John J. Pershing Bio/Wiki, Net Worth, Married 2018
John Joseph "Black Jack" Pershing (September 13, 1860 – July 15, 1948), was a general officer in the United States Army who led the American Expeditionary Forces in World War I. Pershing is the only person to be promoted in his own lifetime to General of the Armies, the highest authorized rank in the United States Army, signifying service directly under the president. (A retroactive Congressional edict passed in 1976 promoted George Washington to the same rank but with higher seniority.) 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, including George C. Marshall, Dwight D. Eisenhower, Omar N. Bradley, and George S. Patton. A somewhat controversial figure, his tactics have been harshly criticized both by commanders at the time and by modern historians. His reliance on costly frontal assaults, long after other allied armies had abandoned such tactics, has been accused of causing unnecessarily high American casualties.
He got the nickname "Black Jack" when he served as an officer in the 10th Cavalry Regiment, an all-black unit of the US Army (with white officers), which was segregated at the time.
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Was the only living person ever to be promoted to the rank of General of the Armies of the United States. This is the equivalent of a six-star general, but Pershing never wore more than four. The rank was created for Gen. George Washington, but he never received it until 1976. He was awarded it posthumously by President Gerald Ford.
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(11/17/1961) Pictured on the 8¢ US postage stamp in the Liberty series.
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Inducted into the Hall of Famous Missourians. [1995]
$1.2 Million
