General Blackjack Pershing World War 1
General of the Armies John Joseph 'Black Jack' Pershing (September 13, 1860 – July 15, 1948), was a general officer in the United States Army. He led the American Expeditionary Forces in World War I. Pershing is the only person to be promoted in his own lifetime to the highest rank ever held in the United States Army. One of the most dashing men ever to wear the uniform, John Joseph 'Black Jack' Pershing was the most accomplished and celebrated American soldier of the early 20th century. During the Spanish-American War, he distinguished himself commanding a black cavalry regiment at San Juan Hill before sailing to the Philippines in 1899.
| Original WW 1 Photo of General 'Blackjack' Pershing |
This is an original photograph taken during World War One of General Pershing who commanded the AEF, American Expeditionary Forces in France. Its only a guess, but this photograph was probably taken in 1918. Its a good action photo of Pershing at the height of his military career and gives you a slight feel for what France must have been like during WW 1. You can even see the dirt and mud on their boots. Overall, the photo is in pretty poor shape with some discoloration and some blurring to the right side which is either from the development process or light damage...nonetheless, you can see the hard lines and disciplined determination in Pershing's face under the brim of his hat formed by decades of military service in the United States Army. He is walking with his staff through a gauntlet of American soldiers standing at attention. If you look closer, you will see one of these Doughboys is armed with a Model 1903 Springfield rifle. The back of the photograph is hand-written in ink, 'General Pershing' and 'Colonel Van Arden'. In terms of assignments which spanned through 4 decades on both American and Foreign soil, there probably isn't a more interesting American soldier within a half-century span of American History. After graduating from West Point in 1886, Pershing first took his first command in the 6th US Cavalry participating in the final stages of Geronimo's capture. In 1890, Pershing led a group of Sioux scouts in the Dakotas and participated in the Wounded Knee campaign. By the early 1890's he was given command of the 10th Cavalry, the famous African American Cavarly Units known as the 'The Buffalo Soldiers.' During the Spanish American War Pershing and the 10th Cavalry fought along-side of Teddy Roosevelt's 1st Volunteer Cavalry units earning Pershing an important friend in years to come. His Colonel was so impressed by his demeanor in combat that he extolled, 'I have been in many fights, through the Civil War, but Captain Pershing is the coolest man under fire I ever saw in my life.' In 1899, Pershing was sent to the Phillipines where he was given a new command in which he helped suppress the Moro Uprisings. For the next ten years, he held several foreign assignments and started a family in which he and his wife had 3 daughters and one son. Tragically, his wife and 3 of his 4 children died in the fire at the Presidio in 1915 with only his son surviving. They say this is when his hair turned white and the hard lines in his face appeared which you can see in this photo. In 1916, Pershing was given command during the Mexican Expedition which crossed into Mexico in search of Pancho Villa. When America entered World War One, Pershing was given his most recognized command, Commander of the AEF. He really had a tough job getting an Army raised and over to Europe...there were a tremendous amount of logistics involved which was quite an accomplishment. Once the bulk of the AEF got to France in 1918, Pershing had the tough task of trying to keep the American Army whole and not dispersed throughout the French and British Armies. This did happen to some extent during a major German offensive but by September 1918, Pershing was given command of the American Army as a whole once again. Pershing led the AEF to victory during the Meusse Argonne offensive by breaking through the German lines and blocking communications. This played a considerable role in helping trap the German Army between the French and British forces which ended the war . Pershing retired from the Army in 1924 and lived until 1948. He is buried at Arlington National Cemetary with his two grandsons. Not the best photograph of Pershing but you won't find many 'in-the-field' photos of U.S. commanders like this one. Not to mention, this picture was taken at the pinnacle of Pershing's entire military career. Item# 0234 $50.00 SOLD |
Aug 17, 2014
So why did the most famous commanding general of the US military in the First World War have the nickname “Blackjack”?
Tempting fate has never been a hobby we at Blackjack Champ recommend. Certainly we’re big fans of the occasional outrageous gamble, knowing precisely when to push your luck can be an extremely useful skill at the tables, however day-to-day it’s probably best to avoid making rude gestures at the mystical powers that be. Thus I should have known better than to mention John Joseph “Blackjack” Pershing the highest ranked military general ever in US history in a recent article about gambling in the trenches of World War One.
I should really have foreseen that I was likely to be approached by several people at Blackjack Champ HQ asking why General Pershing had the nickname “Blackjack” in the first place, and that simple evasion tactics weren’t going to work. General Pershing was all about the full frontal assault and apparently so are my colleagues. The final straw came when a fresh young face asked, with no trace of irony whatsoever, if he was so named because it was his favorite card game.
The Only Real Five Star US General In History
• Nicknamed “Blackjack” after service with 10th Cavalry
• Cadets felt blackjack rules too harsh
• Good soldier with good connections
My answer, lest it be said, was somewhat peevish. Partly because I’m not entirely sure a general with a reputation such that he might be nicknamed “Blackjack” after his gambling habits would be the sort of man soldiers would willingly obey under fire in combat, but mostly because if he had been named after the card game Blackjack I would almost certainly have already written an article about him for Blackjack Champ.
Since I haven’t, as yet, written such an article we can deduce that there probably isn’t all that much connection between the nickname of the only 5 star general in US history and the history of blackjack the card game. However since there seems to be some confusion, and it is the centenary of the start of hostilities in 1914, a conflict into which the United States would be inexorably drawn some years later under his command, I suppose a short explanation might not be entirely out of place.
Buffalo Soldiers Of The 10th Cavalry
The first thing to make clear is that John Joseph Pershing was a good soldier, a very good soldier. As a marksman alone he ranked second in the entire US military for accuracy with a pistol and fifth with a rifle and had been cited for bravery in some of his earliest military campaigns as a young officer with the 6th Cavalry against Indian opposition, particularly against the Apache. He also played some small role in the suppression of the last Sioux Indian uprisings in 1891.
Perhaps tellingly during his military career he also attended law school graduating in 1893 despite already having been promoted to first Lieutenant and being given command of a troop in the 10th Cavalry regiment, Buffalo soldiers as they were termed, that consisted of white officers leading black troops. Stationed at Fort Assinniboine he commanded an expedition using the smart strategies he’d advocated whilst Professor of Military Science and Tactics at the University of Nebraska.
The expedition, that ranged across Montana, was responsible for the deportation of a large number of Cree Indians into Canada and deemed a success but Pershing would be recalled to his place of graduation, West Point, as an instructor which is an honor of some note in the ranks of the US military’s officer corps. He was assigned to Cadet Company A and pretty much from the get go the cadets that were tutored under him came to an almost universal opinion of him. They hated his guts.
Far from being a term of endearment, or reference to his card playing recreations, the nickname “Blackjack” was actually applied to John J. Pershing by his cadets at West Point who felt his strictness and rigidity of attitude were worthy of a derogatory title. Not that this was their first choice, oh no. No, these were soldiers in the late 19th century, and knowing that their new hard-ass training instructor had previously served with the 10th Cavalry, a regiment of black troops, they called him N*gg*r Jack.
General ”Blackjack” Pershing
Over his time at the academy this was toned down to merely “blackjack”, although apparently the reference and intent behind it was still hostile, and that particular incarnation stuck with him for the rest of his life. His tour up at the academy he returned to the 10th where he took part in the Cuban campaign being once again cited for bravery. He then also took part in the Philippine war which is perhaps where his abilities were noticed by President Roosevelt.
Roosevelt liked Pershing and wanted him promoted but the military had other ideas, and instead it was agreed he would become the military attache in Tokyo which would help his career nearly as much as marrying the daughter of a rather influential republican senator who just happened to be chairman of the US Military Appropriations Committee. The fact that upon his return to the US Roosevelt used his presidential powers to promote him to Brigadier General, a mere coincidence.
He’d skipped three ranks, over 835 other more senior officers and divided opinion within the military. There were some who said his rise was entirely due to his political connections, whilst others pointed to his distinguished service leading men in combat. Whichever it may be, and likely as not a bit of both, he was of sufficient rank in 1913 to command the so called “Punitive” mission into Mexico and again three years later to try and capture Pancho Villa.
When the war in Europe broke out in 1914 America’s slide into participation was all but a foregone conclusion. Pershing’s role in World War One is a matter of record and that he was the only general ever promoted to “General Of The Armies” says much for his service, and his connections. He did much to modernize the US military in light of the conditions in France but it did seem that full frontal attacks were the only tactic in the blackjack strategy book, his victories only matched by his losses.
So, now you know why General John Joseph “Blackjack” Pershing was so nicknamed. Satisfied now?
Tags: 10th Cavalry, 6th Cavalry, Apache, Blackjack rules, blackjack strategy book, Buffalo Soldiers, Canada, Cree, Cuba, Fort Assinniboine, France, John J. Pershing, Pancho Villa, Philippines, Sioux, smart strategies, the history of blackjack, US Military, West Point, World War One
Related posts:
General Blackjack Pershing World War 1944
General Blackjack Pershing World War 1943
- Blackjack In The Trenches Of World War One
Pontoon is the British version of blackjack and was played extensively by troops serving with... - Cash, Casinos and Organized Criminals
Popular culture has a strange view of the mafia but it belies a relationship between... - Competition Between Blackjack Providing Casinos Down Under Heats Up
The two big players in the Australian gambling market are both making headway in their... - The Greatest Names in Blackjack (Part I)
Meet with the intriguing man behind “wonging” and the most desired blackjack enthusiast of all... - The Greatest Names in Blackjack (Part III)
Introducing the mustached lady of blackjack and the chameleon of the gambling, two of the...