Missouri generals embraced education, fulfilled influential roles in World War I

Born in Edinburg, Missouri, in 1859, Enoch Crowder oversaw the development and implementation of the military draft in World War I. (Courtesy/Jeremy Amick)
Born in Edinburg, Missouri, in 1859, Enoch Crowder oversaw the development and implementation of the military draft in World War I. (Courtesy/Jeremy Amick)


During World War I, Missouri proudly revealed it had produced two distinguished U.S. Army generals whose efforts helped turn the tide of the conflict in Europe.

The careers of Gen. John J. Pershing, who achieved the esteemed rank equivalent to six-star general, and that of Maj. Gen. Enoch Crowder revealed a focus on education and resulted in their receiving an esteemed bestowment from a state university.

"It should be noted ... that these famous generals grew to manhood in Missouri; Pershing in Linn County, Crowder in Grundy -- in the same congressional district -- and that Pershing was Crowder's immediate successor at West Point Military Academy," explained the Missouri Rural (Topeka, Kansas) on May 20, 1920.

Growing up nearly 30 miles apart, these future leaders came from hardscrabble beginnings and were raised on small farms. Crowder, who was 17 months older than Pershing, once served as the professor of military science and tactics at the University of Missouri in Columbia, where he earned his law degree in 1886.

"Pershing was reassigned to the University of Nebraska in 1891," explained an article by Bernard McCoy written for the University of Nebraska website. "He led the cadet training program, taught classes and studied law."

Like his contemporary, Pershing used his time at Nebraska to earn his law degree.

Years earlier, their careers exhibited similarities with Crowder's service on America's western frontier in the 1880s in support of the Apache and Sioux campaigns. Likewise, Pershing later served in a similar capacity with the cavalry and was recognized for his bravery in battle.

Though sharing many comparable characteristics in their remarkable careers, the direction taken by the future generals briefly diverged beginning with the explosion of the USS Maine off the coast of Cuba in 1898.

"When the Spanish-American War broke out, Pershing commanded the 10th Cavalry ... and led his men in Cuba at the Battle of San Juan Hill," described an article by the Missouri State Historical Society. "The bravery and courage shown by the men of the 10th Cavalry earned them Pershing's respect and admiration."

The 10th Cavalry, a component of the "Buffalo Soldiers," was an all-black regiment, whose command thereof earned Pershing the moniker of "Black Jack." Pershing was later sent to the Philippines and commanded occupational troops battling against native tribes in the region.

Crowder, as a recently promoted lieutenant colonel, also served in the Philippines, but as a judge advocate. In this capacity, he embraced his experiences and education as a lawyer when drafting a Philippines criminal code while exhibiting his competence through other legal advisement roles.

Their duties would again intersect a few years later during a conflict known as the Russo-Japanese War. For several months, Col. Crowder fulfilled the role of senior military observer with the Japanese army in their campaigns against Russian forces and was later joined by Capt. Pershing.

In 1916, following border raids into American territory largely attributed to Mexican revolutionary Francisco (Pancho) Villa, "(i)mmediate steps were taken to organize a punitive expedition of about 10,000 men under Brig. Gen. John J. Pershing to capture Villa," shared the U.S. Army's Center of Military History.

Despite skirmishing with small bands of Mexican soldiers and bandits, Villa was never captured. However, relations were soon restored with the Mexican government and troops withdrawn from the country in 1917, only weeks prior to the biggest moment in the careers of both Crowder and Pershing.

"On April 4, 1917, the U.S. Senate voted in support of the measure to declare war on Germany," explained the U.S. State Department website. "The House concurred two days later. The United States later declared war on German ally Austria-Hungary on Dec. 7, 1917."

Hurdling toward a major conflict with the Central Powers, President Wilson bypassed five other major-generals and appointed Pershing as commander of the American Expeditionary Force (AEF). With a standing army of less than 128,000, a mechanism was needed to build a viable fighting force for the United States.

As the judge advocate, Crowder became known as the father of the Selective Service. During the war, he oversaw the development and implementation of the military draft that registered approximately 25 million men and grew the nation's Army to more than 4 million in 1918.

In a private letter to his fellow Missourian serving in France, Crowder assured Pershing, "I am completely absorbed in the work of the draft ... so as to give you assurances that the flow of manpower to the cantonments and thence to the battlefield shall not be interrupted."

History demonstrates that the U.S. helped turn the tide of the war in favor of the Allies. After returning to the states, Pershing was hailed a national hero and, along with Crowder, honored in his home state.

"Almost all of Columbia and Boone County stood on its toes in an effort to see Generals John J. Pershing and Enoch Crowder as they came into Columbia this afternoon," reported the Evening Missourian on April 21, 1920. "Missouri's foremost sons were coming, and the people were out to see them."

On April 22, 1920, the well-educated generals were conferred honorary doctor of law degrees during commencement ceremonies at the University of Missouri in Columbia. Revered as the class valedictorian, Gen. Pershing used his moment on stage to embrace his experiences as a teacher and stress the importance of an education.

"Among those who were drafted, 24 percent were illiterate," Pershing told the audience in attendance. "But not one returned to his home who could not read or write."

He added, "It is the duty and obligation of every Missourian to give to those men and women who are born in this state, or who live in this state, the opportunity to place themselves in a better class."

Jeremy P. Amick writes on behalf of the Silver Star Families of America.

  photo  Born near Laclede, Missouri, in 1860, John J. Pershing achieved the pinnacle of fame as commander of the American Expeditionary Force in World War I. He was committed to education, earning his law degree from the University of Nebraska. (Courtesy/Jeremy Amick)