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General of the Armies John Joseph 'Black Jack' Pershing (September 13, 1860 – July 15, 1948) was a senior United States Army officer. His most famous post was when he served as the commander of the American Expeditionary Force (AEF) on the Western Front in World War I, 1917–18.
Suffice it to say that General John J. “Black Jack” Pershing was part of the process as Governor of the troublesome Moro Province between 1909 and 1913. We found no references to this alleged.
About.com Urban Legends, 'Black Jack Pershing vs. Muslim Terrorists,' updated Feb. 19, 2015 Donald Smythe, ' Pershing and the Disarmament of the Moros ' ( Pacific Historical Review ), Aug.

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World War II produced a handful of “five-star” flag officers, with “general of the army” or “fleet admiral” designations but preceding them was a lone “six-star” officer: John Joseph “Black Jack” Pershing, “General of the Armies.” He was the only officer in modern history elevated to that high rank. Pershing's first name is 'John,' for which 'Jack' is a nickname, and he was a white man who commanded black troops. Hence 'Black Jack.' The second story is more confusing, though.

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samson'sseed
Georgia Fan
Augusta
Member since Aug 2013
2070 posts

General Pershing told the French not to give military awards to black troopsPosted by samson'sseed on 3/29/14 at 3:14 pm

Max Brooks, the guy who created World War Z, has a new project--a graphic novel about the Harlem Hellfighters, a group of black soldiers who fought during WWI for longer than any other American unit.
It's likely going to become a movie.
General Pershing actually told the French not to give any awards to black soldiers. Here's a section of the letter he sent to the French commander.
'We must not eat with them, must not shake hands with them, seek to talk to them or to meet with them outside the requirements of military service. We must not commend too highly these troops, especially in front of white Americans”
—General John J. Pershing, in a secret communiqué concerning African-American troops sent to the French military stationed with the American army, August 7, 1918, available on Stories to Tell: African Americans in the Military on the EDSITEment-reviewed resource National Park Service: Links to the Past
Nevertheless, a black soldier was the first American given a French award for valor.

Stacked
Chattanooga Fan
Member since Apr 2012
5675 posts

re: General Pershing told the French not to give military awards to black troopsPosted by Stacked on 3/29/14 at 3:57 pm to samson'sseed

Maybe black soldiers were just doing it for the love of the game. I like that.

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KSGamecock
South Carolina Fan
The Woodlands, TX
Member since May 2012
22982 posts

re: General Pershing told the French not to give military awards to black troopsPosted by KSGamecock on 3/29/14 at 4:42 pm to samson'sseed

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BarberitosDawg
USA Fan
Lee County Florida across causeway
Member since Oct 2013
8487 posts

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re: General Pershing told the French not to give military awards to black troopsPosted by BarberitosDawg on 3/29/14 at 6:32 pm to samson'sseed

WW-Z was a horrible, horrible movie. I can only imagine this portrayal of events will be made in a revisionist light.
I don't think African American units made up even 1% of the front line units we sent over any way the French had African units who fought for the entire duration of the war.
Black Jack Pershing was an old left over from the 19th century and his views were very much inline with the general perception of the time even though they are far removed from this time period perception.
I would probably check it out anyway.

PikeBishop
Texas A&M Fan
Bristol, TN
Member since Feb 2014
957 posts
Online

re: General Pershing told the French not to give military awards to black troopsPosted by PikeBishop on 3/29/14 at 7:24 pm to BarberitosDawg

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France had a couple hundred thousand colonial troops fighting in WW1. Alot from Senegal. I have seen monuments dedicated to them in France.
I was not aware of Pershing's request on this. But I can't say I am surprised. It would be consistent with the racial segregationist policies then being pushed by the Wilson administration.

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