John J. Pershing
United States Army general in World War I / From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
General of the Armies John Joseph "Black Jack" Pershing (September 13, 1860 – July 15, 1948), was a general officer in the United States Army. He led the American Expeditionary Forces in World War I. Pershing is the only person to be promoted in his own lifetime to the highest rank ever held in the United States Army. The rank is known as General of the Armies. (a retroactive Congressional edict passed in 1976 promoted George Washington to the same rank but with higher seniority[1]). Pershing holds the first United States officer service number (O-1). He was regarded as a mentor by the generation of American generals who led the United States Army in Europe during World War II. These include George C. Marshall, Dwight D. Eisenhower, Omar N. Bradley, and George S. Patton.
John Joseph Pershing | |
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Nickname | Black Jack |
Born | (1860-09-13)September 13, 1860 Laclede, Missouri |
Died | July 15, 1948(1948-07-15) (aged 87) Walter Reed General Hospital Washington, D.C. |
Buried at | Arlington National Cemetery |
Allegiance | United States |
Service/branch | United States Army |
Years of service | 1886–1924 |
Rank | General of the Armies |
Service number | O-1 |
Commands held | 8th Brigade American Expeditionary Force First United States Army Army Chief of Staff Mexican Expedition |
Battles/wars | Indian Wars
Philippine–American War
Russo-Japanese War
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Awards | Distinguished Service Cross Distinguished Service Medal Silver Star Honorary Knight Grand Cross of the Order of the Bath Légion d'honneur |
Signature |