Arlington Cemetery, General Pershing. Virginia. VA. John Joseph "Black Jack" Pershing.

Virginia. VA.  A walkabout in Arlington Cemetery. General 'Black Jack' Pershing.

1.  Pershing's life: Examine his record and find there is no heroism without ambivalence. His times defined his actions, when he acted in ways we would call unethical; but he stood out in his sympathies with blacks, his drive to understand war opponents and their language and culture. Ethicists will always argue whether cultural setting should excuse otherwise heinous acts, inhumanities, such as looking at his obedience to orders in the slaughter, blocking the escape of the Apache from Wounded Knee. 

•  The Pershing formula, tweaked:  The humanitarian sought to understand allies and opponents, both; but the pragmatist, loyal military man, did not hesitate to use the violence ordered to carry out a mission; or question it. 
• Accordingly, Pershing was respected and did work among and with blacks, led the segregated black Cavalry regiment (the 10th) with the men serving with distinction and were in turn praised by him (thus the Black Jack derisive term of others in the Army toward him and his sympathies); learned Apache and Lakota ways, then as surely blocked their escape from the Cavalry slaughter at Wounded Knee, among other circumstances. Fostered US economic and political imperialism in Mexico, pursuing Pancho Villa (unsuccessful) with lessons there on "terrorism" -- who engages in it, perils of the chase). Ambiguity.

• You Are Remembered, WWI General Pershing memorial, Arlington Cemetery VA
  
  

• Relationship with the 10th Cavalry.  General Pershing was no opportunist, coming late to command blacks.  Instead, he had taught in a black school as a young man to earn money for college.  The black segregated Cavalry unit he led was known as the buffalo soldiers because of their hair, resembling buffalo, said some.*  
• Relationship with Mexican first friends then opponents.He participated in nation-changing (Mexico) and punitive slaughters of Mexicans acting against American economic interests in Mexico, and led expeditions in Mexico to find opponents of American policy, wearing out the Mexican government's welcome (the opponents also had been enemies of the government) and then forced to leave.  See http://www.pbs.org/itvs/storm-that-swept-mexico/the-revolution/faces-revolution/john-pershing/  
• As a Cavalry officer on the Western frontier, he cut off the escape of native Americans during and after the slaughter of them by the Cavalry at Wounded Knee.  See  http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=806/  
• Genocides and massacres and brutal economic empire-building are part of American history.  Clear out the pagans, the different, to make room for us, the superior.  Clear out the heretic, said the religious institution and crusaders and inquisitors until recently, to make room for us, the superior and only interpreter of text. Clear out the infidel say others now, in their turn, and before.  Plus ca change.

2.  Location, location. To find General Pershing, skip the bus. Take the tourist center map, weave around the roads, the lettered big lots. If heat overcomes, sit in the shade. Ask, looking about, what is the significance of memorial stone choices. What does the choice of stone, absence of pomp, communicate about the person, or is all bureaucratic happenstance fitting everyone in.

General John J. Pershing, grave, Arlington Cemetery

General Pershing is buried with a plain stone, facing the direction of WWI soldiers, his "doughboys."  This brings to mind General George C. Patton in Hamm Cemetery, Luxembourg, whose grave also is marked with a modest stone, facing his men.  He had served as an aid to General Pershing (Mexico, pursuit of Pancho Villa, whom they never found and then had to leave because the American soldiers were getting rambunctious and obnoxious in the Mexican towns, see http://www.pbs.org/itvs/storm-that-swept-mexico/the-revolution/faces-revolution/john-pershing/.

3.  Life in detail. The breadth of Pershing's American experience: sources vary on some facts, see sites above glommed here, and including at http://shs.umsystem.edu/historicmissourians/name/p/pershing/; and

1860.  Born, Missouri. Father a railroad switchman, findagrave, or traveling salesman after losing family farms in an eonomic depression, see http://shs.umsystem.edu/historicmissourians/name/p/pershing/.
1877.  Taught black children, Prairie Mound rural school in Charlton, used money to enter college.
____. Entered Kirksville Normal School (Truman State University); then went back to Prairie Mound, decided to be a lawyer, returned to Kirksville

1882.  Entered West Point, became class president, cadet captain, graduated 30th out of 70. Cavalry. Learned Apache dialect, and sign language used by Plains Indians.
 ____. Orders: Serve on Western frontier, under General Nelson A. Miles, Orders: subdue the Lakota, eliminate a religious movement among them, the Ghost Dance. Known as Wounded Knee Massacre, http://shs.umsystem.edu/historicmissourians/name/p/pershing/. Got citation. He had blocked the escape of the Indians after the Cavalry slaughter of 200-300 of them; some 25-30 Cavalry were killed. 

• "Black Jack" nickname.  Pershing commanded a black regiment, the 10th Calvary, that some called the "Buffalo Soldiers."

1891-95+. At University of Nebraska, as professor of military science.  Got law degree. Returned as tactical officer to West Point
1898.  Spanish-American War. Philippines:  earned Silver Star. Known as "cool under fire." Theodore Roosevelt noticed him. Pershing set up the administrative bureau still serving the Philippines and Puerto Rico. Was made captain.  At San Juan Hill battle in Cuba, Pershing again led his 10th Cavalry, the black regiment, and praised their work to others, unusual for that time, see http://shs.umsystem.edu/historicmissourians/name/p/pershing/
1899.  Back to Philippines, against tribes known as "Moros" resisting the US cultural-economic takeover; studied the culture of the Moros, was respected by them; put down an uprising, more people noticed him.
1904.  Russo-Japanese War.  Military attache, American embassy in Tokyo.
ese War.

1905.  Married Helen Frances Warren, a Senator's daughter, which Senator also chaired the Senate Military Affairs Committee.
1906. Resentment. Perceived nepotism. Pershing was promoted by his father-in-law, advancing up four grades and over some 840 officers in line before him, see http://shs.umsystem.edu/historicmissourians/name/p/pershing/but Pershing served well, including back in Philippines as military commander.

1914. Mexico. President Woodrow Wilson put him under command of General Frederick Funston. Orders: "pursue and disperse" Pancho Villa and guerrillas.
1915.  Tragedy intervened:  a home fire where his wife and children lived (the Presidio, military base in San Francisco) killed his wife and three daughters, leaving only a surviving son,  Francis Warren age 5, whose life was saved by a family maid who led a rescue party into the burning house.  There had been "inadequate and antiquated" fire equipment at the Presidio, and nine people had died of fires in the last three years, see full archive article.

• Who was the maid? Research:  the "family maid" who saved little Warren Pershing was an elderly black servant woman, see http://query.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=9404E7DA1138E633A2575BC2A96E9C946496D6CF/  What was her name? Surely she deserves to be remembered? Fill in here ____________________.
• Warren:  1909-1980. In Army as private, died NYC, ashes buried place unknown, see http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=97089222

1916 ff. US government opposed Victoriano Huerta, and Pershing invited two Mexican Generals to meet with him, Pancho Villa and Alvaro Obregon, all then supporting Venustiano Carranza. Power struggle.  The friendship did not last. Pancho Villa raided into New Mexico, killing 18 soldiers and civilians, and wounding 10 more. Details at http://www.pbs.org/itvs/storm-that-swept-mexico/the-revolution/faces-revolution/john-pershing/  Back to Mexico: did not capture Villa, Mexico would not let the RR be used for US supply lines, but resentments of Mexicans grew also because of skirmishes of Army with them. Pershing did stop the "terrorism" (Terrorism? Villa responding to protect his own nation's interests against colonial-economic power of US?  Research needed.  President sought to avoid a war. 

• Fair use quote, Pershing's response to being ordered to stop the search in Mexico for Pancho Villa:  "Pershing described the failed mission as 'a man looking for a needle in a hay stack with an armed guard standing over the stack forbidding you to look in the hay.' " See http://shs.umsystem.edu/historicmissourians/name/p/pershing/ 

 Promoted to Major General.

1917. WWI.  America declared war on Germany, troops to be sent to France. President Wilson, advised by Major Douglas McArthur, named Pershing to create and command American Expeditionary Forces for France. From some initial 130,000, numbers of troops rose to some 2,000,000 in a year and a half.  Good PR:  Pershing laid wreath at grave of Marquis de Lafayette. Pershing's aide declared: "Lafayette, we are here!" A repay for France's assistance in the Revolutionary War. Pershing would not allow American troops only to replace depleted ranks of British or French, and insisted that the Americans fight as one unit, no lending out.
1918.  Success: Americans won over Germans at St. Mihiel Salient.; fought well along Hindenburg Line at Meuse-Argonne Offensive. Cut German lines at Sedan. Then Armistice.

• Return to US, hero, Thanks of Congress and promoted to General of the Armies of the United States, a rank Congress created for Geo. Washington in 1799, but Washington never accepted it, but Congress foisted it on him posthumously. Pershing also declined the 5 stars to which that rank entitled him. Always wore 4 stars. Thus, Washington remains the senior ranking officer US Army.

1921 - 1924:  Army Chief of Staff, then retirement.
1925 ff.  Chaired American Battle Monuments Commission, wrote memoirs and was awarded a Pulitzer Prize. Lived at Walter Reed, gave advice as called upon WWII for Gen Geo. C. Marshall who had earlier held his own against Pershing in pressing for better conditions, supplies, transportation for WWI soldiers, Pershing became best man at Marshall's marriage.

1948.  Death. President Harry S. Truman, also a veteran of WWI (doughboy) led procession after the funeral to Memorial Amphitheatre. Only 9 people have been honored at the Amphitheatre.  Pershing: requested to be buried with his men, and was interred on a knoll in front of them, with the usual regulation tombstone.  Other honors: the Distinguished Service Cross, the Distinguished Service Medal, the Silver Star,and many foreign awards.
Buried beside him:    grandsons, Second Lieutenant Richard Warren Pershing, Vietnam vet, killed there; see http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=pv&GRid=9142; and Colonel John Warren Pershing III, who died of vascular disease, see http://www.arlingtoncemetery.net/jwpershing.htm.

Dan Widing at grave, General John H. Pershing at left, and grandson 2d Lt. Richard Warren Pershing on right (killed in Vietnam war) (or is that other grandson John Warren Pershing on the right?  Both are up there), Arlington Cemetery

4.  Leave with admiration, and sadness for our own blindness in dealing with our own.  John Joseph Pershing was a man of his times, with lessons for us grappling with similar issues of reactions to American civilian-capitalism and nation-control activities abroad (we call it terrorism), race relations, family tragedy, dedication to duty, superior performance and what qualities bring it about. What should be relegated to history so that all are supposed to start with a fresh slate now? Can we expect others not to use the same tactics we ourselves used to become, in our view, on top. Is our past so noble. In some ways, yes, in others, not at all.

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* Folksong, Buffalo Gals Come Out Tonight: see https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bahU4W0S2YAd/ there said to refer only to the girls of Buffalo NY, and the name of the town could change where sung.  But is that the earliest derivation of how "buffalo" is used, or is the usage a later resolution of a cultural ambiguity, how to refer to blacks as in the Indian term for Buffalo Soldiers for black soldiers?  In about 1844, it was sung (credited to, but what other sources lay behind?) by a blackface minstrel, see http://www.balladofamerica.com/music/indexes/songs/buffalogal/index.htm