by Wiki User Husnock File history Legend: (cur) = this is the current file, (del) = delete this old version, (rev) = revert to this old version. ... Image File history File links Pershing World War I Ribbons by Wiki User Husnock File history Legend: (cur) = this is the current file, (del) = delete this old version, (rev) = revert to this old version. ...

United States decorations

• Distinguished Service Cross
• Distinguished Service Medal
• World War I Victory Medal (with 15 battle clasps)
• Indian Campaign Medal
• Spanish Campaign Medal (with Silver Citation Star)
• Army of Cuban Occupation Medal
• Philippine Campaign Medal
• Mexican Service Medal

In 1932, seven years after Pershing's retirement from active service, his silver citation star was upgraded to the Silver Star Medal and he became eligible for the Purple Heart. In 1941, he was retroactively awarded the Army of Occupation of Germany Medal for service in Germany following the close of World War I. The Distinguished Service Cross (DSC) is the second highest military decoration of the United States Army which is awarded for extreme gallantry and risk of life in actual combat with an armed enemy force. ... The Distinguished Service Medal is a military award of the United States Army which is presented to any person who, while serving in any capacity with the United States military, has distinguished himself or herself by exceptionally meritorious service to the Government in a duty of great responsibility. ... The World War I Victory Medal is a decoration of the United States military which was first created in 1919. ... Campaign Clasp Examples A Campaign clasp is an attachment to a military award consisting of a metal bar which is pinned to the upper cloth portion of an award medal. ... The Indian Campaign Medal is a decoration of the United States Army which was first created in 1905. ... Army Spanish Campaign Medal The Spanish Campaign Medal was a military award of the United States Armed Forces which recognized those members of the U.S. military who had served in the Spanish-American War. ... Example of Citation Star on WWI Victory Medal The Citation Star was an award of the United States Army which was first established by the United States Congress on July 9, 1918. ... The Army of Cuban Occupation Medal was a military award which was created by the United States War Department in June of 1915. ... Army and Navy versions of the Philippine Campaign Medal The Philippine Campaign Medal is a military decoration of the United States Armed Forces which was created to denote service of U.S. military members in the Philippine-American War between the years of 1898 and 1913. ... Army & Navy Mexican Service Medals The Mexican Service Medal is an award of the United States military which was established by General Orders of the United States War Department on December 12, 1917. ... The Silver Star is the fourth highest military decoration that can be awarded to a member of any branch of the United States Armed Forces. ... For other uses, see Purple Heart (disambiguation). ... The Army of Occupation of Germany Medal is a decoration of the United States military which was created by an act of the United States Congress on November 21, 1941. ...

General Pershing's ribbons as they would appear today
(Does not include all foreign awards)

Image File history File links Graphic recreation of General John Pershings award ribbons by Wiki User Husnock File history Legend: (cur) = this is the current file, (del) = delete this old version, (rev) = revert to this old version. ... Image File history File links Graphic recreation of General John Pershings award ribbons by Wiki User Husnock File history Legend: (cur) = this is the current file, (del) = delete this old version, (rev) = revert to this old version. ...

International awards

• Knight Grand Cross of the Order of the Bath (Britain)
• Grand Cross of the Legion of Honor (France)
• Military Medal (France)
• Croix de Guerre with Palm (France)
• Grand Cross of the Order of Leopold (Belgium)
• Croix de Guerre (Belgium)
• Virtuti Militari (Poland)
• Order of the White Lion (1st Class with Sword) (Czechoslovakia)
• Czechoslovakian War Cross
• Grand Cordon of the Order of the Precious Jade (China)
• Order of the Golden Grain (1st Class) (China)
• Order of the Redeemer (Greece)
• Grand Cross of the Military Order of Savoy (Italy)
• Grand Cross of the Order of Saints Maurice and Lazarus (Italy)
• Order of the Rising Sun (Japan)
• Medaille Obilitch (Montenegro)
• Grand Cross of the Order of Prince Danilo I (Montenegro)
• Medal of La Solidaridad (1st Class) (Panama)
• Grand Cross of the Order of the Sun (Peru)
• Order of Michael the Brave (1st Class) (Romania)
• Grand Cordon of the Order of the Liberator (Venezuela)
• Grand Cross of the Order of the Star of Karageorge with Swords (Serbia)

The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is a British order of chivalry established on 4 June 1917 by King George V. The Order includes five classes in civil and military divisions; in decreasing order of seniority, these are Knight Grand Cross or Dame Grand Cross (GBE) Knight Commander... Badge of a Companion of the Order of the Bath (Military Division) Ribbon of the Order of the Bath The Most Honourable Order of the Bath (formerly The Most Honourable Military Order of the Bath)[1] is a British order of chivalry founded by George I on May 18, 1725. ... The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland is a country in western Europe, and member of the Commonwealth of Nations, the G8, the European Union, and NATO. Usually known simply as the United Kingdom, the UK, or (inaccurately) as Great Britain or Britain, the UK has four constituent... The Grand Cross of the Iron Cross was an award intended for senior Generals of the German Army and dated back to 1870. ... Chiang Kai-sheks Légion dhonneur. ... French Military Medal The Médaille militaire (Military Medal) is a decoration of the French Republic which was first instituted in 1852. ... The Croix de guerre is a military decoration of both Belgium and France which was first created in 1915. ... Order of Leopold The Order of Leopold is the highest military order of Belgium and is named in honor of King Leopold I. The decoration was established in 1832 and is awarded for extreme bravery in combat or for meritorious service of immense benefit to the Belgian nation. ... The Croix de guerre is a military decoration of both Belgium and France which was first created in 1915. ... Virtuti Militari The Virtuti Militari (Latin: For Military Virtue) was created in 1792 and is Polands highest military decoration for valor in the face of the enemy and one of the oldest military decorations in the world still in use . ... 4th Class Medal of the Order of the White Lion, Military Division The Order of the White Lion is the highest order of the Czech Republic, which continues a Czechoslovak order of the same name created in 1922 as an award for foreigners ( Czechoslovakia had no decoration for its citizens... World War II Czech War Cross with World War I ribbon The Czechoslovakian War Cross is a military decoration of the former state of Czechoslovakia which was issued as a service medal of both World War I and World War II. There are two versions of the decoration, commonly referred... The Order of the Redeemer (Greek Τάγμα του Σωτήρος) is an Order (decoration) of Greece. ... The Military Order of Italy (Ordine Militare dItalia) is the highest military order of Italy, originally established as the Military Order of Savoy on August 14, 1815 by King Victor Emmanuel I of Sardinia. ... The badge of the Order of Saints Maurice and Lazarus. ... Grand Cordon of the Order of the Rising Sun The Order of the Rising Sun or Kyokujitsu sho(旭日章) is a Japanese Order (decoration), established in 1875 by Emperor Meiji of Japan. ... This article is about the country in Europe. ... The Order of the Sun is the highest award bestowed by the nation of Peru to commend notable civil and military merit. ... Order of Michael the Brave The Order of Michael the Brave (Romanian: ) is Romanias highest military decoration, instituted by King Ferdinand I during the early stages of the Romanian Campaign of World War I, and was again awarded in World War II. The Order, which may be bestowed as... Anthem:  Serbia() on the European continent()  —  [] Capital (and largest city) Belgrade Official languages Serbian Recognised regional languages Hungarian, Slovak, Romanian, Croatian, Rusyn 1 Albanian 2 Demonym Serbian Government Parliamentary Democracy  -  President Boris Tadić  -  Prime Minister Vojislav KoÅ¡tunica    -  First state 7th century   -  Serbian Kingdom3 1217   -  Serbian Empire 1345   -  Independence lost...

Civilian awards

• Congressional Gold Medal of Honor
• Thanks of the United States Congress
• Special Medal of the Committee of the city of Buenos Aires

Congressional Gold Medal presented to Navajo Code talkers in 2000 The Congressional Gold Medal of Honor is the highest award which may be bestowed by the Legislative Branch of the United States government. ... For other uses, see Buenos Aires (disambiguation). ...

Other honors

• The National Society of Pershing Rifles, founded by General Pershing, continues on today as America's premier undergraduate military fraternal organization.
• The Military Order of the World Wars was also founded by General Pershing.
• The M26 Pershing main battle tank was an American heavy tank introduced in 1945 that is widely considered the best US tank of World War II.
• Pershing Square in New York City is on E42nd Street at Park Avenue in front of Grand Central Terminal.
• Pershing Square in Downtown Los Angeles is named in honor of the General.
• Pershing Park in Washington, D.C. features the Pershing Memorial.
• Pershing Avenue in Orlando, Florida a main artery on the city's southeast side, close to the airport.
• Pershing State Park, located between the north-central Missouri communities of Laclede and Meadville, is named in his honor.
• The Great Pershing Balloon Derby at Brookfield, Missouri is named in his honor and is held over the Labor Day weekend each year.
• The John J. Pershing Military and Naval Science Building on the campus of the University of Nebraska–Lincoln.
• At Truman State University, he is the namesake of the Pershing Society, Pershing Hall, Pershing Arena and the Pershing Scholarships.
• There is a Pershing Hall named in his honor at his alma mater, the United States Military Academy at West Point, New York.
• In honor of Pershing's service to his country, the Pershing tank and Pershing missile were later named after him.
• Nicknamed 'The Leader of All'.
• The 2nd Brigade of the 1st Cavalry Division (United States) is nicknamed "Black Jack."
• Pershing County, in the state of Nevada, is named in his honor.
• Chicago, Burlington and Quincy Railroad named a diesel engined streamliner train after him in 1939 known as the General Pershing Zephyr.
• Various streets, civic center, schools and towns are today named in honor of John J. Pershing; including Pershing Ave. in Saint Louis, MO, Pershing Middle School in Houston, Texas, Pershing Elementary School in Berwyn, IL, and Pershing Drive in North Omaha and Florence, Nebraska. Pershing Avenue in Saint Louis was previously known as Berlin Avenue, but was fittingly changed in light of the public's displeasure with German activities at the time.
• Pershing Ave. named after him in Fort Riley, KS
• General Pershing Boulevard in Oklahoma City, on the Oklahoma State Fairgrounds, is named after him. It was formerly part of Main Street and turns into such after a mile past the Fairgrounds.
• A riderless horse was named in honor of Pershing, "Black Jack."
• Plaza Pershing was established in Zamboanga City, Philippines to honor him with his victory over Muslim insurgents.
• Pershing Arena on the Campus of Truman State University in Kirksville, MO (his former college) is named in honor of John J. Pershing.
• The Boulevard Pershing is on the Western edge of Paris, France and runs past the Palais des Congrès near the Porte Maillot. Many of the major streets in the area (the XVIe arrondissement) are named after notable French military figures, including Avenue Foch, named after Marshall Foch, and at either end of Boulevard Pershing, streets named after the Marshals of France Gouvion Saint-Cyr and Koenig. It reflects the immense popularity of the American troops who first arrived in the French capital in 1916.
• The Pershing Center, a 4526-seat multi-purpose arena located in downtown Lincoln, NE, is named in honor of Pershing.

A Pershing Rifles color guard competing at the 2004 NATCON drill competition held at Fort Monroe, VA. The Pershing Rifles, a military drill team organization for college-level students, was founded by then 1st Lt. ... The Heavy Tank M26 Pershing was an American tank used during World War II and the Korean War. ... Combatants Allied powers: China France Great Britain Soviet Union United States and others Axis powers: Germany Italy Japan and others Commanders Chiang Kai-shek Charles de Gaulle Winston Churchill Joseph Stalin Franklin Roosevelt Adolf Hitler Benito Mussolini Hideki Tōjō Casualties Military dead: 17,000,000 Civilian dead: 33,000... New York, New York and NYC redirect here. ... Main article: Transportation in New York City 42nd Street, NYC 42nd Street is a major crosstown street in the New York City borough of Manhattan, known for its theaters, especially near the intersection with Broadway at Times Square. ... Park Avenue in the Upper East Side (2004) Park Avenue runs north and south between Madison Avenue and Lexington Avenue in Manhattan in New York City. ... The main concourse Grand Central Terminal (GCT, often unofficially called Grand Central Station) is a terminal rail station at 15 Vanderbilt Avenue (42nd Street and Park Avenue) in Midtown Manhattan in New York City. ... Pershing Square Signed into being by Los Angeles mayor Cristobal Aguilar as a park in 1866. ... Skyline of downtown Los Angeles Downtown Los Angeles is the central business district of Los Angeles, California, located close to the geographic center of the metropolitan area. ... Pershing Park Pershing Park is a small park in Washington D.C. Located at 14th Street and Pennsylvania Avenue NW, it is across the street from Freedom Plaza and the Willard InterContinental hotel. ... Orlando redirects here. ... A balloon launch at the Great Pershing Balloon Derby The Great Pershing Balloon Derby is a hot air balloon festival named in honor of General John J. Pershing and held every year since 1977 over the Labor Day weekend near Brookfield, Missouri. ... Brookfield is a city located in Linn County, Missouri. ... This article is about the holiday in the United States. ... “University of Nebraska” redirects here. ... Truman State University is a public liberal arts and sciences university in Missouri and a member of the Council of Public Liberal Arts Colleges. ... USMA redirects here. ... The Heavy Tank M26 Pershing was an American tank used during World War II and the Korean War. ... Pershing was a family of solid-fueled two-stage medium-range ballistic missiles designed and built by Martin Marietta to replace the PGM-11 Redstone missile as the Armys primary theater-level weapon. ... The 1st Cavalry Division (1st Cav Div) is a heavy armored division of the United States Army with base of operations in Fort Hood, Texas. ... Pershing County is a county located in the state of Nevada. ... This article is about the U.S. State of Nevada. ... The Chicago, Burlington and Quincy Railroad (AAR reporting mark CBQ) was a railroad that operated in the Midwestern United States. ... Diesel engines in a museum Diesel generator on an oil tanker A diesel engine is an internal combustion engine which operates using the Diesel cycle. ... A streamliner is any vehicle that incorporates streamlining to produce a shape that provides less resistance to air, and is more pleasing to the eye. ... The General Pershing Zephyr in 1939 near Denver, Colorado. ... North Omaha is in the Missouri River bluffs above Eppley Airfield and Carter Lake North Omaha is a staggeringly diverse area in Omaha, Nebraska that is defined by its historical and modern neighborhoods, as well as its diverse racial and socio-economic composition. ... Florence is a neighborhood in Omaha, Nebraska on the citys north end. ... The riderless horse, Sargeant York, during the funeral procession for Ronald Reagan, with Reagans own boots reversed in the stirrups. ... Black Jack, the riderless horse A coal-black Morgan-Quarter Horse cross, Black Jack served in the 3rd U.S. Infantry Regiments (The Old Guard) Caisson Platoon. ... The Champs Elysees in Paris, France. ... This article is about the capital of France. ... Appartment buildings in the 16th arrondissement of Paris The Stade Français rugby union fans at Parc des Princes. ... Baton of a modern Marshal of France The Marshal of France (French: Maréchal de France) is a military distinction in contemporary France, not a military rank. ... Laurent, Marquis de Gouvion Saint-Cyr, Marshal of France Laurent, Marquis de Gouvion Saint-Cyr (April 13, 1764 – March 17, 1830) was a French marshal. ... Marie Pierre Koenig (October 10, 1898 – September 2, 1970) was a French general. ... The Pershing Center is a 4,526-seat multi-purpose arena in Lincoln, Nebraska, USA. It is home to the Lincoln Capitals arena football team. ... Lincoln is the capital city of the State of Nebraska, in the United States of America. ...

References

External links

Wikisource has original works written by or about:

John J. Pershing

Wikimedia Commons has media related to:

John Pershing

• Pershing Middle School in Houston, Texas
• Biography of John J. Pershing
• General of the Armies John J. Pershing
• Black Jack Pershing in Cuba
• The National Society of Pershing Rifles
• The Last Salute: Civil and Military Funeral, 1921-1969, CHAPTER IV, General of the Armies John J. Pershing, State Funeral, 15-19 July 1948 by B. C. Mossman and M. W. Stark
• John J. Pershing collection at Nebraska State Historical Society
• Borrowed Soldiers: Americans Under British Command, 1918 at Borrowed Soldiers

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