IV 
111TH CONGRESS 
2D SESSION 
H. RES. 1356 
Recognizing the 150th anniversary of the birth of General John J. Pershing, 
an American military hero. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
MAY 12, 2010 
Mr. SKELTON submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the 
Committee on Armed Services 
RESOLUTION 
Recognizing the 150th anniversary of the birth of General 
John J. Pershing, an American military hero. 
Whereas John Joseph Pershing was born near Laclede, Mis-
souri, in 1860, to his parents, John Fletcher Pershing 
and Ann Elizabeth Thompson Pershing; 
Whereas Pershing completed his high school education in 
1878 and supported his family, in his father’s absence, 
by teaching in the public education system of the State 
of Missouri, City of Laclede; 
Whereas Pershing entered the Kirksville Normal School, now 
Truman State University, in Kirksville, Missouri, in 
1880; 
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•HRES 1356 IH 
Whereas Pershing applied to the United States Military 
Academy and left Missouri to be sworn in as a West 
Point cadet in 1882; 
Whereas Pershing was tapped early for leadership and be-
came successively First Corporal, First Sergeant, and 
First Captain, the highest cadet rank before his West 
Point graduation in 1886; 
Whereas Pershing reported for active military duty on Sep-
tember 30, 1886, and began his extraordinary military 
career, distinguishing himself in the Spanish-American 
War, the Philippine-American War, and the Punitive Ex-
pedition into Mexico; 
Whereas Pershing’s great personal tragedy, the loss by fire 
of his wife Frances Warren Pershing and three young 
daughters, did not dampen his dedication to military 
service, and when President Woodrow Wilson named Per-
shing Commander of the American Expeditionary Force, 
following America’s entrance into World War I, he com-
manded nearly 2 million men in Europe; 
Whereas in 1919 the United States Congress recognized 
Pershing’s distinguished service during World War I and 
authorized the President to promote Pershing to General 
of the Armies of the United States, the highest rank pos-
sible for any member of the United States Armed Forces, 
outranking even five-star generals and bestowed on only 
one other American, General George Washington, post-
humously in 1976; 
Whereas General Pershing served as mentor to the next gen-
eration of America’s great military leaders, including 
George C. Marshall, Dwight D. Eisenhower, and George 
S. Patton; 
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•HRES 1356 IH 
Whereas General Pershing died of congestive heart failure on 
July 15, 1948, and the City of Laclede, the State of Mis-
souri, and the entire United States mourned the loss of 
a national hero; 
Whereas General Pershing was buried in Arlington National 
Cemetery on July 19, 1948, after lying in state in the 
Rotunda of the United States Capitol; 
Whereas the life and career of General Pershing continue to 
inspire members of the United States Armed Forces; and 
Whereas the Missouri Department of Natural Resources, the 
Missouri Division of State Parks, the Pershing Days 
Committee, and the Pershing Park Memorial Association 
plan to have a celebration honoring General Pershing at 
Pershing Days on September 11, 2010, in Laclede, Mis-
souri: Now, therefore, be it 
Resolved, That the House of Representatives— 
(1) recognizes the 150th anniversary of the 
birth of General John J. Pershing; and 
(2) extends the appreciation of a most grateful 
Nation for his service to the United States. 
Æ 
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