13.3.1 United States decorations and medals.9 World War I: 1918 and full American participation.5 Spanish– and Philippine–American wars.He was regarded as a mentor by the generation of American generals who led the United States Army in Europe during World War II, including George C. Pershing holds the first United States officer service number (O-1). Pershing is the only person to be promoted in his own lifetime to the highest rank ever held in the United States Army- General of the Armies ( a retroactive Congressional edict passed in 1976 promoted George Washington to the same rank but with higher seniority ). John Joseph 'Black Jack' Pershing (Septem– July 15, 1948), was a general officer in the United States Army who led the American Expeditionary Forces in World War I. Honorary Knight Grand Cross of the Order of the Bath
