John J. Pershing
General of the Armies John Joseph "Black Jack" Pershing, GCB (Hon) (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 the highest rank ever held in the United States Army—General of the Armies (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.
Read more about John J. Pershing: Early Life, West Point Years, Early Career, West Point Instructor, Spanish– and Philippine–American Wars, Rise To General, Pancho Villa and Mexico, World War I, World War I: 1918 and Full American Participation, Later Career, Death, Family, Other Honors and Miscellany
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