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Gabel, C. & Willbanks, J. (2013). Great Commanders. CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform. Pages 123-146. Retrieved from https://content.grantham.edu/academics/GU_HS315/Great_Commanders_Textbook.pdf.

Zabecki, D. (2018). Racing Headlong: In the closing days of World War I U.S. commanders tangled their forces in a costly race toward a pointless objective. Military History. Pages 30-39. May 1, 2018. Retrieved from http://web.b.ebscohost.com/ehost/pdfviewer/pdfviewer?vid=1&sid=95d96e15-6d5b-4e44-9927-bb20ea5432a6%40pdc-v-sessmgr03.

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The Legacy of General John J. Pershing | Nebraska Stories

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He did have his vices, but General Pershing was the correct man for the job of leading and managing the AEF in The Great War. Compared to those who were also being considered, he had the most boxes checked for prior experience and qualifications; not to mention his age and abilities when selected. Yes, he had flaws that proved to be strategic blunders at times, but commanders on both sides suffered in some way with the changes of the battlefield that were seen in such a short time. However, Pershing, like the others on the Allied side, adapted and made proper use of the human and material resources at his disposal (Gabel & Willbanks, 2013, p. 143) making him worthy to be studied today as a great commander.

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Analysis: Why studying General Pershing is important today

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Analysis: Why studying General Pershing is important today

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Pershing is a good example of how one can benefit by seeking varying assignments during a career. He can also give lessons in leaning on his subordinates to keep yourself in check with the decisions you make, either good or bad. However, he is a good example of how being too ambitious to prove the mettle of your men before they are ready and with an understanding of the fight ahead of them can cloud the leader in performing even the most basic of tactics, as during the Meuse-Argonne Offensive (Zabecki, 2018).

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Accomplishments

·         Assembled effective staffs to lead his divisions in times when warfare was changing rapidly for America (Gabel & Willbanks, 2013, p. 136).

·         Established the institution of “Lessons Learned” from the results of battles to shape American forces for future battles (Gabel & Willbanks, 2013, p. 139).

Failures

·         He did not heed the training advice of those who had been fighting since 1914, and instead chose to focus on training to outdated warfare tactics that had been disproved in the modern time (Gabel & Willbanks, 2013, p. 134).

·         Failed to put aside personal desire to prove his “open warfare” methodology by convincing superiors to attack the city of Sedan. This was not a strategic or operational objective and one that regardless of the lives lost remained in the German hands at the time of the armistice (Zabecki, 2018, p. 39).

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Attributes

·         Promoted discipline at the time the world needed it most in order to focus on the task of defeating the Germans (Gabel & Willbanks, 2013, p. 125).

·         Had vast experience in both military and political matters from his various assignments (Gabel & Willbanks, 2013, p. 130).

·         Compared to other American commanders he had more experience with managing dislocated supply lines and other logistics matters. His post-war numbers of infrastructure he established backs this up (Gabel & Willbanks, 2013, p. 135).

·         He knew when and how to receive criticism from those below him when they had valid points to make (Gabel & Willbanks, 2013, p. 136).

Flaws

·         Was persistent in pushing his methodology for trench warfare at the possible expense of losing his support with his allies (Zabecki, 2018, p. 33).

·         Underestimated the defensive capability of the Germans and overestimated the abilities of his Americans in trench warfare (Zabecki, 2018, p. 33).

·         He was overambitious with wanting America to begin fighting battles on their own without considering the state or experience of his allies (Zabecki, 2018, p. 33).

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Leadership background of General Pershing

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Leadership background of General Pershing

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General Pershing began his leadership style during his time as a cadet at West Point, earning the coveted position of cadet first captain his senior year (Gabel & Willbanks, 2013, p. 125). From there he served in the Western United States with the cavalry fighting the Apache tribe. His next major leadership role was as a regimental quartermaster in the Spanish American War. From there his military service took him to the Philippines, fighting the Moro warriors. General Pershing’s next leadership role included commanding all American troops on the Mexico border from Texas to New Mexico during times of instable with the Mexican Revolution (Gabel & Willbanks, 2013, p. 127). During this time, he was ordered to hunt Pancho Villa into Mexico. Subsequently, he had to maintain difficult supply networks and the political tensions that arose from the Mexican locals and armed forces who did not take the pursuit into Mexico lightly. It was during this time that he was recalled from the Southwest and ultimately chosen to lead the AEF to Europe to face the Germans.

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The most contentious period for a leader can be when they find themselves at the time when the usual way of doing things gets thrust into a new direction. General John Pershing was no different. When he took command of the American Expeditionary Force (AEF), he was faced with a change in the way warfare was fought and the tactics along with it, insurmountable logistical problems with the battlefield being the width of the Atlantic away from the United States, and the question of how to raise, train, and equip a force to a number that was never encountered by the United States. These obstacles caused some serious growing pains for General Pershing and caused the allied commanders next to him to doubt his capabilities to lead his army across France in World War I.

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Brandon D. Hall

14 July 2021

HS315 Leadership Lessons from Great Commanders