Black Jack Pershing: Love and War
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General of the Armies John Joseph Pershing GCB (September 13, 1860 – July 15, 1948), nicknamed " Black Jack ", was a senior American United States Army officer. He served most famously as the commander of the American Expeditionary Forces (AEF) during World War I from 1917 to 1920.
- 4, with Helen
- Arlington National Cemetery
- 1877–1924
- General of the Armies
Apr 1, 2024 · John J. Pershing. In full: John Joseph Pershing. Byname: Black Jack. Born: September 13, 1860, Laclede, Missouri, U.S. Died: July 15, 1948, Washington, D.C. (aged 87) Awards And Honors: Pulitzer Prize. Role In: Battle of Belleau Wood. Western Front. World War I. battles of the Meuse-Argonne.
- The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica
- Early Life and Launch of Military Career
- Service in The Spanish-American War and The Philippines
- Personal Tragedy and Role in Pursuit of Pancho Villa
- Leadership in World War I
- Pershing’s Later Years
- Sources
Pershing was born in 1860 near the small Missouri town of Laclede. While still a teenager, he got a job teaching at a school for African American students. After seeing an advertisement for the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, Pershing applied and won acceptance in 1882. He graduated four years later, ranking 30th in a class of 77. Pershing spe...
After spending several years teaching military science and tactics at the University of Nebraska (where he also obtained his law degree) and returning to West Point as an instructor, Pershing headed to Cuba to fight in the Spanish-American War. In 1898, he and the 10th Cavalry Regiment fought bravely in the Battles of Santiago and San Juan Hill alo...
After another tour in the Philippines from 1906-13, Pershing returned to the United States, where he was stationed at the Presidio in San Francisco and placed in command of the Army’s 8th Brigade. In August 1915, while Pershing and his men were on assignment in Fort Bliss, Texas to defend the southern border from attacks by Mexican bandits, a fire ...
After the United States entered World War I in 1917, Wilson bypassed five other major-generals to appoint Pershing as commander of the American Expeditionary Force (AEF). U.S. armed forces expanded quickly during the conflict, and Pershing was tasked with turning some 2 million relatively inexperienced troops into a professional fighting force. Soo...
When Pershing returned home, Congress made him only the second person (after George Washington) to be honored with the rank of “General of the Armies of the United States.” As the war’s greatest American hero, he was considered a possible president, but failed to win the 1920 Republican nomination. He served as U.S. Army chief of staff from 1921 to...
John J. Pershing. Historic Missourians. Today in History: July 15. Library of Congress. General John J. Pershing. National Park Service. Andrew Carroll. My Fellow Soldiers: General John Pershing and the Americans Who Helped Win the Great War. (Penguin Press, 2017)
Apr 24, 2015 · Famous Military Figures. John J. Pershing. Find out about the life of General John J. Pershing who led the American Expeditionary force during World War I on Biography.com. Updated: Aug...
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- Pershing’s hometown of Laclede, Missouri, was invaded by Confederate bushwhackers just before his 4th birthday. The guerillas were hunting for his father, who flew the Union flag above his general store.
- Before entering the U.S. Military Academy at West Point in 1882, Pershing taught African-American students at Prairie Mound School in Missouri.
- In 1885, Pershing was promoted to first lieutenant and became one of the first white officers to command African-American soldiers in the 10th Cavalry.
- In 1898, Pershing led 10th Cavalry soldiers up San Juan Hill during the Spanish-American War. Pershing’s gallantry in the Battle of San Juan Hill caught the attention of Teddy Roosevelt, who also fought his way up San Juan Hill with his “Rough Riders” regiment.
Pershing rightfully emerged as the most celebrated American hero of the war. Congress honored him by creating a new title, General of the Armies, and he served as Chief of Staff from 1921 to 1926.
John J. Pershing, (born Sept. 13, 1860, Laclede, Mo., U.S.—died July 15, 1948, Washington, D.C.), U.S. army officer. He graduated from West Point and served on the western frontier (1886–98), in the Spanish-American War, in the Philippines (1899–1903, 1906–13), and as commander of a punitive raid against Pancho Villa (1916).
