Military Power

CrazyCatman wrote:I think it would have to be Sun Tzu. His "Art of War" is still required reading for many military academies around the world.

John Joseph "Black Jack" Pershing (September 13, 1860 – July 15, 1948) was an officer in the United States Army. Pershing eventually rose to the highest rank ever held in the United States Army—General of the Armies—equivalent only to the posthumous rank of George Washington. Pershing led the American Expeditionary Force in World War I and was regarded as a mentor by the generation of American generals who led the United States army forces in Europe during World War II, including George C. Marshall, Dwight D. Eisenhower, Omar Bradley and George S. Patton, Jr.

In 1917, following America's entrance into World War I, President Woodrow Wilson named Pershing to command the American Expeditionary Forces, a post which he retained until 1918. Pershing was responsible for the organization, training, and supply of an inexperienced force that eventually grew from 27,000 men to over two million soldiers. In this way, Pershing is credited with the creation of the "National Army", a combined draft and professional Army force that was called upon to fight World War I.

In 1919, in recognition of his distinguished service during World War I, the US Congress authorized the President to promote Pershing to General of the Armies of the United States, a rank created especially for him and one that only he held at the time (Lieutenant General George Washington was posthumously promoted to this rank by President Gerald Ford in 1976).