John J. Pershing

John Joseph "Black Jack" Pershing (September 13, 1860 – July 15, 1948) was an officer in the United States Army. Pershing eventually rose to the highest rank ever held in the United States military, equivalent only to the posthumous rank of George Washington: General of the Armies. He was born near Laclede, Missouri and graduated from United States Military Academy at West Point, New York in 1886.

Early life

John Joseph Pershing was born on September 13, 1860 on a farm near the town of Laclede, Missouri. John's father, John Fletcher Pershing was a local businessman who owned a general store in Laclede and moved his family into the town at the start of 1861. When the American Civil War began, John Fletcher Pershing worked as a sutler for the 18th Missouri Volunteer Infantry Regiment, although himself did not serve in the military nor participate in combat.

Related Topics:
Laclede, Missouri - General store - American Civil War - Sutler

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John J. Pershing attended a small school in Lacelede that was seen as a "select school" and reserved for the more intelligent children who were sons and daughters of high profile citizens. As Pershing's father was a well known businessman in the Laclede area, both Pershing and his brother attended this early form of preparatory school.

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Upon graduation from secondary school in 1878, Pershing became a local teacher and became involved with educating local African American children. In this way, living in an atmosphere of 19th century racism, Pershing developed an understanding of racial tolerence that would later come to play in his military career when commanded a unit of "colored" soldiers.

Related Topics:
African American - 19th century

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Between 1880 and 1882, Pershing attended the First Missouri Normal School in Kirksville, Missouri. In the spring of 1882, already 21 years old, Pershing applied to the United States Military Academy after hearing that West Point offered an excellent college level education. Pershing would later admit to his sister that a desire to serve in the 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.

Related Topics:
First Missouri Normal School - Kirksville, Missouri - United States Military Academy - Missouri

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