‘Black Jack’ Pershing, Captain to Brig. General

Some of the greatest figures in US history got their feet wet in the difficult work of governance while serving in the Philippines during the early days of American colonial rule. In fact, the position of “Governor General of the Philippines” was a prestigious office sought by many for various reasons. When Theodore Roosevelt was still governor of the State of New York, he declared “that the post of governor general of the Philippines was the one he desired above all others, even a second gubernatorial term.”

In the presidential elections of 1900, Roosevelt, as the running mate of re-electionist William McKinley, was elected vice president. The post of governor general of the Philippines would go to Judge William Howard Taft and, more than a century after, the street in Manila bearing his name, Taft Avenue, is still Taft Avenue as Filipinos continue to honor his services in nation-building in the Philippines. On the other hand, Dewey Boulevard, named for the victor over the Spanish Fleet in Manila Bay, was renamed Roxas Boulevard in honor of the first president of the Third Republic.

William Howard Taft, the first US governor-general of the Philippines, would later serve as the 27th president of the United States and several years after leaving the presidency, he became chief justice of the US Supreme Court, the only individual to serve in both positions.

When it comes to military service, a number of officers can be cited. But there is one who served mainly in Mindanao in the campaign to pacify and subdue the Moros, especially around Lake Lanao. John J. Pershing graduated from the US Military Academy at West Point with the class of 1886. In his senior year, he was selected class president by his classmates, and chosen First Captain of the corps by his tactical officers. His first assignment was in a cavalry unit operating against the famed Indian leader Geronimo and his Apache followers. This was followed by a command position with African-American (Buffalo) soldiers that earned him the nickname “Nigger Jack.” In time, this would be softened to “Black Jack” and would stay with him till the end.

In August 1899, he was assigned to the Philippines, specifically to the District of Mindanao and Jolo. When asked where he would like to be stationed, his immediate reply was – Iligan. Here, he moved around without being haughty or condescending, and began to impress the Moros as an uncommon invader. By tactful methods, he passed through many Moro villages without firing a hostile shot. He studied the Moro language and made an effort to understand the people. A sultan once asked him if Pershing’s God was the same as his. Pershing’s reply: “There is but one God, and He must be the same.” In his assessment of the Moro, Pershing explained, “In order to control him other than by brute force, one must first win his implicit confidence.”

But there would always be implacable foes among the Moros. He recommended a marching expedition, more like a show of force and bravery, completely around Lake Lanao that would demonstrate to the opposing sultans the futility of their resistance. While there were skirmishes and fighting in various places along the way, the march was a huge success. One telegram of congratulations described the expedition as possibly “the first party of white men to march around Lake Lanao.”

Captain Pershing returned to Washington in 1903, hailed as the “hero from Moroland.” Stories of the Lanao operation caught the ear and heart of President Theodore Roosevelt, as it reminded him of his own exploits in Cuba. He wanted to promote Pershing to Brigadier General. Frustrated by seniority rules, he would say, “The only people who are contented with the system of promotion by mere seniority are those who are contented with the triumph of mediocrity over excellence.”

But in September 1906, President Roosevelt nominated Captain John J. Pershing, 46, to be a Brigadier General in the US Army. This promotion would carry him over the careers of 909 captains, majors, lieutenant colonels and colonels – a tidy collection of instant enemies. Numerous articles and editorials condemned Pershing as too young, inexperienced and pampered. In an effort to block the promotion, charges of having sired children by a Zamboanga lady, Joaquina Bondoy, were made public. But by December, Congress confirmed his promotion.

While his father-in-law, Senator Francis Warren, was the chairman of the Senate committee on military affairs and appropriations, it was his impressive military service record in Mindanao that allowed President Roosevelt to invoke the principle of presidential prerogative. Still, the leap from captain to brigadier general was, to say the least, unusual for a promotion system based mainly on seniority. He then returned to the Philippines to serve as governor of Moro Province.

In 1917, when the United States entered World War I against Germany, President Woodrow Wilson appointed Major General John Pershing as commander of the American Expeditionary Force (AEF) in Europe, promoting him to the rank of full general. After the defeat of Germany, he returned home and the US Congress bestowed on him the rank of “General of the Armies of the United States,” the only active duty officer in US history with six stars. Pershing would remain in the army, serving as chief-of-staff for three years until his retirement in 1924.

On leadership, he would always say, “A competent leader can get efficient service from poor troops; while an incapable leader can demoralize the best of troops.”

General John “Black Jack“ Pershing passed away in July 1948. It was his exploits in Mindanao that served as the key to subsequent promotions in the US Army.

*      *      *

Email: [email protected]