Gen. John J. Pershing and the War to End All Wars

Dear Editor,

Gen. John Joseph Pershing led the expeditionary forces during World War I in France and Belgium.

In 1931, the Frederick A. Stokes Co. of New York published “My Experiences During the War” by Gen. Pershing. It included quotes from his diary.

John Joseph Pershing was born in 1860 in Laclede Mo., and died in 1948. He is buried at Arlington Cemetery in Virginia. Pershing was a respected military leader who graduated from West Point. He once considered becoming a lawyer.

When Pancho Villa (Francisco Villa) terrorized Mexico from 1961-1923, he changed his name from Doroteo Aranago to Francisco Villa. He was called “Pancho Villa.”

Gen. Pershing and his troops were sent over the border from Texas by President Woodrow Wilson to pursue Villa in 1916 when he raided Columbus, Mexico, and attacked villages in a 400-mile radius of it. pershing’s expedition was withdrawn in 1917.

Villa was defeated by Alvaro Obregon, who befriended him and who pacified him with a land grand.

Pershing’s expedition was withdrawn in 1917. Villa died in 1923 at age 46 when he was shot by his enemies.

The French people welcomed Gen. Pershing and the American forces. Women threw flowers at them and climbed on to their military vehicles, yelling “Vive L’ Amerique!” People crowded the streets waving flags.

Germany had made a serious error when it carried on a war agains women and children.

This strengthened the determination of Great Britain to fight to the last man. The English had night bombings in London, but not as serious as the ones during World War II that came on a nightly basis.

Historians tell us that World War II was a continuation of World War I using bigger and better weapons.

When Woodrow Wilson ran for president, he campaigned saying he would keep us out of the war.

Then, April 29, 1917, the American Congress passed the Draft Act. President Wilson said it was the best method of raising an army.

World War I was said to be a war that would end all wars. Of course, nobody knew that Adolph Hitler would plan to fulfill his dream of conquering Europe in the 1930s and 1940s.

Helen Ruth Arnold,

Trenton, Neb.