Black Jack: The Life and Times of John J. Pershing, Volume 1

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Texas A&M University Press, 1977 - Biography & Autobiography - 1178 pages
This National Book Award finalist traces the life of the general whose career began on the western frontier and culminated with victory in a world war.

Using both domestic and foreign sources, many heretofore untapped, Frank Vandiver focuses on the qualities of and challenges to Pershing the soldier without losing sight of the man who wore the uniform. Vandiver gives special attention to Pershing's stint as head of the Bureau of Insular Affairs, his fourteen years' service in the Far East, and his unusual role as manager-organizer of the American Expeditionary Forces in World War I. Here is a full-bodied portrait of a remarkable American, plus new insights into American and international military history, and a fresh view of the United States' rise to power.

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Page 451 - Belgium's capital had gathered then Her beauty and her chivalry, and bright The lamps shone o'er fair women and brave men. A thousand hearts beat happily; and when Music arose with its voluptuous swell, Soft eyes looked love to eyes which spake again, \ And all went merry as a marriage-bell. But, hush ! hark ! a deep sound strikes like a rising knell ! Did ye not hear it ? No ; 't was but the wind, Or the car rattling o'er the stony street.
Page 451 - twas but the wind, Or the car rattling o'er the stony street ; On with the dance ! let joy be unconfined ; No sleep till morn, when Youth and Pleasure meet To chase the glowing Hours with flying feet...
Page 451 - No sleep till morn, when Youth and Pleasure meet To chase the glowing Hours with flying feet. But hark! that heavy sound breaks in once more, As if the clouds its echo would repeat; And nearer, clearer, deadlier than before! Arm! arm! it is— it is— the cannon's opening roar!
Page 330 - Corps shall be to prepare plans for the national defense and for the mobilization of the military forces in time of war...
Page 48 - Come, fill your glasses, fellows, and stand up in a row; To singing sentimentally, we're going for to go; In the Army there's sobriety, promotion's very slow, So we'll sing our reminiscences of Benny Havens, oh!
Page 205 - The men held their guns pressed across their breasts and stepped heavily as they climbed. Behind these, first few, spreading out like a fan, were single lines of men, slipping and scrambling in the smooth grass, moving forward with difficulty, as though they were wading waist high through water, moving slowly, carefully, with strenuous effort.
Page 330 - SEC. 2. That the duties of the General Staff Corps shall be to prepare plans for the national defense and for the mobilization of the military forces in time of war ; to investigate and report upon all questions affecting the efficiency of the Army and Its state of preparation for military operations ; to render professional aid and assistance to the Secretary of War and to general officers and other superior commanders, and to act as their agents in informing and coordinating the action of all the...
Page 205 - They had no glittering bayonets, they were not massed in regular array. There were a few men in advance, bunched together, and creeping up a steep, sunny hill, the top of which roared and flashed with flame.
Page 328 - Until this system is changed we can not hope that our officers will be of as high grade as we have a right to expect, considering the material upon which we draw. Moreover, when a man renders such service as Captain Pershing rendered last spring in the Moro campaign, it ought to be possible to reward him without at once jumping him to the grade of brigadier-general. Shortly after the enunciation of that famous principle of American foreign policy now known as the "Monroe Doctrine...
Page 261 - O ye who believe ! when ye meet the marshalled hosts of the infidels, turn not your backs to them: • Whoso shall turn his back to them on that day, unless he turn aside to fight, or to rally to some other troop, shall incur wrath from God: Hell shall be his abode and wretched the journey thither...

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