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Service Details |
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Last Rank
General of the Army
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Last Service Branch
US
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Last Primary MOS
2025-Major Departmental Unit Chief or Director
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Last MOS Group
Army Mine Planter Service (Officer)
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Primary Unit
1921-1924, Office of the Chief of Staff of the Army
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Service Years
1882 - 1924
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Last Photo |
Personal Details
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Last Known Activity
General of the Armies
John Joseph "Black Jack" Pershing was a senior United States Army officer. He served most famously as the commander of the American Expeditionary Forces (AEF) on the Western Front in World War I, 1917–18.
Pershing is the only American to be promoted in his own lifetime to General of the Armies rank, the highest possible rank in the United States Army.
Allowed to select his own insignia, Pershing chose to use four gold stars to distinguish himself from those officers who held the rank of General, which was signified with four silver stars. After the creation of the five-star General of the Army rank during World War II, his rank of General of the Armies could unofficially be considered that of a six-star general, but he died before the proposed insignia could be considered and acted upon by Congress.
In addition to leading the A.E.F. to victory in World War I, Pershing notably served as a mentor to many in the generation of generals who led the United States Army during World War II, including George Marshall, Dwight D. Eisenhower, Omar Bradley, Lesley J. McNair, George S. Patton and Douglas MacArthur.
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Other Comments: Not Specified
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1886-1891, 6th Cavalry Group
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1891-1895, ROTC University of Nebraska-Lincoln (Cadre), HQ, US Army Cadet Command
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1895-1897, HHT, 10th Cavalry
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1897-1898, United States Military Academy West Point (Staff-USMA)
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1898-1899, 28th US Volunteer Infantry
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1899-1899, State Department
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1900-1902, Philippine Department
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1902-1905, United States Department of War
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1905-1908, USAG Japan
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1908-1909, State Department
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1909-1914, Philippine Department
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1916-1917, Punitive Expedition (Provisional Division)
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1917-1919, Provisional Infantry Company G.H.Q., (AEF) France
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1921-1924, Office of the Chief of Staff of the Army
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