John J. Pershing Born in Missouri

Summary

John Joseph Pershing was born on September 13, 1860, near Laclede, Missouri. He worked as a teacher before entering the United States Military Academy, graduating in 1886. Pershing served in cavalry units in the American West, fought in the Spanish-American War, served in the Philippines, and later commanded the U.S. expedition into Mexico seeking Pancho Villa. After the United States entered World War I in 1917, President Woodrow Wilson selected Pershing to command the American Expeditionary Forces in Europe. Pershing oversaw the creation, training, deployment, and combat employment of a rapidly expanding American army while generally insisting that U.S. forces operate as an identifiable national force rather than being permanently absorbed into Allied armies. After the war, Congress granted him the rank of General of the Armies. Pershing later served as chief of staff of the U.S. Army and remained an influential military figure until his death in 1948.