General John J. Pershing Signed United States Army Citation.

PERSHING, General John J.

$975.00

Item Number: 120411

Early 20th century United States Army Citation signed by General John J. Pershing. One page, partially printed, the citation awards Lieut. Colonel Arthur A. Tasker for “exceptionally meritorious and conspicuous services as Colonel Officer of the Base Hospital A09 France”. Dated April 19, 1919 and signed by General John J. Pershing.

General of the Armies John Joseph "Black Jack" Pershing was a senior United States Army officer. He served most famously as the commander of the American Expeditionary Forces (AEF) on the Western Front in World War I, 1917–18. In addition to leading the A.E.F. to victory in World War I, Pershing notably served as a mentor to many in the generation of generals who led the United States Army during World War II, including George Marshall, Dwight D. Eisenhower, Omar Bradley, Lesley J. McNair, George S. Patton and Douglas MacArthur. During his command in WWI, Pershing rejected British and French demands that American forces be integrated with their armies, and insisted that the AEF would operate as a single unit under his command, although some American divisions fought under British command, and he also allowed all-black units to be integrated with the French army.