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.

Rise to General

In June of 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, but Pershing's superiors declined the notion and also 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.

Related Topics:
Theodore Roosevelt - Colonel - Lieutenant Colonel - Major

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In 1904, Pershing was assigned as the Assistant Chief of Staff of the Southwest Army Division stationed at Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. In October of 1904 he attended the Army War College and then was ordered to Washington, DC for "general duties unassigned".

Related Topics:
Oklahoma City, Oklahoma - Army War College - Washington, DC

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Since Theodore Roosevelt could not yet promote Pershing, he petioned 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 of Wyoming, which greatly helped his military career.

Related Topics:
United States Congress - Tokyo - 1905 - Francis E. Warren - Wyoming

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After serving as an observer in the Russo-Japanese War, Pershing returned to the United States in the fall of 1905 now forty five years old. In a move that shocked the Army establishment, President Theodore Roosevelt convinced Congress to authorize the appointment of Pershing as a Brigadier General in the United States Army, thus skipping three ranks. This promotion outraged several high ranking Army officers who would state, for the rest of their careers, that Pershing's appointment was as the result of political connections and not military abilities.

Related Topics:
Russo-Japanese War - Brigadier General

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In 1908, Pershing briefly served as a U.S. military observor in the Balkans, an assignment which was based out of Paris, France. 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.

Related Topics:
Balkans - Paris, France - Philippines - Episcopalian

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