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Simeon Hendrix
Grantham University
HS 315 Leadership Great Commanders
Professor Fullard

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What's the purpose for a leader in 2021 to examine the life and leadership of General John J. Pershing? The major takeaway that any aspiring great leader can take away from the story of General Pershing is adaptability and willingness to face the uncomprehendable.

Many times, a great leader will be forced to make the difficult decisions that others may shy away from. Many times as leaders we may think "how can we overcome these obstacles?' But, if we can take note of the era that John Pershing lead, and realize that he went from fighting upon the Southern Plains where he was most likely attacked by raiding Native American bands of Comanches who would terrorize on horseback - to fighting a war in Europe that had motorcycles, machine guns and airplanes - if he can lead through such a time of required learning - we can lead today through the unknowns as well.

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Revolutionary. He lead an army during one of the most significant evolutions in all of recorded history. Going from war taking place on foot against those with bows and arrows to airplanes, motorcycles, and machine guns.

Helped lead America and the Allies to a victory in World War 1. By his leadership of the AEF in Europe, working along side the Allies, they were able to obtain victory.

Continued to be a great leader and mentor for others who went on to to great things. Generals Patton and Eisenhower who thanked him for the education and lessons he helped teach them that ultimately helped America to become victorious in WW2. (Gable & Wilbanks)

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Unbending Discipline. While this crushing leadership was well suited when he lead in his early years, once he became the leader of the American Expeditionary Forces (AEF) and was leading citizen soldiers, it became someone disconnected and didn't yield the same results, which didn't optimize the best of his men. (Gable & Wilbanks)

Was regarded as slow to recognize the technological and fundamental change in warfare that was brought about by WWI. However, in his defense, he was facing - on a regular basis - decisions that no commander had ever encountered before. The book on warefare was literally being rewritten.

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Pershing was adaptable. He lead men during the late 1800's and hunted down Pancho Villa into Mexico. These were times when the Commanche Indians ruled the Southern Plains wielding the bow and arrow atop mounted horses. Fast forward to the end of World War 1 and the technology of war had advanced to that of telephones, cars, motocycles and fully automatic machine guns.

Had a knack for appointing the right man for job. Pershing appointed individuals to help lead his troops who possessed strengths that covered his weaknesses. He found intelligent, driven men who understood the hard road that lay ahead.

Courageous. Like all great leaders, modern or ancient, courage is a constant that all must possess. To lead a group of men into war, facing certain death takes a grit most simply do not possess.

Natural leadership abilities. He rose to the position of Cadet First Captain his senior year at West Point. (Gable & Wilbanks)

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Pershing sat at the helm of perhaps the greatest evolutionary advancement of war technologies the world had ever seen. In his early years, the horse was a revolutionary advancement where men fought using 6 shooters, deer rifles, and the occasional howitzer or Gatling gun to, by the end of the world war seeing fully automatic machine guns, automobiles, motorcycles, aircraft and telephones. (Gable & Wilbanks)

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General John J. Pershing was appointed by President Woodrow Wilson to lead the American troops that were sent to Europe to battle in World War I.

"Pershing created a mass industrial-age army capable of holding its own among the great armies of Europe. Pershing himself sat at the highest seats of power as one of the arbiters in the fate of Europe." (Gabel & Wilbanks).

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1914 - 1918
In just 4 years over 14 million people were killed (counting military and civilians) and became the bloodiest war the earth had ever seen - bringing forth technology that forever changed the face of warfare.

Russia, Germany and Great Brittan were the strongest empires in the world and all wanted to protect and strengthen their influence around the world.

Started in 1914 when tensions between the Allies (Russia, Great Brittan and France) and the Central Powers (Germany, Italy, Austro-Hungarian Empire) exploded when the heir to the Austro-Hungarian Empire Archduke Ferdinad was assassinated by a Bosnian Serb Nationalist (which was backed by Russia) (Blakemore, 2021).

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Blakemore, E. (2021, February 10). World War I facts and information. Culture. https://www.nationalgeographic.com/culture/article/world-war-i

Gabel, C. R., & Willbanks, J. H. (2012). Great commanders. Fort Leavenworth, Kansas: US Army Combined Arms Center.