(1860–1948), US army officer; full name John Joseph Pershing ; known as Black Jack. His early military years included active duty in Cuba 1889, the Philippines 1899–1903, and Mexico 1916–17 before he became commander in chief of the American Expeditionary Force 1917–19 in World War I. His Meuse-Argonne offensive 1918 led to the final collapse of the German Army. He served as US Army chief of staff 1921–24.