John J. Pershing

John Joseph Pershing
Nickname	Black Jack
Born	(1860-09-13)September 13, 1860 Laclede, Missouri
Died	July 15, 1948(1948-07-15) (aged 87) Walter Reed General Hospital Washington, D.C.
Buried at	Arlington National Cemetery
Allegiance	United States
Service/branch	United States Army
Years of service	1886–1924
Rank	General of the Armies
Service number	O-1
Commands held	8th Brigade American Expeditionary Force First United States Army Army Chief of Staff Mexican Expedition
Battles/wars	Indian Wars Apache Wars Sioux Wars Spanish–American War Battle of San Juan Hill Philippine–American War Moro Rebellion Russo-Japanese War Mexican Revolution Pancho Villa Expedition World War I Western Front
Awards	Distinguished Service Cross Distinguished Service Medal Silver Star Honorary Knight Grand Cross of the Order of the Bath Légion d'honneur
Signature

General of the Armies John Joseph "Black Jack" Pershing (September 13, 1860 – July 15, 1948), was a general officer in the United States Army. He led the American Expeditionary Forces in World War I. Pershing is the only person to be promoted in his own lifetime to the highest rank ever held in the United States Army. The rank is known as General of the Armies. (a retroactive Congressional edict passed in 1976 promoted George Washington to the same rank but with higher seniority^[1]). 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. These include George C. Marshall, Dwight D. Eisenhower, Omar N. Bradley, and George S. Patton.

1. ↑ "Library of Congress link: Washington held the title of "General and Commander in Chief" of the Continental Army".