Pershing: General of the Armies (Hardcover)

~ (Author)

Editorial Reviews

From Library Journal

This book completes Smythe's biography of John J. Pershing. His first volume was Guerrilla Warrior (1973). Smythe's is the second modern two-volume biography of the general; the other is Frank E. Vandiver's Black Jack: the life and times of John J. Pershing ( LJ 10/1/77). Smythe and Vandiver agree that Pershing put his mark on the American Expeditionary Force that helped turn the tide to the Allies' favor in World War I. Smythe argues that Pershing was almost overwhelmed by his multiple jobssupervisor of logistics, field commander, and diplomat who blocked amalgamation of U.S. units with British and French divisions. While Smythe's book is more thoroughly researched in primary sources than Vandiver's, Vandiver's is the more sprightly written. General readers may prefer Vandiver; scholars may prefer Smythe. Highly recommended for all college and large public libraries. Joseph G. Dawson, History Dept., Texas A&M Univ., College Station
Copyright 1986 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Review

"A model of military biography and a major contribution to our knowledge of the American Expeditionary Forces in World War I." Allan R. Millet

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 416 pages
• Publisher: Indiana University Press (May 1, 1986)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 025334381X
• ISBN-13: 978-0253343819
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 5.9 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.6 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #657,125 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Most Helpful Customer Reviews

8 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars American Command in World War I, February 12, 2007

By	John Matlock "Gunny" (Winnemucca, NV) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This review is from: Pershing: General of the Armies (Paperback)

It appears of late that there is an increasing interest in books about World War I. Books have appeared on individual battles and on specialized equipment such as tanks and aircraft. After all, this was the time when much of the foundation for the later wars was being derived.

This particular book by Donald Smythe covers Pershing during the World War I years. (Smythe covers Gen. Pershing's earlier life in the previous book: Guerrilla Warror.) This book was written in the late 1980's, and just reprinted now.During this time Pershing had to build the army and assuage the commanders of the British and French forces who wanted the Americans to come into their armies as replacment soldiers under British or French commanders.

This was the first time that a large army would be sent by the Americans to fight on land beyond the oceans. The Americans had a lot to learn on the battlefield and in the conference room, but learn it they did. And they applied this learning in another European was a generation later.

As a measure of the tribute to be paid to Pershing, when he died in 1948, the funeral procession was led by sixteen American generals marching in the rain. At the head of the generals were Eisenhower and Bradley.