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Dustin L. Holmes
U.S. Army
Recruiter

-Born September 13, 1860 in Laclede Missouri
-Oldest of eight children
-Father was a business man
-Was a teacher
-Graduate of West Point

-Passed away July 15, 1948

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Was the commander of the AEF (American Expeditionary Force) in World War I
-Was not the best student at West Point. Finished 30th out of 77 students but still won cadet first captain.
-Went by the nickname "Black Jack because of service with African American 10th Cavalry

Brief video about Pershing at Pershing Park in D.C.

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-In 1919 promoted to General of the Armies (six star) by Woodrow Wilson which was previously held by George Washington
-Prevented American Troops from serving as replacements for depleted French and British military
-Raised 4 million Soldiers in 19 months
-Battle of St Mihiel was a success
-Meuse Argonne by far his largest failure and was almost relieved of command
-Used battle for learning which cost many lives
-Was out to prove Americas abilities which made operational thinking short sided

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-Able to select the right man for the right job
-Respected subordinates who spoke truth when he was wrong
-Good humor and reasonable
-Very loyal, disciplined and Respected politics
-Very resilient and had strong military bearing

-Slow to comprehend vast changes of warfare
-Hastily planned and ill supported his operations
-Very stubborn
-Accepted casualties because he could and his enemy could not

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-St Mihiel cost the Americans 2,000 Soldiers and suffered 6,000 wounded but the enemy lost 5,000, 13,000 prisoners and over 400 guns seized by American forces
-During Meuse Argonne, 100,000 American Soldiers left the front lines to wander in the rear causing mass confusion
-Its estimated that it took 48,000 dead to properly train Pershing
-He suffered tragedy in 1913 when is wife and daughters were killed in a house fire. His six year old son was the only survivor

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While its no doubt that Pershing was a relatively brilliant commander and listened to his subordinates, his flaws and inability to comprehend the change of warfare cost unnecessary casualties during World War 1. He was a good commander, not a great commander.

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Kukulian, S. Harper, K. (2009) John Joseph Pershing https://historicmissourians.shsmo.org/historicmissourians/name/p/pershing/#references

Gable, C. Willbanks, J. Great Commanders
https://content.grantham.edu/academics/GU_HS315/Great_Commanders_Textbook.pdf