He should have been President.

Been an urban legend for a few years. Although this does not confirm this as a myth, it does not believe it to be in his character.
http://urbanlegends.about.com/library/bl_black_jack_pershing.htm

While it has been branded an "urban legend" it has not been disproved. Experts simply say it does not seem to be something someone with his character would do. You would think that there would be reports from that time.

General 'Black Jack' Pershing vs. Muslim Terrorists - Urban Legends

My understanding of the nickname came from General Pershing's early assignment to the 10th Cavalry, a regiment of black troops. I will do further reseaarch to see if I can confirm that my understanding is correct.

Semper Fi,
Dave

I'd heard the 10th Calvary story loooong before the Phillipines one.

The story I got was that he commanded black troops of the 10th cav for sixteen years, thats how he recieved his nick name.

Lets do some digging folks. And we will see if the "urban legend" call holds water.

About that, 16 years is very long for a commander to stay with a unit.

Things moved very slowly in that period. Commanders tended to be very experienced, even if not very skilled. The 10th Cavalry in that period was engaged in the Indian Wars....dehousing and exterminating the native population in the American West.

After his experience with the cavalry in the West, he would have had a solid background for dealing with the Moros in the Philipines, where the saying was "civilize them with a Krag". (a Krag-Jorgenson .30/40 rifle)

According to Wikipedia:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_J._Pershing

Pershing was with the 6th Cavalry at Wounded Knee
He commanded a troop of the 10th Cavalry from October, 1895 to 1897
In 1897, he was an instructor at West Point, where the cadets called him "Nigger Jack" because fo his time with the 10th Cav.
He was also with the 10th Cav at Kettle and San Juan Hills in Cuba

It appears that Pershing was assigned to the Philippines from August, 1899 to 1903 where he was assigned to the 1st Cav and the 15th Cav, including participating in actions against the Moros.

According to Snopes, Pershing was the governor of Moro Province from 1909 to 1913. The Snopes account inidcates that there is no documentation of Pershing using this tactic. However, it cannot be ruled out.

http://www.snopes.com/rumors/pershing.asp

Personally, I see the tactic as a mistake and a waste of good pork chops and BBQ.

Semper Fi,
Dave

Couldn't agree more.


Cheers,
Mike

So there is something to this that can't be ruled out. We have some modelers in the Phillipines here don't we? Maybe even Something in the 1st & 10th Cav histories.

". . .It appears that Pershing was assigned to the Philippines from August, 1899 to 1903 where he was assigned to the 1st Cav and the 15th Cav, including participating in actions against the Moros.

According to Snopes, Pershing was the governor of Moro Province from 1909 to 1913. The Snopes account inidcates that there is no documentation of Pershing using this tactic. However, it cannot be ruled out. . ."

1899 - 1903 = 4 years.
1901 made Captain's rank.
What was he doing 1903-1909? (6 - 7 years) In 1906 he was promoted to Brigadier General. (5 years from O3 to O7) Wow thats a pretty quick climb! I wonder what he did to deserve those promotions?
1909 - 1913 = 4 years he was governor of Moro Province. So the incident would have taken place during this period?

Here is some more of his service details.

6th Cavalry, 1887-91
U. of Nebraska, Professor of Military Science, 1891-95
10th Cavalry, 1895-97
West Point, tactics instructor, 1897-98
10th Cavalry, 1898-99
Philippines, 1899-1903
Here and there, 1903-09. Got married too.
Philippines again, 1909-12
Mexican border duties, 1912-15
Vacation in France, with pay, 1917-18.
General of the Army 1919.

Pershing was promoted from Captain to Brigadier General by President Teddy Roosevelt who served alongside him in Cuba. It seems that Teddy tried to get him promoted to field grade, but the Army brass wouldn't allow him to "jump the line" and be promoted until one of the old majors either died or was promoted. Roosevelt was not one to take such inaction lying down. He found that while president's cannot require a man to be promoted to field grade, he did have the sole authority to nominate Generals. So he simply jumped Pershing over all those old f*rts that stood in his way. Pershing's father-in-law was a senator, so confirmation was not all that difficult.

Once he was a Brigafier, he was sent back to the Philipines as a provincial governor.

I too am interested in what the Philipine historians have to say about the incident in question.

Semper Fi,
Dave

Maybe he got the monicker "Black Jack" from thumping all those old f**ts egos when he made Brigadier.

The old goats weren't very happy, that's for sure. From what I have read, there was substantial debate flying around DC when Teddy pulled that one off.

Semper Fi,
Dave

Two things to remember here:
1) The promotion process wasn't as "organized" then as it is now. I doubt that there were OAR/OER's, Up or Out requirements and quite probably no O-X pay grades. I seem to recall that Ike or Patton was a Captain for 8 years because there wasn't any upward movement, that doesn't happen in today's military. The Navy didn't have Ensigns back then, new Naval Academy grads were sent to the fleet as Mid Shipmen and didn't get commissioned (as Lieutenants) until they'd served 2 years.
2) Every General knows EXACTLY where (s)he stands on the seniority list. How many accounts of Ike being named Supreme Commander include the number (30-60?) of more senior generals he was promoted over?
So, it doesn't surprise me that an action oriented guy like TR figured out a way to get what he wanted done.