The Washington times., 1919-09-17
HOW GEN PERSHING
CLIMBED TO FAME
He Might Have Been an Obscure
Teacher It He Hadn't
Heard Mr. Opportunity.

i Gen. John J. Pershing might have
been q Eray-headed teacher in the
middle West today, practically un-
known and reading with interest the
various dreams OF idealists concern
ing higher salaries for members OF
that profession. BdS ne happened to
be fortunate enough to hear oppor-
/ tunity knock when il did. He opened
I the door. and today he's about the
pest known man in the United States.
i Up in the mountains Of West Vir-
ginia there may be some old moon
shining mOuntaineers who don't know
who is President OF the United States.
never have known, and probably never
will
! But there were boys drafted from
the mountains Of West Virginia And
when they got home, took or the uni
! form. and put on the old blue jeans to
1 go out and cut corn while the sun
shone. you may rest assured they
didn't forget to tell PA" and ma"
Jack Pershing.
Bern In Missouri.
| Gen. John Joseph Pershing was
born in Linn county, Missouri, Sep
| tember 13, 1850. He was preparing
at the State normal school with the
idea Of taking up teaching as a pro-
| fession when he was attracted by an
| announcement Of an examination for
| entrance to the United States Mill
| tary Academy, at West Point
| He took the competitive examina-
| ton, was successful, and admitted
to West Point-after he had finished
/ his course at the Missouri Normal
School with the degree Of Bachelor OF
Arts. He was graduated from the
| academy at the age OF twenty-One,
/ and upon receiving his commission as
/ shave TAIL" was assigned to. the
Sixth Cavalry, then lighting Apache
/ Indians on the Western frontier
Serving under Gen. Nelson A. Miles,
| commanding the United states forces
| in the Indian campaign, he gained a
| knowledge OF red skin tactics which
resulted in his being sent to the Da-
/ kotas, then an uncharted wilderness,
in command Of the Sioux Scouts, in
a campaign against the Sioux In
/ dians. He conducted this fight with
/ success, and received a commission
as military instructor at the Univer
| sity Of Nebraska, October 20, 1892.
! While filling this post, he received
his first promotion-that OF FIRST
| lieutenant
Received Law Degree
| He took advantage Of his extra
time at the University OF Nebraska
gree, in 1898.
| He was on duty at West Point
| when the war with Spain broke out.
and was placed on duty at the head
quarters Of the army in the campaign
against Santiago. Upon his return
to the United States he was commits
| stoned a major OF ordnance in the
volunteers, and later reverted - his
| rank OF first lieutenant in the regu-
lars. In 1899 he was sent 70 the
! PHILIPPINES and there spent eight
years in making q record which later
resulted in giving him the rank he
now has.
| AS captain he participated in many
operations against the Moros in Cen
| tral Mindanao during 1901 and 1902. |
On his return to the United States
| in 1903 he served on the general STAN
| here in Washington. His next ap-
| pOintment was that of military at
| tache to the American embassy in
| Japan, and while there he served as
| military observer with the Japanese |
/ army in Manchuria. This duty gave |
! him an opportunity to study the |
! operation OF large armies from the |
point OF command
Ordered to Philippines.
September 20, 1906, he was appoint |
ed brigadier general and ordered to |
the Philippines as commander OF the |
department Of Mindanao and governor |
I OF the MOrOs. On his return to the |
United States he was placed in COM |
mand OF the Eighth Cavalry Brigade, |
then stationed at the Preside in San |
Francisco. He remained there until |
the trouble with Mexico and was or
deTed to the border. He commanded |
the punitive expedition into Mexico in
March, 1916, and on September 25, |
1916, he was appointed q major gen
eral.
Following the declaration Of war
against Germany came the announce
ment, on May 26, 1917, that Maj. Gen.
JOhn J. Pershing would command the
American eXpeditiOnary forces abroad.
He arrived in England June 9, 1917, |
and went 10 France four days later.
Here he conducted the work OF or
ganiZing the largest army ever gath
cred by his country, and his work was
recognized in his promotion to full
general October 6, 1917.