Black Jack Pershing: Leadership Lessons from World War 1

How Pershing’s strategy and vision transformed the U. S. military for the 20th Century

I’ve always been intrigued by great military leaders who have shaped history, and am especially interested in what in their background came to bear upon their most notable achievements. Often, we know them by short titles or events that unjustly simplify their impact. General “Black Jack” Pershing, as influential as he was, falls into this category.

In searching for a book on Pershing (and there are plenty out there), I wanted to understand the life experiences that shaped his thinking, which became pivotal in America’s experience in World War I. After some research, I honed in on Jim Lacey’s Pershing: A Biography: Lessons in Leadership. Lacey, a renowned scholar, war correspondent, and accomplished author, contributed this volume on Pershing as part of a 13-part series on The Great Generals, which includes notable figures such as Washington, Jackson, Grant, Eisenhower, Marshall, and LeMay.

In Lacey’s 2009 biography, I found what I was looking for and more. Lacey’s book offers not just …