For early access to our videos, discounted merch and many other exclusive perks please support us as a Patron or Member... Patreon: www.patreon.com/thepeopleprofiles Buy me a Coffee: www.buymeacoffee.com/peopleprofiles TH-cam Membership: th-cam.com/channels/D6TPU-PvTMvqgzC_AM7_uA.htmljoin or follow us on Twitter! twitter.com/tpprofiles
“A competent leader can get efficient service from poor troop, while on the contrary an incapable leader can demoralize the best soldiers” John J. Pershing
He’s absolutely right. I’ve served in units with shitty senior NCO’s and those with demanding and rewarding NCO’s. Leadership will always determine what you get out of your troops/sailors.
General Pershing is another shining example of an American who, although born perhaps not destitute but clearly not wealthy, rose to great heights by his own drive and determination.
I think General Pershing influenced the army in a very positive way in as such that our response in WW 2 had superior leadership. I think he absolutely deserves the rank as general of the armies, as well as Washington and Grant. Extraordinary people is what makes the United States great and their exemplary service is this experiment worthwhile.
Indeed his rascism towards Black troops was disappointing He refused to publicly decorate them. That and his dislike for the Marine Corps was another disappointment
A true inspiration. I am a fellow Missourian, and a veteran. I grew up around the World War One Memorial. My World War Two veteran grandfather took me regularly. General Pershing showed what America is capable of. As a Veteran myself I take pride in bringing my Boy Scouts to the Memorial and passing on the history of our country. Semper Fi.
interesting experience while touring the Patton museum at Fort Knox...while venturing up in the gallery, a place where few chose to go..I noticed a series of commendations and group photos of the various cavalry regiments....except for the ninth and tenth....where the group photo was notably absent...later realized these were black outfits,..one of which was led by Pershing giving him his nickname....thought it odd, but then remembered.... I was in Kentucky....
wow, that's quite a historical observation, It's interesting how certain aspects of history can sometimes be overlooked or forgotten. It's important to acknowledge and remember the contributions of all regiments and groups, regardless of their background. History has its complexities, but it's always fascinating to learn and reflect upon.@@frankpienkosky5688
Or you could see him as a politically well connected overrated general in the same category as MacArthur: "On November 11, 1918, Armistice Day, the American Expeditionary Forces on the Western Front in France suffered more than thirty-five hundred casualties, although it had been known unofficially for two days that the fighting would end that day and known with absolute certainty as of 5 o’clock that morning that it would end at 11 a.m." "the 167th Field Artillery Brigade of the black 92nd Division, stating that that force had been engaged since 5 a.m. on November 11 and had been ordered to launch its final charge at 10:30 a.m." He further described the loss of U.S. Marines killed crossing the Meuse River in the final hours as “frightful.“ Congressman Fuller closed his letter to Pershing asking for “a real frank, full answer to the question as to whether American lives were needlessly wasted.“ "Fuller had Pershing’s answer within the week, and it was categorical. By allowing the fighting to go forward, Pershing reiterated that he was simply following the orders of his superior, Marshal Ferdinand Foch, commander in chief of Allied forces in France" - Nov. 11, 1918: Wasted Lives on Armistice Day, By Joseph E. Persico, MHQ , The Army Times, Nov 9, 2017
General Pershing was simply put the father of the modern American army. His ability and capacity for leadership was recognized throughout his career. Fortunately the politicians were smart enough to recognize those characteristics and promote him into the right positions to benefit this nation's needs for the greatest advantage.
This should be played for the American people and required viewing in all American schools! Anyone misses it, then required to watch later. This is a great man.
Beloved, General 'Black Jack' Pershing, the most decorated & honored soldier in the the US Cavalry 6th Cavalry Regiment (Presidential Unit Citation) Excellent presentation! "Ride with pride. Led by love of Country"
There is a book, "Forgotten Summers" (Copyright 1995) by Donald M. Kingston, "The Story of the Citizens' Military Training Camps, 1921-1940." Pershing was instrumental in bringing this about. The program was devised to maintain military training and readiness. It was patterned like its successor Army Reserve: Two weeks annual training. My father was a member from 1929 to 1931.
@@matthewcostello3530maybe this man's grandfather did have respect for General MacArthur. But this episode is not about him. If you're talking about Truman firing MacArthur? They had a difference of opinion and Truman was the boss, and he had every right to fire The general. The only question is: was it the right thing to do?
Excellent profile of a great man. He followed his instincts, never wavered from the right/agreed way and was as humane as humanly possible. He deserves everything we have to remain the example for all generations that follow!
An excellent overview of this amazing man. There have been some great American generals over the ages of the republic but there is only one John Pershing. It was great to see you honoring him as a father figure to the great generals of WW2, whom were his junior subordinates in the 1st. John Pershing was there when America's clear road to global empire began. From the Spanish American war and through 2 world wars, where he was at the end to reap the reward of gratitude from his nation at ensuring it. His enduring legacy was thus honored by the naming of the Pershing missile systems which were in service until the early 1990's. I consider his memoirs to be some of the best I have ever read, particularly with reference to his revelations from the first world war era.
I was astounded at this documentary. This general was a man who had the soldier at heart. He made sure his soldiers had what they needed to do the job. I did not serve under swartzkopf but I do think he was also a good general.
I knew very little about Pershing though obviously was aware of his historical legacy . It is amazing that he was not disillusioned by his slow promotional prospects earlier in his career only to achieve the highest rank the military could accord him . In summation , an amazing biography .
most know little about his connection to our modern highway system....some of which my dad worked on in the 20's...old enough to remember America before the interstates...getting around was a challenge..no wonder that most still opted for trains....
What a great documentary. I’m ashamed to say I didn’t know of General Pershing, but I’m finally starting to learn WW1 history. And yes, I think he deserves to be honored along with Washington and Grant. Thank you.
As the son of a wounded World War I veteran, and with a curious interest in the history of the "War to End All Wars," I see General Pershing as ranking along with Washington, Grant and Eisenhower, as towering US military figures. As an amateur history buff, I do not see what are called WWi & WW2 as separate events. Rather I view them as one long global conflict, with a twenty year pause for German rearmament. Pershing had the foresight to push for "unconditional surrender" rather than an armistice, which gave Germany the opportunity to rearm, and resume the conflict when they were militarily ready. Unfortunately, his view was not heeded, with the consequences that ultimately followed. I am also reminded of another US General, General Billy Mitchell, predicted the future attack by the Japanese, and the means by which they would accomplish this. He was court-martialed in 1925 for his outspoken prophecies of strategic bombing, mass airborne operations, and the eclipse of battleships by bomb-carrying military airplanes. And we all know the rest of the story. his beliefs.
He was So correct about the German armistice. He knew World War 1+2=World War Twentieth Century, Wow, what a man, and he was only off by less then a year, as to when the Germans would Re-attack. I could never hope to Accomplice that much in our current age, A Serious American Hero...still not outdone. Without Him, Where would we be at this time ?
So was Leonard Wood, his rival for the command. Also both men were at San Juan Hills but Wood was too close to Theodore Roosevelt. We were lucky TR was not president in 1914, since he would have got us into the war in 1915.
I've been to his boyhood home in Laclede. The State of Missouri maintains it as a historic site. The school where he taught is now a small museum dedicated to his life and times. There is also a memorial with a statue that commemorates him and other veterans from the area.
Search Monash in the search line. There are 2 pretty recent ones that chronicle his times, even go to the time when he was about to be fired by Billy Smith
You'd better include the Canadian Currie along with Monash. It was the 2 of them who devised and planned the combined arms strategy that broke the Hindenberg Line while Pershing was still walking his raw troops into machine guns.
One of the greatest men to have ever lived! He died decades before I was ever born, but what an accomplished man through personal trials and setbacks! He makes our present military leadership look like minnows!
There's a section of NYC, at Park Ave and East 42nd Street named at John Pershing called Pershing Square. Pershing Square is right across the street from Grand Central Station.
Excellent video about the history of the life and times of General Pershing . This type of video is important for all Americans to understand what it took to gain and maintain our freedom . Hope to see one about Willard Pearson and Hank Emerson .
He truly was quite the general. Judging by the way he built the AEF in France, he was practically the Sir Garnet Wolseley of America, striving for the best of efficiency and a well trained fighting force.
All though i am not old enough to have served under General pershing i did ser in the Black jack brigade at Fort Hood TX First Cavalry Division And he is highly regarded.
One of the greatest Americans. Entirely appropriate that he shares the unique rank of General of the Armies with George Washington and Ulysses S. Grant.
I liked the way he insisted that the Americans remain under american command. Although he was an outstanding general. All of them in WW1 were very incompetent as to how they let their troops die the way they did. Frontal assaults in front of machine guns, gas and other means of mass destruction. He was a great general.
Americans did much less of that sort of thing than the British and French. They believed in the doctrine of maneuver warfare vs fighting from fixed trenches. American officers were well schooled in the battles of the American Civil War and took many lessons away from that. Look at photos from Petersburg, they look just like WW1 trenches. Also the frontal assault at Cold Harbor which Grant later admitted to being a huge error. That resulted in 7,000 dead or wounded in 20 minutes.
In the book-the art of war- the author says one of the carddinal rules of war if you want to win is that you never attack where your opponent is the strongest , but where they are the weakest. Obviosly a rule many commanders missed in their training.
What an absolutely fascinating man. Loved this one. It was great to see the general care for the welfare of his soldiers and not just throw them into the grinder. And so glad he remarried at the end.
There is no doubt that the arrival of the Americans en masse was the turning point in WWI and the Germans missed a chance with the collapse of Russia in 1917. Although poorly equipped, lacking battlefield experience, the Americans were enthusiastic and reckless at times, not having been worn down like the British & French. Pershing was pivotal in driving the course of the war during this period, a remarkable man who deserves all the recognition he gained.
Absolutely, the arrival of the American forces in WWI was indeed a turning point. Their enthusiasm and determination, led by General Pershing, played a crucial role in shaping the course of the war.
American forces comprised only 2% of allied forces, on other hand Russians 35%. With do respect to Pershing and American GI and came pice mill. All of them including Pershing inexperienced. Hardly could be a turning point.
@@eq1373 he has some points however the American troops coming over in large numbers made the German army go for the big push in the spring of 1918 after Russia was out of the war. Enthusiasm of the U.S. troops was key but the generals they had were not keen to learn from The British Failures . The Canadians learned fast and General Currie a Canadian had the most effective forces .
yeah, you're right. The arrival of American troops did have an impact on the German army's decision to launch the spring offensive in 1918. While the enthusiasm of the U.S. troops was crucial, it's true that some American generals were not as receptive to learning from the British failures. On the other hand, the Canadian forces, led by General Currie, adapted quickly and proved to be highly effective.@@ronmailloux8655
Our family lost two Marines in the AEF on 26 September and 27 September 1918 to German gas attacks. They were sixth cousins to me, full blooded Cherokee from North Carolina. They were first cousins, but family stories said they were like brothers growing up together. I wish I knew more about them. We, not too long ago, discovered my wife’s maternal grandfather was a commissioned officer during the war, though as a pharmacist we don’t think he was sent to Europe. We need to draw his records from Fold3 to find out what he did and where. It’s a miracle he survived the Spanish Flu epidemic, it’s a certainty he was directly exposed trying to mix and make prescriptions for sick soldiers and civilians.
The first time Australian and American Troops fought together was in the small battle of Le Hamel on the 4th of July 1918. A small contingent of American troops had been training with the Australians prior to the battle and the initial plan was for all of them (4 Companies) to be attached to Australian Battalions to give them experience in offensive warfare. The Australian Corps Commander LT GEN John Monash actually planned the offensive battle for the 4th of July to recognise American Independence Day. Unfortunately at the last minute the numbers of American troops committed to the battle was reduced to 2 Companies as specified by GEN Pershing. The battle proceeded however and was planned down to the last details with close cooperation between Infantry, tanks and Artillery. Close Air Support was provided by the Royal Flying Corps and elements of the Flying Corps also conducted Ammunition resupply by airdrops to forward troops engaged in fighting with the enemy. The Plan was for the battle to take 80 minutes. In the end it took 83 minutes and was a total success.
As I watched this video of General Pershing, I do believe that he deserves the recognition that he got. If he gets the recognition taken away, the the recognition would have to be taken away from him President: General Grant. I usually have a hard time staying focused on a video like this at 5:20 am, I was able to stay focused on this on, especially since it is 85 years after his death.
Considering what our "allies" were at the time, I don't think you could have found a better Commander of the Army at that time. Nor can you dispel how he brought along the officers who served under him who would go on and serve our country in two more major wars. With distinction, I might add. Second-guessing decisions made long after the fact is a fool's errand at best.
Love the content! Just wanted to add with no criticism, Missouri was actually a “split state”. With a few Civil War battles here, people roughly were half pro confederate, half pro union.
The photo used in this documentary when Walter Reed Army Hospital is mentioned are actually The Bethesda Naval Hospital, only recently renamed as the Walter Reed National Military Medical Center.
@@DannySmith-pv6xwYes, it is the highest rank that can be achieved in the armed forces. Washington, Pershing, and Grant are the only generals in our nation's history that hold that rank.
On a bicycle trip to the south of Spain and I camped opposite the burrial site on the bank of the river Meuse at Saint-Mihiel. I was not aware this was an American cemetary and of such great importance in its history. The day before I came from Verdun. That place says enough about how generals were sometimes acting and thinking. Haig although honored was as well the general whom was not much interested for the wellbeing of his men. French and Britisch senior generals where known to be distant and never to rarely being seen at the front. All was generally managed out of some chateau. Pershing was right to train the man up to standard and keep control. The success of Germany in WW2 was for a part that commanders where leading the troops much more direct on the frontline. Almost 1/3, over 800, of the German generals where killed during WW2. Pershing riding with his train to visit and motivate troops can be called exemplary and ahead of its time.
He was a General that only Middle Class America could produce. A man of character, but maybe not too much when advantageous to his goals. He was a man of his times and for those times deserves all accolades given.
I suspect his second wife Micheline Resco was more than happy with her widow's pension until she passed away, maybe they planned it that way his thank you to her.
God bless America but it's sad that we had to be involved in that stupid and tragic war. Do make a pilgrimage to Kansas City Missouri and the national world war I museum and memorial. It ranks up there with the imperial war museum in London. It is truly world-class in every way and worth the trip to Kansas City 100% That memorial and museum are truly a fitting tribute to the heroism of the United States Army.
He definitely had the experience necessary when Wilson ordered him to France. The task he had before him was monumental in my opinion. He realized that throwing green troops into battle without training in trench warfare was unacceptable. In my opinion he deserved everything he received. His concern for the welfare of his men is evident to me and he didn't suffer from a bloated ego. I give him high marks for that. Let's face facts though. Wilson should have stayed out of this war. The carnage that all sides were suffering before U.S entry was staggering and couldn't go on much longer. The other thing I liked about Pershing was he knew without Unconditional Surrender from Germany, there would be trouble in years to come.
Your spot on except for the part of staying out of the war. France would have absolutely fallen, as the Americans were almost too late as it was. And we have seen what happens with the Germans (or any European country when it gets too much power) - they go on a rampage trying to take the whole thing over.
@@packrat76 No, they weren't. Did you even watch this video? The Germans had recovered a ton of divisions b/c the Russians had their civil war and sued for peace. It was the opposite of WWII, where, the Germans went from 2 fronts to 1, and thus had TONS of troops throw at war weary French and English. It's often said that those two countries lost an entire generation in the war. And sure, maybe there wouldn't have been a WWII, but there are so many variables its impossible to conjecture. The amount of destruction that happened to Europe helped bring on the Great Depression, and perhaps it would have been the French attacking the Germans, but there likely would have been another war. Too much had been lost and not recovered. It's why the US stepped in after WWII with the Marshall Plan so that the suffering countries (despite being the aggressor) would not have cause to start another war.
Please do one one Harry Truman, his rough riders and his artillery battery in WW1. It is all in his book. He was very mild mannered and thoughtful about his fellow soldiers.
No rough rise but a captain of an artillery united in France. Like Teddy he had bad eye sight but was an effective combat commander. `A very effective County Judge. IMHO Marshall missed a bet when he failed to offer Senator Truman a command because he was too old. But he was always physically fit and as President he was probably the most efficient manager of any president of 20th century except Hoover. He employed Hoover to head a commission to improve the efficiency of the US Government and implemented many of the proposed reforms.
Regarding his military decisions: generals do their duty, he did. Would YOU, be able to condemn thousands to death, believing it served the greater good? I couldn't. Trivia, surptized you missed this. He and Walt Disney lived in small Missouri communites extremely close to each other. Weird how impactful they both were, years apart....
Whatever his other talents, my understanding is that Pershing caused or allowed offenses to be run on the last day of the war. How many were killed, because perhaps he disagreed with the armistice? Pretty rough stuff. I dunno how he got away without getting in trouble. I don't think that could happen today. While he organized the US entry and properly trained that army in late 1917 early 1918 before committing them was good work, giving him a 6th star as some suggest is way over the mark for me. Think of what Marshall did for 4 years on a scale far greater than Pershing, same with Ike and the Admirals in the Pacific. If it were up to me I would give Marshall a 6th star. He picked (rightly) all the 5-star generals and make sure they had the men and the materiel to fight. He also did more with grand strategy than some books let on, let alone his work after the war. A truly special man.
Not only that but General Pershing relied heavily on frontal assaults , which we all know should be avoided as they bring heavy casualties. By the way there was committee established to question him and his subordinates for conduct on final day of war. But he and his subordinates got away somehow.
@@karencarter8292 As I understand it, there are currently 3 6-star generals. 1. Washington who served well in the military and then as steady hand as a founder of the US. I think he is deserving. 2. Grant. While he did defeat Lee bringing about the surrender of the CSA and had some successes in the West, he was largely a failure as President and I don't feel his strategy was that elegant witness the many brutal frontal assaults. Had he not the resources of the North I don't know how well things would have gone for him. I don't support him getting a 6th star as he apparently did in 2022. 3. Pershing. I think Pershing knew his business and was a man of good character. However, the US was in WW1 for barely a year and fought for less than 6 months. I think the Germans quit because with the arrival of the US they were out numbered and also by the end of 1918 the influenza inadvertently brought over by the Americans was bothering all the armies. Perhaps the earning of a 6th star must include dramatic events for which this individual must respond. I just don't think there was enough here for him to be granted even a 5th star. 4. For George C Marshall, here was someone who literally invented the large army going from barely 300k => 10million+ in uniform in just over 2 years. Without this we'd be speaking German. He picked all the top commanders and was responsible for the US Army around the world in a manner no one before or since has ever be asked to do. He did all of this seeking no acclaim, just results. Afterward he was thrust into diplomatic roles earning the Nobel Peace Prize. I don't think we will see his kind again for a very long time. He truly saved the word from a new dark age. Yes, there were many others participating, but General Marshall was the very able conductor. I leave this comment with the opinion of the British whose very freedom he had guaranteed and after which he fed them. On the occasion of QE2's coronation, Gen'l Marshall led the American delegation. When he arrived and began to walk down the long nave of the Abbey he noticed that people we were beginning to stand. He looked around to see which king or queen had arrived. There was no one, it was a serendipitous tribute to this great man. True to form, this story was told not by Marshall, but General Bradley. I think at least from the perspective of the British, it is not a matter of whether George Msrshall deserves a 6th star, but why it has taken so long.
Mr. van Bemmel, I appreciate your answers and info very much.. However, I must tell you frankly. I have a very different perspective of those times and interpretation of these men's lives and careers. Of course, the Father of our country, Washington, is the striking exception. I revere his name, his compatriots, and their more than honorable legacy.
It's hard to believe that the Western European Nation's Dependency on American Military might, started during WWI, rather than decreasing, has instead become more necessary....
No mention on how he treated his color troops. Gave them to the French and told the French not to treat them as equals. But the French did not heed his advice. See Harlem Hellfighter .
👍 Excellent video. I agree with the previous positive comments about General Pershing. Hopefully somewhere in the Armed Forces we still have the like of him, Washington, Grant, Eisenhower, Nimitz, Halsey, and Patton.
Black Jack Pershing is a shining example of what a system based on MERIT produces! Like his brother in the "General of the Armies" club, U.S. Grant, he started at a fairly low baseline and rose to be a superstar. Here's hoping America remembers what works.
General Pershing is the quintessential warrior General in the mold of Washington and Grant, he brought us onto the world stage and helped the US become a World power, God bless him
He was brilliant and it was not his fault that his positioning the army in a position of strategic strength was not used to get a real end of WW1. Had the President made that a stipulation and pushed WW2 may never have happened.
Australian General John Monash had included Americans in his plan to attack Le Hamel on July 4 1918, the date chosen to acknowledge their participation. When Pershing learned of this he tried to have the Americans withdrawn. Monash said in effect, 'No Americans, no battle', but the number of American companies involved was reduced. Le Hamel was not a large battle, but Monash used it to test out his ideas on the use of combined arms, using artillery, tanks and aircraft in a new way. The attack was planned to last 90 minutes. It lasted 93 minutes. Monash praised the contribution of the Americans, so Pershing could not complain much. Monash's tactics were repeated on a larger scale at the Battle of Amiens on August 8, where the Canadian and Australian Corps were the spearheads. The video fails to mention the Australian contribution at 39:47. Ludendorff called August 8 the black day of the German army, and it began the hundred day advance which ended with the Armistice on November 11.
![[Live] : ONE 169 วันนี้!! "อนาโตลี vs อูมาร์"](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/IK3YZVWuFJg/mqdefault.jpg)
![“อ.เบียร์ คนตื่นธรรม” มาตามคำเรียกร้อง แหกศาสตร์ฮวงจุ้ย เตือนสติอย่างมงาย | แฉ 7 พ.ย. 67 [1/3]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/5fc4S3xBNfc/mqdefault.jpg)
For early access to our videos, discounted merch and many other exclusive perks please support us as a Patron or Member...
Patreon: www.patreon.com/thepeopleprofiles
Buy me a Coffee: www.buymeacoffee.com/peopleprofiles
TH-cam Membership: th-cam.com/channels/D6TPU-PvTMvqgzC_AM7_uA.htmljoin
or follow us on Twitter! twitter.com/tpprofiles
Your videos are the Best guys! Keep up the amazing work 🎉🎉🎉❤❤
@PeopleProfiles, could you do one on Joseph Tito, Enver Hoxha and Ahmet Zogu
Thumbnail looks awful, they often do, AI?
Very good documentary! Have you been to Pershing's home at Laclede, MO?
“A competent leader can get efficient service from poor troop, while on the contrary an incapable leader can demoralize the best soldiers”
John J. Pershing
He’s absolutely right. I’ve served in units with shitty senior NCO’s and those with demanding and rewarding NCO’s. Leadership will always determine what you get out of your troops/sailors.
Demoralize, according to whom?
A General Milley has ruined today's military.😢
General Pershing is another shining example of an American who, although born perhaps not destitute but clearly not wealthy, rose to great heights by his own drive and determination.
no good reason to attack on what would become known as the last day of the war and wasting lives....
I think General Pershing influenced the army in a very positive way in as such that our response in WW 2 had superior leadership. I think he absolutely deserves the rank as general of the armies, as well as Washington and Grant. Extraordinary people is what makes the United States great and their exemplary service is this experiment worthwhile.
*makes
These people usually had some kind of Masonic connections or something similar.
Indeed his rascism towards Black troops was disappointing He refused to publicly decorate them. That and his dislike for the Marine Corps was another disappointment
A true inspiration. I am a fellow Missourian, and a veteran. I grew up around the World War One Memorial. My World War Two veteran grandfather took me regularly. General Pershing showed what America is capable of. As a Veteran myself I take pride in bringing my Boy Scouts to the Memorial and passing on the history of our country. Semper Fi.
Thanks for your service leatherneck. We owe you a great debt. One we will probably never be able to repay in full.
That's amazing to hear, It's wonderful that you're passing on the history and inspiring the next generation. Semper Fi.
interesting experience while touring the Patton museum at Fort Knox...while venturing up in the gallery, a place where few chose to go..I noticed a series of commendations and group photos of the various cavalry regiments....except for the ninth and tenth....where the group photo was notably absent...later realized these were black outfits,..one of which was led by Pershing giving him his nickname....thought it odd, but then remembered.... I was in Kentucky....
wow, that's quite a historical observation, It's interesting how certain aspects of history can sometimes be overlooked or forgotten. It's important to acknowledge and remember the contributions of all regiments and groups, regardless of their background. History has its complexities, but it's always fascinating to learn and reflect upon.@@frankpienkosky5688
Or you could see him as a politically well connected overrated general in the same category as MacArthur: "On November 11, 1918, Armistice Day, the American Expeditionary Forces on the Western Front in France suffered more than thirty-five hundred casualties, although it had been known unofficially for two days that the fighting would end that day and known with absolute certainty as of 5 o’clock that morning that it would end at 11 a.m." "the 167th Field Artillery Brigade of the black 92nd Division, stating that that force had been engaged since 5 a.m. on November 11 and had been ordered to launch its final charge at 10:30 a.m." He further described the loss of U.S. Marines killed crossing the Meuse River in the final hours as “frightful.“ Congressman Fuller closed his letter to Pershing asking for “a real frank, full answer to the question as to whether American lives were needlessly wasted.“ "Fuller had Pershing’s answer within the week, and it was categorical. By allowing the fighting to go forward, Pershing reiterated that he was simply following the orders of his superior, Marshal Ferdinand Foch, commander in chief of Allied forces in France" - Nov. 11, 1918: Wasted Lives on Armistice Day, By Joseph E. Persico, MHQ , The Army Times, Nov 9, 2017
General Pershing was simply put the father of the modern American army. His ability and capacity for leadership was recognized throughout his career. Fortunately the politicians were smart enough to recognize those characteristics and promote him into the right positions to benefit this nation's needs for the greatest advantage.
I AGREE!! SEE MY OTHER COMMENTS HERE ON THIS THREAD!!!
= D.E.T.
I never knew he commanded the Buffalo Soldiers or that he taught former slaves to read!! Respect!!
This should be played for the American people and required viewing in all American schools! Anyone misses it, then required to watch later. This is a great man.
Beloved, General 'Black Jack' Pershing, the most decorated & honored soldier in the the US Cavalry 6th Cavalry Regiment (Presidential Unit Citation)
Excellent presentation!
"Ride with pride. Led by love of Country"
There is a book, "Forgotten Summers" (Copyright 1995) by Donald M. Kingston, "The Story of the Citizens' Military Training Camps, 1921-1940." Pershing was instrumental in bringing this about. The program was devised to maintain military training and readiness. It was patterned like its successor Army Reserve: Two weeks annual training. My father was a member from 1929 to 1931.
My grandfather served in the US Army in World War I . He had a genreat deal of respect and honor for Gen. Pershing.
should have had respect for MacArthur
no mention of giving Europeans command of American black troops to appease them@@matthewcostello3530
@@matthewcostello3530maybe this man's grandfather did have respect for General MacArthur. But this episode is not about him. If you're talking about Truman firing MacArthur? They had a difference of opinion and Truman was the boss, and he had every right to fire The general. The only question is: was it the right thing to do?
Excellent profile of a great man. He followed his instincts, never wavered from the right/agreed way and was as humane as humanly possible. He deserves everything we have to remain the example for all generations that follow!
He deserves great praise and honor!😊
Which he duly received with interest .
Not really he was out of his depth in France
Oh wow! The narrator on this is perfect. Thanks.
What an incredible example of determination, leadership, character and commitment. Oh that we would be so blessed by the likes of such again. ✌️
Very interesting! I appreciate the presentation of the personal details that show the man as well as the officer.
An excellent overview of this amazing man. There have been some great American generals over the ages of the republic but there is only one John Pershing. It was great to see you honoring him as a father figure to the great generals of WW2, whom were his junior subordinates in the 1st. John Pershing was there when America's clear road to global empire began. From the Spanish American war and through 2 world wars, where he was at the end to reap the reward of gratitude from his nation at ensuring it. His enduring legacy was thus honored by the naming of the Pershing missile systems which were in service until the early 1990's. I consider his memoirs to be some of the best I have ever read, particularly with reference to his revelations from the first world war era.
Wow, I agree.
Lets not forget the Pershing tank!
The dude was an absolute hero! No doubt about it!
I was astounded at this documentary. This general was a man who had the soldier at heart. He made sure his soldiers had what they needed to do the job. I did not serve under swartzkopf but I do think he was also a good general.
General John J. Pershing, unquestionably one of America's finest, deserved all the recognition he received-and more.
I knew very little about Pershing though obviously was aware of his historical legacy . It is amazing that he was not disillusioned by his slow promotional prospects earlier in his career only to achieve the highest rank the military could accord him . In summation , an amazing biography .
most know little about his connection to our modern highway system....some of which my dad worked on in the 20's...old enough to remember America before the interstates...getting around was a challenge..no wonder that most still opted for trains....
What a great documentary. I’m ashamed to say I didn’t know of General Pershing, but I’m finally starting to learn WW1 history. And yes, I think he deserves to be honored along with Washington and Grant. Thank you.
As the son of a wounded World War I veteran, and with a curious interest in the history of the "War to End All Wars," I see General Pershing as ranking along with Washington, Grant and Eisenhower, as towering US military figures. As an amateur history buff, I do not see what are called WWi & WW2 as separate events. Rather I view them as one long global conflict, with a twenty year pause for German rearmament. Pershing had the foresight to push for "unconditional surrender" rather than an armistice, which gave Germany the opportunity to rearm, and resume the conflict when they were militarily ready. Unfortunately, his view was not heeded, with the consequences that ultimately followed. I am also reminded of another US General, General Billy Mitchell, predicted the future attack by the Japanese, and the means by which they would accomplish this. He was court-martialed in 1925 for his outspoken prophecies of strategic bombing, mass airborne operations, and the eclipse of battleships by bomb-carrying military airplanes. And we all know the rest of the story.
his beliefs.
He was So correct about the German armistice. He knew World War 1+2=World War Twentieth Century, Wow, what a man, and he was only off by less then a year, as to when the Germans would Re-attack. I could never hope to Accomplice that much in our current age, A Serious American Hero...still not outdone. Without Him, Where would we be at this time ?
The Liberty Memorial is located on a hill in Kansas City, Missouri. It's located on Pershing Boulevard.
I find it fascinating that John Pershing was a veteran of the Native American wars.
So was Leonard Wood, his rival for the command. Also both men were at San Juan Hills but Wood was too close to Theodore Roosevelt. We were lucky TR was not president in 1914, since he would have got us into the war in 1915.
And had a army of Buffalo Soldiers, this video taught me a lot about Pershing
RIP
John J. Pershing
(1860-1948)
I've been to his boyhood home in Laclede. The State of Missouri maintains it as a historic site. The school where he taught is now a small museum dedicated to his life and times. There is also a memorial with a statue that commemorates him and other veterans from the area.
Can we have one of these on John Monash, the Australian WWI General? He mastered combined arms.
They will never show it. A German/ Jew from Australia
Monash tricked Pershing into action, and taught him combined arms operations and proper operational planning.
Search Monash in the search line. There are 2 pretty recent ones that chronicle his times, even go to the time when he was about to be fired by Billy Smith
You'd better include the Canadian Currie along with Monash. It was the 2 of them who devised and planned the combined arms strategy that broke the Hindenberg Line while Pershing was still walking his raw troops into machine guns.
@@JohnCampbell-rn8rz it has been said that Currie and Monash would have been 1 and 2 or 2 and 1 if the war had gone into 1919
One of the greatest men to have ever lived! He died decades before I was ever born, but what an accomplished man through personal trials and setbacks! He makes our present military leadership look like minnows!
There's a section of NYC, at Park Ave and East 42nd Street named at John Pershing called Pershing Square. Pershing Square is right across the street from Grand Central Station.
Thanks for this summary, I was aware of his service and some of his achievements, but this is a really good explanation.
Excellent video about the history of the life and times of General Pershing . This type of video is important for all Americans to understand what it took to gain and maintain our freedom . Hope to see one about Willard Pearson and Hank Emerson .
He truly was quite the general. Judging by the way he built the AEF in France, he was practically the Sir Garnet Wolseley of America, striving for the best of efficiency and a well trained fighting force.
He was a man who honored his country by duty to those under his command.
All though i am not old enough to have served under General pershing i did ser in the Black jack brigade at Fort Hood TX First Cavalry Division And he is highly regarded.
One of the greatest Americans. Entirely appropriate that he shares the unique rank of General of the Armies with George Washington and Ulysses S. Grant.
Let's not forget General Andrew Jackson.
I liked the way he insisted that the Americans remain under american command. Although he was an outstanding general. All of them in WW1 were very incompetent as to how they let their troops die the way they did. Frontal assaults in front of machine guns, gas and other means of mass destruction.
He was a great general.
Americans did much less of that sort of thing than the British and French. They believed in the doctrine of maneuver warfare vs fighting from fixed trenches. American officers were well schooled in the battles of the American Civil War and took many lessons away from that. Look at photos from Petersburg, they look just like WW1 trenches. Also the frontal assault at Cold Harbor which Grant later admitted to being a huge error. That resulted in 7,000 dead or wounded in 20 minutes.
No he was not at Meuse Argonne in 1918 he had 16% casualties We had not had that many since 1915
Except the Black "Harlem Hellfighters" whom he gave to the French to unsully his all-white AEF...
@@HankWest-er8iwright And the hellfighters was the most Decorated American Unit of Ww1
In the book-the art of war- the author says one of the carddinal rules of war if you want to win is that you never attack where your opponent is the strongest , but where they are the weakest. Obviosly a rule many commanders missed in their training.
Great man and leader, America needs a thousand Generals just like him today.
What an absolutely fascinating man. Loved this one. It was great to see the general care for the welfare of his soldiers and not just throw them into the grinder. And so glad he remarried at the end.
There is no doubt that the arrival of the Americans en masse was the turning point in WWI and the Germans missed a chance with the collapse of Russia in 1917.
Although poorly equipped, lacking battlefield experience, the Americans were enthusiastic and reckless at times, not having been worn down like the British & French.
Pershing was pivotal in driving the course of the war during this period, a remarkable man who deserves all the recognition he gained.
Absolutely, the arrival of the American forces in WWI was indeed a turning point. Their enthusiasm and determination, led by General Pershing, played a crucial role in shaping the course of the war.
American forces comprised only 2% of allied forces, on other hand Russians 35%. With do respect to Pershing and American GI and came pice mill. All of them including Pershing inexperienced. Hardly could be a turning point.
@@BorisSpinozaerrr....they were far from inexperienced. I detect European snobbery here.
@@eq1373 he has some points however the American troops coming over in large numbers made the German army go for the big push in the spring of 1918 after Russia was out of the war. Enthusiasm of the U.S. troops was key but the generals they had were not keen to learn from The British Failures . The Canadians learned fast and General Currie a Canadian had the most effective forces .
yeah, you're right. The arrival of American troops did have an impact on the German army's decision to launch the spring offensive in 1918. While the enthusiasm of the U.S. troops was crucial, it's true that some American generals were not as receptive to learning from the British failures. On the other hand, the Canadian forces, led by General Currie, adapted quickly and proved to be highly effective.@@ronmailloux8655
Our family lost two Marines in the AEF on 26 September and 27 September 1918 to German gas attacks. They were sixth cousins to me, full blooded Cherokee from North Carolina. They were first cousins, but family stories said they were like brothers growing up together. I wish I knew more about them. We, not too long ago, discovered my wife’s maternal grandfather was a commissioned officer during the war, though as a pharmacist we don’t think he was sent to Europe. We need to draw his records from Fold3 to find out what he did and where. It’s a miracle he survived the Spanish Flu epidemic, it’s a certainty he was directly exposed trying to mix and make prescriptions for sick soldiers and civilians.
General Pershing deserves all the kudo's given to him. I had a relative serve under him in the AEF.
The General was a Great Command and deserves to be one of Americas greatest Heros.l studied him in the Reserve Officers Training Course. (Army ROTC)
Great documentary! Learned a lot! thank you!
WW1, a disgusting waste of lives. That being said, Blackjack was an incredible man. There should be an HBO limited series, etc on his life.
The first time Australian and American Troops fought together was in the small battle of Le Hamel on the 4th of July 1918. A small contingent of American troops had been training with the Australians prior to the battle and the initial plan was for all of them (4 Companies) to be attached to Australian Battalions to give them experience in offensive warfare. The Australian Corps Commander LT GEN John Monash actually planned the offensive battle for the 4th of July to recognise American Independence Day. Unfortunately at the last minute the numbers of American troops committed to the battle was reduced to 2 Companies as specified by GEN Pershing.
The battle proceeded however and was planned down to the last details with close cooperation between Infantry, tanks and Artillery. Close Air Support was provided by the Royal Flying Corps and elements of the Flying Corps also conducted Ammunition resupply by airdrops to forward troops engaged in fighting with the enemy. The Plan was for the battle to take 80 minutes. In the end it took 83 minutes and was a total success.
Its frustrating how few people know about Pershing.
Its frustrating how many people no NOTHING about anything out side of sports and hollywood entertainment.
I happen to take an interest in history. That's how I know about him.
He's an ass🕳 for making young men die for his daughter 😂😂
As I watched this video of General Pershing, I do believe that he deserves the recognition that he got. If he gets the recognition taken away, the the recognition would have to be taken away from him President: General Grant. I usually have a hard time staying focused on a video like this at 5:20 am, I was able to stay focused on this on, especially since it is 85 years after his death.
Pershing a true leader.
Please do one on Arthur Currie and Sir John Monash. Under appreciated and over talented generals of ww1
Yes indeed and much better than this man.
Thanks a lot, but i wish there was a bit more about Pershing as a person.
Also, i want to request Joffre and Falkenhayn.
Well done. Thanks for posting. (Ike should be added to the list with Washington, Grant, and Pershing.)
Had then honor of serving in the "Black Jack" Brigade....glad to see a great documentary on Pershing
An outstanding commander and man. America remains proud.
Considering what our "allies" were at the time, I don't think you could have found a better Commander of the Army at that time. Nor can you dispel how he brought along the officers who served under him who would go on and serve our country in two more major wars. With distinction, I might add. Second-guessing decisions made long after the fact is a fool's errand at best.
This is a fine documentary. Thank you.
Well presented narrative! Thank You!
I didn't know he designed the highway system, that's a cool fact
Love the content! Just wanted to add with no criticism, Missouri was actually a “split state”. With a few Civil War battles here, people roughly were half pro confederate, half pro union.
The photo used in this documentary when Walter Reed Army Hospital is mentioned are actually The Bethesda Naval Hospital, only recently renamed as the Walter Reed National Military Medical Center.
I absolutely believe he deserves a place alongside his fellow six star generals Washington and Grant who were themselves fighting men!
@@DannySmith-pv6xwYes, it is the highest rank that can be achieved in the armed forces. Washington, Pershing, and Grant are the only generals in our nation's history that hold that rank.
@@DannySmith-pv6xwThey are the only generals to hold that rank in the army.
Thanks! With all the "sediments" I could not download this anymore... But since you brought it up again... I am about to watch it already...
It would have been nice to actually mention the USMC at Belleau Wood.
You noticed that quick gloss over too huh?
He dedicated the WW Memorial in Indianapolis. A beautiful memorial
My great uncle was in the 29th is buried near the General on Pershing Hill.
George Washington is the next highest ranking officer in the history of the US military being posthumously awarded the rank of 7 star general in 1976.
Pershing was prophetic about the possibility of Germany going to war again. WWII, As in WWI fighting in the Argonne Forest happened.
A. Remarkable man god bless him
What do I think? War is messy. 20-20 hindsight well always have various perspectives.
The General deserves his due.
On a bicycle trip to the south of Spain and I camped opposite the burrial site on the bank of the river Meuse at Saint-Mihiel. I was not aware this was an American cemetary and of such great importance in its history. The day before I came from Verdun. That place says enough about how generals were sometimes acting and thinking. Haig although honored was as well the general whom was not much interested for the wellbeing of his men. French and Britisch senior generals where known to be distant and never to rarely being seen at the front. All was generally managed out of some chateau. Pershing was right to train the man up to standard and keep control. The success of Germany in WW2 was for a part that commanders where leading the troops much more direct on the frontline. Almost 1/3, over 800, of the German generals where killed during WW2. Pershing riding with his train to visit and motivate troops can be called exemplary and ahead of its time.
Thank you for the history lesson.
Greatest American general in history
He was a General that only Middle Class America could produce. A man of character, but maybe not too much when advantageous to his goals. He was a man of his times and for those times deserves all accolades given.
I suspect his second wife Micheline Resco was more than happy with her widow's pension until she passed away, maybe they planned it that way his thank you to her.
God bless America but it's sad that we had to be involved in that stupid and tragic war. Do make a pilgrimage to Kansas City Missouri and the national world war I museum and memorial. It ranks up there with the imperial war museum in London. It is truly world-class in every way and worth the trip to Kansas City 100% That memorial and museum are truly a fitting tribute to the heroism of the United States Army.
A great general officer, he was born to the saddle, but excelling in multiple careers.
He definitely had the experience necessary when Wilson ordered him to France. The task he had before him was monumental in my opinion. He realized that throwing green troops into battle without training in trench warfare was unacceptable. In my opinion he deserved everything he received. His concern for the welfare of his men is evident to me and he didn't suffer from a bloated ego. I give him high marks for that. Let's face facts though. Wilson should have stayed out of this war. The carnage that all sides were suffering before U.S entry was staggering and couldn't go on much longer. The other thing I liked about Pershing was he knew without Unconditional Surrender from Germany, there would be trouble in years to come.
Your spot on except for the part of staying out of the war. France would have absolutely fallen, as the Americans were almost too late as it was. And we have seen what happens with the Germans (or any European country when it gets too much power) - they go on a rampage trying to take the whole thing over.
@@jakedunneganthe Brits were bailing them out. If the war had dragged on longer it's possible WWII wouldn't have happened.
@@packrat76 No, they weren't. Did you even watch this video? The Germans had recovered a ton of divisions b/c the Russians had their civil war and sued for peace. It was the opposite of WWII, where, the Germans went from 2 fronts to 1, and thus had TONS of troops throw at war weary French and English. It's often said that those two countries lost an entire generation in the war.
And sure, maybe there wouldn't have been a WWII, but there are so many variables its impossible to conjecture. The amount of destruction that happened to Europe helped bring on the Great Depression, and perhaps it would have been the French attacking the Germans, but there likely would have been another war. Too much had been lost and not recovered. It's why the US stepped in after WWII with the Marshall Plan so that the suffering countries (despite being the aggressor) would not have cause to start another war.
WoW! 😎 My Man! I have a Silver Star too, so I know! Class of '67, RVN.
Please do one one Harry Truman, his rough riders and his artillery battery in WW1. It is all in his book. He was very mild mannered and thoughtful about his fellow soldiers.
No rough rise but a captain of an artillery united in France. Like Teddy he had bad eye sight but was an effective combat commander. `A very effective County Judge. IMHO Marshall missed a bet when he failed to offer Senator Truman a command because he was too old. But he was always physically fit and as President he was probably the most efficient manager of any president of 20th century except Hoover. He employed Hoover to head a commission to improve the efficiency of the US Government and implemented many of the proposed reforms.
Here was a man who saw adversity in his life and somehow excelled at almost everything he applied himself to.
Some people excell regardless of adversity.
Regarding his military decisions: generals do their duty, he did. Would YOU, be able to condemn thousands to death, believing it served the greater good? I couldn't. Trivia, surptized you missed this. He and Walt Disney lived in small Missouri communites extremely close to each other. Weird how impactful they both were, years apart....
They need to do a video on George Marshall and Alan Brooke
Whatever his other talents, my understanding is that Pershing caused or allowed offenses to be run on the last day of the war. How many were killed, because perhaps he disagreed with the armistice? Pretty rough stuff. I dunno how he got away without getting in trouble. I don't think that could happen today. While he organized the US entry and properly trained that army in late 1917 early 1918 before committing them was good work, giving him a 6th star as some suggest is way over the mark for me. Think of what Marshall did for 4 years on a scale far greater than Pershing, same with Ike and the Admirals in the Pacific. If it were up to me I would give Marshall a 6th star. He picked (rightly) all the 5-star generals and make sure they had the men and the materiel to fight. He also did more with grand strategy than some books let on, let alone his work after the war. A truly special man.
Not only that but General Pershing relied heavily on frontal assaults , which we all know should be avoided as they bring heavy casualties.
By the way there was committee established to question him and his subordinates for conduct on final day of war. But he and his subordinates got away somehow.
Marshall ? No way.
@@karencarter8292 As I understand it, there are currently 3 6-star generals.
1. Washington who served well in the military and then as steady hand as a founder of the US. I think he is deserving.
2. Grant. While he did defeat Lee bringing about the surrender of the CSA and had some successes in the West, he was largely a failure as President and I don't feel his strategy was that elegant witness the many brutal frontal assaults. Had he not the resources of the North I don't know how well things would have gone for him. I don't support him getting a 6th star as he apparently did in 2022.
3. Pershing. I think Pershing knew his business and was a man of good character. However, the US was in WW1 for barely a year and fought for less than 6 months. I think the Germans quit because with the arrival of the US they were out numbered and also by the end of 1918 the influenza inadvertently brought over by the Americans was bothering all the armies. Perhaps the earning of a 6th star must include dramatic events for which this individual must respond. I just don't think there was enough here for him to be granted even a 5th star.
4. For George C Marshall, here was someone who literally invented the large army going from barely 300k => 10million+ in uniform in just over 2 years. Without this we'd be speaking German. He picked all the top commanders and was responsible for the US Army around the world in a manner no one before or since has ever be asked to do. He did all of this seeking no acclaim, just results. Afterward he was thrust into diplomatic roles earning the Nobel Peace Prize. I don't think we will see his kind again for a very long time. He truly saved the word from a new dark age. Yes, there were many others participating, but General Marshall was the very able conductor. I leave this comment with the opinion of the British whose very freedom he had guaranteed and after which he fed them.
On the occasion of QE2's coronation, Gen'l Marshall led the American delegation. When he arrived and began to walk down the long nave of the Abbey he noticed that people we were beginning to stand. He looked around to see which king or queen had arrived. There was no one, it was a serendipitous tribute to this great man. True to form, this story was told not by Marshall, but General Bradley. I think at least from the perspective of the British, it is not a matter of whether George Msrshall deserves a 6th star, but why it has taken so long.
Mr. van Bemmel, I appreciate your answers and info very much.. However, I must tell you frankly. I have a very different perspective of those times and interpretation of these men's lives and careers. Of course, the Father of our country, Washington, is the striking exception. I revere his name, his compatriots, and their more than honorable legacy.
@@karencarter8292 Indeed. Thank you for discussing this with me.
It's hard to believe that the Western European Nation's Dependency on American Military might, started during WWI, rather than decreasing, has instead become more necessary....
No mention on how he treated his color troops. Gave them to the French and told the French not to treat them as equals. But the French did not heed his advice. See Harlem Hellfighter .
No. Really?
Why are the American Divisions (30th and 27th) who fought under British command in Flanders never mentioned?
Greatest American hero of all times
👍 Excellent video. I agree with the previous positive comments about General Pershing. Hopefully somewhere in the Armed Forces we still have the like of him, Washington, Grant, Eisenhower, Nimitz, Halsey, and Patton.
He was a man for his time. He was the right man for the event that occurred in the world. 🎉
As a member of the National Society of Pershing Rifles, I am extremely proud of our best General. His spirit will live on in our hearts.
Black Jack Pershing is a shining example of what a system based on MERIT produces! Like his brother in the "General of the Armies" club, U.S. Grant, he started at a fairly low baseline and rose to be a superstar. Here's hoping America remembers what works.
Fantastic
Is it just me, or does anyone else love the American narrator on American historical figures? Lol
General Pershing is the quintessential warrior General in the mold of Washington and Grant, he brought us onto the world stage and helped the US become a World power, God bless him
He did a fine job !
He was brilliant and it was not his fault that his positioning the army in a position of strategic strength was not used to get a real end of WW1. Had the President made that a stipulation and pushed WW2 may never have happened.
He was a Great man!!
He was a great Commandee, fun fact: he was the only us general to hold the title of Genreal of the Armies durint his Lifetime
My sister's great great great great cousin is John J Pershing a Famous WW1 General . I think that is very cool.
Start 21:30
Australian General John Monash had included Americans in his plan to attack Le Hamel on July 4 1918, the date chosen to acknowledge their participation. When Pershing learned of this he tried to have the Americans withdrawn. Monash said in effect, 'No Americans, no battle', but the number of American companies involved was reduced.
Le Hamel was not a large battle, but Monash used it to test out his ideas on the use of combined arms, using artillery, tanks and aircraft in a new way. The attack was planned to last 90 minutes. It lasted 93 minutes. Monash praised the contribution of the Americans, so Pershing could not complain much.
Monash's tactics were repeated on a larger scale at the Battle of Amiens on August 8, where the Canadian and Australian Corps were the spearheads. The video fails to mention the Australian contribution at 39:47.
Ludendorff called August 8 the black day of the German army, and it began the hundred day advance which ended with the Armistice on November 11.
They do that a lot