General John J. "Black Jack" Pershing (1860-1948) was one of the most colourful, charismatic, and influential figures in US military history, and the only officer ever to hold the title of General of the Armies with the right to wear six stars on his shoulders. His career covered some of the most fascinating events in the history of the USA, spanning half a century of American military action, from conflicts with Indians in the West to the supreme command of American forces in World War I. Published in the wake of the 50th anniversary of the General's death, this book is a moving saga of a military family, ranging from ancestors who fought in the American Revolution to the death of a grandson in the jungles of Vietnam.