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<p>General<em> John J. Pershing</em> was born near Laclede, Mo. on September 13, 1860, and died in Washington, D. C., on July 15, 1948. Those dates are memorable in the history of our nation, for they spanned a life dedicated to the service of his country. General Pershing was more than an American military commander. He was a leader of the American people. Yet he also numbered himself in their rank and file. He never lost his identity with the American troops, the American citizens, he led to victory. That, I believe is the finest tribute which could be paid him.</p>
<p>Born of humble midwestern stock (his father was a former railroad construction worker), young Pershing soon displayed a remarkable adeptness for farm work, the occupation in which his father was then engaged. He attended the village school, roamed barefoot through the countryside and made himself generally useful about the farm. At the age of 15, Pershing took over complete management of the farm when his father returned to merchandising, his previous occupation. As a result of his arduous tasks on the farm, he developed a superb physique. Broad shoulders and powerful hands were the physical results of his labor.</p>
<p>When the farm was taken from the family by foreclosure of a mortgage, young Pershing began a teaching career, first at a school near his home and later at a country school to which he rode nine miles on horseback every day. He carefully saved his small earnings from his teaching career until he was able to pay his way through Kirksville (Mo.) Normal School. Most of Pershing's formal education in his youth came, however, the hard way—by the light of a kerosene lamp in his own home.</p>
<p>John Pershing always wanted a formal education, but lacked the means to obtain it. One day as he pondered his fate his keen eye spotted an announcement of an examination for the United States Military Academy. Eagerly he read every word of the announcement, not because he wanted to be a soldier but because he felt that West Point could provide the much desired education. Once he made his decision to qualify, only two weeks remained for study. He addressed himself to his task with the same zeal he later employed in his army career. Finally, the rewards of his self-discipline, self-instruction came to the fore in the form of a notice of acceptance from the Academy.</p>
<p>At West Point, Pershing gave no indication of genius, but clearly manifested strength of character and special qualities of leadership. He excelled in such subjects as mathematics and logic, but lagged in languages. Altogether he was average in scholarship, but he displayed such outstanding soldierly qualities that he was graduated in 1886 as senior cadet captain, the highest cadet military honor at the Point. The newly commissioned second lieutenant of cavalry was first assigned to the 6th Cavalry and on September 30, 1886 he joined the regiment, then engaged in the closing campaign against Chief Geronimo and the Apaches. Within a year, Pershing&#39;s leadership had earned him an official commendation for "marching his troops with pack trains over rough country 140 miles in 46 hours and bringing in every man and animal in perfect condition”.</p>
<p>Thus began a military career which was to extend its influence beyond the shores of our country and affect our relations with other nations for years to come. Having served successively with the 6th Cavalry at Fort Bayard, Fort Stanton and Fort Wingate, New Mexico, Lieutenant Pershing was transferred in December, 1890, to South Dakota, where he participated in campaigns against the Sioux Indians. On October 20, 1892, he was promoted to first lieutenant. Pershing&#39;s next assignment was one for which he had long prepared: professor of Military Science and Tactics at the University of Nebraska.</p>
<p>This assignment, Pershing reasoned, would enable him to continue his education and at the same time allow him to make up his mind about continuance of his Army service. Fortunately for the nation, he chose to continue his Army career. Just as Pershing had demonstrated his ability in the field, so he showed his capacity for instruction in the classroom. His ability as an instructor so impressed Army authorities that he was appointed instructor of military tactics at West Point in 1897.</p>
<p>Meanwhile, at Nebraska Pershing had fulfilled a life-long ambition to study law. One date which always remained fixed in his mind was October 29, 1893, the day he was formally admitted to the Nebraska Bar. He had studied human nature, logic and his orderly mind had arranged his facts so that he knew instantly the proper course to adopt in life. He wanted to learn more about the United States and particularly the economic problems of the Middle West. He considered it part of his training as a soldier.</p>
<p>Although he devoted his full energies to his West Point assignment, in his heart he longed for stimulation and action in the field. So on May 5, 1898, at his own request, he joined his regiment, the 10th Cavalry, at Chickamauga Park, Georgia, for participation in the Santiago campaign in Cuba. He fought at El Caney, where his courageous conduct attracted the attention of Theodore Roosevelt and drew from Pershing&#39;s own colonel the following testimonial; "I have been in many fights, through the Civil War, but Captain Pershing is the coolest man under fire I ever saw in my life”. He was, in addition, highly commended for personal gallantry in the battle of San Juan and was recommended for brevet promotion. Accordingly, he was promoted to the temporary rank of major in August, 1898.</p>
<p>Now back in Washington in the Office of the Assistant Secretary of War in connection with insular affairs, Pershing soon proved that he was not only a warrior and an instructor, but an administrator as well. He demonstrated aptly one of the aspects of his multi-faceted career when he organized in 1899 the first Insular Bureau, under which the Philippines and Puerto Rico were governed. However, instead of continuing as chief of the new bureau and quite probably gaining the rank of brigadier general, as did his successor in that post, he requested active service, this time in the Philippines, and was accordingly assigned to Zamboanga in 1899 as Adjutant General, Department of Mindanao. He then served in various official capacities in the Department of Mindanao until October 11, 1901, when he returned to the line in command at Iligan, in charge of Moro affairs at Camp Vicars.</p>
<p>Captain Pershing’s campaigns against the Moros affirmatively demonstrated unusual qualities as a leader. The Moros at that time were 100,000 strong, living in the hills of western Mindanao. They had launched a rebellion against the Americans as soon as the United States freed them from Spanish rule. Pershing knew that someday he would be called upon to pacify the Moros and prepared himself quietly for the assignment. In characteristic fashion, he learned the native dialects and studied the Koran. Finally, he was prepared to battle the Moros. His force, equivalent to a small reinforced brigade, included infantry, cavalry and artillery. All officers senior to him had been sent away on various assignments, so that he as a captain would command the force. On April 5, 1903, he led his small detachment against the natives and quickly halted the insurrection. He was promptly congratulated by Secretary of War Elihu Root.</p>
<p>By now Pershing’s reputation as a leader and administrator had spread throughout the country. On his return to the United States from the Philippines he found himself a national hero. President Theodore Roosevelt took the unprecedented step of mentioning his name in a message to Congress. Later he took still another extraordinary step by promoting him from captain to brigadier general of the Regular Army on September 20, 1906. Thus he jumped over the heads of 862 senior captains, majors, lieutenant colonels and colonels.</p>
<p>Meanwhile, Pershing had fallen in love. He married his first and only sweetheart, Miss Helen Frances Warren, daughter of Senator Warren of Wyoming. They were married January 26, 1905, in the Church of the Epiphany in Washington, with President and Mrs. Roosevelt in the front pew. The day after the wedding, Captain and Mrs. Pershing sailed for Japan, where the brilliant young officer was to serve as military attache at the American Embassy.</p>
<p>After a brief assignment in the Philippines, Pershing went to Europe in 1908. His health had broken down under the strain of his responsibilities. In addition, he foresaw trouble in the Balkans and wanted to study the situation there at first hand. In Europe he recovered his health and when hostilities were at least temporarily averted in the Balkans, he returned to the Philippines via the United States.</p>
<p>Although he experienced no hostile action in the Balkans, he did encounter trouble in the Philippines. Once again the Moros revolted against the Americans, this time on the island of Jolo. Once again Pershing the general and Pershing the gentleman led his troops to victory. Not content with merely defeating his enemy, Pershing moved about among the rebels, convincing them by example lhat the Americans held no animosity toward them. He won the hearts of the natives and was made a “datto”, or native ruler, in recognition of their respect and confidence.</p>
<p>After returning to the United States, Pershing was placed in charge of the 8th Infantry Brigade and almost immediately was drawn into battle. The adversary this time was the colorful Pancho Villa, the Mexican bandit who was raiding Texas and New Mexico towns along the border. President Wilson sent Pershing into Mexico at the head of a punitive expedition of 12,000 men against Villa. He was under the necessity of combining military force and diplomacy to the best possible advantage. Although Pershing&#39;s troops did not capture Villa, they were successful in stopping the border raids.</p>
<p>Meanwhile, in 1915, one of the greatest tragedies which can befall a man struck Pershing. On August 27 of that year a disastrous fire raged through his quarters at the Presidio of San Francisco, resulting in the death of his wife and three daughters. Only his son, Warren, had been saved. Pershing, serving his country along the Mexican border, took the news stoically and went directly to the Presidio to handle funeral arrangements, returning to his post immediately thereafter.</p>
<p>In Europe the trouble which was expected on Pershing’s first trip to the Balkans broke out in 1914. By 1917 the conflict had spread throughout the Continent. Then on April 6 the United States declared that a state of war with Germany existed. It took Secretary of War Newton D. Baker only one month to make the decision the entire country expected. In May Major General John J. Pershing was designated commander of the American Epeditionary Forces, and thus began the greatest phase of his career.</p>
<p>In his preliminary conversations with the President and Secretary Baker the General stressed his desire that the American Army be separate and distinct from the British and French, who were equally insistent that the Americans be merged with their respective troops. On his arrival in France, where he was greeted by a friendly and grateful populace, Pershing devoted months to the problems of supply and communications, meanwhile building up his forces for the ultimate blow against Germany.</p>
<p>By March 1918 General Von Ludendorff&#39;s German Army had inflicted heavy losses on the British and French Armies and had threatened to drive a wedge between the two defending forces. It was then that Pershing performed one of the most gracious and forth-right acts of his career. Laying aside for the moment his oft-repeated stand that the A.E.F. should constitute a separate force, he went to Marshal Foch’s headquarters and offered to place at his disposal the entire American contingent, to be used as the Marshal saw fit. Five American divisions were then in France and they soon proved highly effective in the British and French ranks.</p>
<p>In July, however, Foch acceded to General Pershing’s demand that the Americans should Immediately be formed into a separate force under Pershing&#39;s command. Accordingly, plans were made for the first major American offensive—for the reduction of the St. Mihiel salient. As one of the officers who participated in the attack at St. Mihiel, I can testify to the exhausting effort he gave to every phase of the preparations. The operation was a signal success and led to the final and most difficult test for our young army, the Meuse-Argonne offensive. This action continued through forty-seven days of desperate fighting which culminated with the arrival of the American troops on the heights overlooking Sedan. It was the determined, forceful leadership of Pershing that made the victory possible. Battered on all fronts, the Germans sued for an armistice.</p>
<p>General Pershing immediately plunged into the tremendous task of directing the American occupation of the Coblenz zone and the movement of the remaining troops to the rear and westward in France and the demobilization of the A.E.F.</p>
<p>What would American policy be toward the defeated Germans? Those who knew Pershing’s record of firmness but fairness with the Moros of the Philippines knew the treatment he would accord the Germans in the American zone. I like to believe that Pershing the soldier and Pershing the man are reflected in the order he issued November 28, 1918, to the units composing the Army of Occupation. The order stands unique among similar orders issued by other Army commanders. The order said, in part:</p>
<p>“In view of the extraordinary conditions under which that part of the Expeditionary Forces which constitutes the Army of Occupation of German territory is serving, the Commander-in-Chief desires to acquaint the officers and men composing it with the expectations which he entertains as to their conduct. You have come not as despoilers or oppressors, but simply as the instruments of a strong, free government whose purposes towards Germany are beneficent. During our occupation the civil population is under the special safeguard of the faith and honor of the American Army.</p>
<p>“It is, therefore, the intention of this order to appeal directly to your pride in your position as representatives of a powerful but righteous nation, with the firm conviction that you will so conduct yourself in your relations with the inhabitants of Germany as will cause them to respect you and the country you have the honor to represent. While you appear among them as a conquering army, you will exhibit no ill will towards the inhabitants. "</p>
<p>The winter, spring and early summer of 1919 were devoted to the return home of two million young Americans and the arrangements for the complete demobilization of the American Expeditionary Force. Pershing himself did not return to the United States until September, 1919, when his work had been completed, down to the final agreements with the French government for the transfer of the remaining material and installations, and even the claims of French civilians against our government.</p>
<p>Enroute homeward he was notified of his appointment to the rank of General of the Armies.</p>
<p>Pershing look over the office of the Chief of Staff in 1921 and undertook the reorganization of the General Staff and the development of a sound national defense program. He vigorously advocated preparedness, believing, as we do now, that only a strong America would be a secure America. He served as Chief of Staff until his retirement in 1924, meanwhile being named chairman of the American Battle Monuments Commission to commemorate the services of the American forces in Europe.</p>
<p>A grateful America opened its arms and its heart to Pershing. The General received scores of honors from universities, societies and institutions. A joint resolution of Congress expressed the nation’s thanks officially. In millions of homes Americans of all walks of life expressed, in their own way. their appreciation.</p>
<p>General Pershing spent the postwar years quietly in Washington or in France overseeing the development of our war cemeteries. He declined the numerous political offers tendered him, always announcing his intention of remaining in the Army. In 1925 he was sent to South America in an attempt to aid in settlement of the Tacna-Arica boundary dispute between Chile and Peru. He was forced to give up this duty, however, because of ill health. In 1937 President Roosevelt designated him as one of three official United States delegates at the coronation of King George VI.</p>
<p>General Pershing was one of the Americans who urged national military preparedness in the days before Pearl Harbor. He saw, through experienced eyes, that the war in Europe would spread and that we would, in the name of democracy, be required to aid the European countries which stood in the Nazi path. On August 4, 1940, he declared in a national broadcast:</p>
<p>"It is not hysterical to insist that democracy and liberty are threatened. With democracy and liberty overthrown on the Continent of Europe, only the British are left to defend democracy and liberty in Europe. By sending help to the British, we can still hope with confidence to keep the war on the other side of the Atlantic, where the enemies of liberty, if possible, should be defeated”.</p>
<p>During the war he maintained a lively interest in the progress of the Allied armies. I regularly visited him at the Walter Reed Hospital so that I could have the benefit of his sage advice and counsel. When the war finally ended, General Pershing expressed the wish that he could go to San Francisco “&#39;to help finish the job we started for world peace”</p>
<p>Fifteen governments conferred on General Pershing their highest honor. Twenty degrees were granted by universities. All who knew him loved him, as I did. Friendly yet restrained, ambitious yet humble, he personified much that is good in America. Although the Army was his life&#39;s work, he was firm in the American conception that the military must be subservient to the civil power of the government. He never usurped authority, but by the force of his personality extended his influence far beyond the scope of his functions.</p>
<p>His death brought overwhelming evidence of the great respect and confidence in which he was held by the American people.</p>
<p><em>—G. C. Marshall</em></p>
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