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What is so significant about General Pershing? What was key in his Leadership and his contributions to World War I? Pershing displayed exceptional leadership abilities throughout his career and served as a commander through numerous engagements from the Philippines, Mexico, Japan, and World War I. His commandership was so exceptional that besides George Washington, he is the only commanding officer themselves to hold the rank of General of the Armies (New York Times, 2010, paras 82). This reflects in his ability to understand his soldiers needs as a leader who not only lead from the front, but held their needs in high regard during an a war of an unprecedented scale in World War I. General Pershing understood the needs of his troops, and that if American forces were going to be successful in WWI they would need to remain unified in their efforts against German forces (Editors, 2009, paras. 9). General Pershing was able to devote, train, and build an entire army of 2 million troops from scratch, and supply and effective fighting force whose eagerness was the remedy that allied forces needed. Through this exceptional effort and achievement in his commandership the eager American forces entered WWI and drove back German forces in the key battles of Catigny, Chateau-Thierry and St. Mihiel, which finally forced the Germans into an armistice and brought peace after the calamitous war (Editors, 2009, paras. 10).

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Learning Lessons From Pershing's Failures

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Learning Lessons From Pershing's Failures

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While General Pershing was a brilliant commander who had such a tremendous amount of success as a military leader during World War I, which earned him the rank of General of the Armies, he still had his learning lessons in past failures. General Pershing was a man who was set on his sights and ambitions. So much so, that during his time in Mexico pursuing Pancho Villa, his ambition almost blinded him and caused a conflict with the Mexican government. While in Mexico on orders from President Wilson, Pershing pursued Pancho Villa and was warned that if he continued south that Mexico would attack (New York Times, 2010, paras. 37). It was to this that Pershing warned the Mexican General he was in charge of his forces and would command them where and how he saw fit (New York Times, 2010, paras. 38). It was to his fortune that Mexico did not attack, and that eventually the American forces withdrew from Mexico unsuccessful in their endeavor.

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One of the greatest accomplishments General Pershing accomplished in World War I, that came before America entered WWI, was how Pershing was able to supply a substantial force for the allied powers in battle. Pershing was able to muster, train, and organize an effective fighting force to support the allied forces from virtually nothing (PBS, n.d., paras. 5). When Pershing took command he was not stepping into a role where he was assuming command over an established and already trained fighting force, but instead had to build it from the ground up. The American forces eventually number ~2million troops to fight against the German forces and support the exhausted allied forces, where he successfully fought to keep his forces united instead of having them absorbed into the other British and French brigades (PBS, n.d., paras. 5).

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General Pershing was plagued with the feeling of need to prove himself to not just himself, but also others around him to fill his need for achievement. After Pershing had been an emissary to Tokyo during the Russo-Japan war, it was evident that he, a man in his 40s, should be in a higher position than captain (New York Times, 2010, paras. 20). This flaw was known to cause a bit of distension between him and his peers. As while just being a captain, Pershing having served with President Roosevelt received a promotion direct from the President that lifted him over 862 officers at the time who were in line to receive the same promotion (New York Times, 2010, paras. 21).

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General Pershing was a soldiers, soldier. While Pershing did not see himself making a career in the Army as his future, he did want an education and saw this as the means to obtain it (New York Times, 2010, paras. 7). Even though he did not want to stay in the Army, his abilities shined as his efforts in military academies awarded him nominations and leadership positions in his class as Senior Cadet Captain (New York Times, 2010, paras. 9). This would later serve Pershing well as he would use the bonds he learned in military training to understand the comradery his troops needed to be successful in World War I (WWI). It was as the Americans entered into WWI that British and French forces wanted to absorb the AEF into their units, of which General Pershing objected and preserved the structure of the units he commanded (Editors, 2009, paras. 10). This decision ultimately preserved the espirit de corps needed to fight the Germans successfully in such an inhospitable environment.

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What was Pershing's role in World War I?

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Evan Morris
5/23/23
HS315_Leadership Great Commanders

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It was in 1917 that America entered World War I and began to support their weary and worn down allies, the British and French. It was at this time that General Pershing, who was not the first in line of generals to be selected as the commander for the American Expeditionary Force (AEF), was selected as the commanding officer for the European theater (Editors, 2009, paras. 8). World War I was a war that existed on a scale for how much damage and chaos it caused, was unprecedented. It was ultimately through the command and leadership of General Pershing and the AEF that provided the push in vigor needed amongst their weary allies to strike back the Germans and achieve peace in the end.

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Editors, History. com. (2009, October 29). John J. Pershing. History.com. https://www.history.com/topics/world-war-i/john-j-pershing

New York Times (Ed.). (2010). Leadership, Personal Courage, Devotion to Troops Won for Pershing Affection of Nation. The New York Times. https://archive.nytimes.com/www.nytimes.com/learning/general/onthisday/bday/0913.html

PBS. (n.d.). General John J. Pershing. PBS. https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/americanexperience/features/macarthur-general-john-j-pershing/