John J. Pershing

When the Civil War began, his father supported the Union and was a sutler for the 18th Missouri Volunteer Infantry.

(11/17/1961) Pictured on the 8¢ US postage stamp in the Liberty series.

He got the nickname "Black Jack" when he served as an officer in the 10th Cavalry Regiment, an all-black unit of the US Army (with white officers), which was segregated at the time.

Inducted into the Hall of Famous Missourians. [1995]

Was the only living person ever to be promoted to the rank of General of the Armies of the United States. This is the equivalent of a six-star general, but Pershing never wore more than four. The rank was created for Gen. George Washington, but he never received it until 1976. He was awarded it posthumously by President Gerald Ford.

Awarded the Congressional Gold Medal (Act of 7 August 1946; 60 Stat. 1297-1298).

His most famous post was when he served as the commander of the American Expeditionary Force (AEF) on the Western Front in World War I, 1917-18. Pershing rejected British and French demands that American forces be integrated with their armies, and insisted that the AEF would operate as a single unit under his command, although some American divisions fought under British command, and he also allowed all-black units to be integrated with the French army. Pershing's soldiers first saw serious battle at Cantigny, Chateau-Thierry, Belleau Wood, and Soissons. To speed up the arrival of the doughboys, they embarked for France leaving the heavy equipment behind, and used British and French tanks, artillery, airplanes and other munitions.

(1862-1933) and Ward (1874-1909), and sisters Mary Elizabeth (1864-1928), Anna May (1867-1955) and Grace (1867-1903); three other children died in infancy.

General of the Armies John Joseph "Black Jack" Pershing (September 13, 1860 - July 15, 1948) was a senior United States Army officer.

Pershing was born on a farm near Laclede, Missouri, to businessman John Fletcher Pershing and homemaker Ann Elizabeth Thompson. Pershing's great-great-grandfather, Frederick Pershing, whose name originally was Pfersching, emigrated from Alsace, leaving Amsterdam on the ship Jacob, and arriving in Philadelphia on October 2, 1749. Pershing's mother was of English descent. He also had five siblings: brothers James F.