John J. Pershing and the American Expeditionary Forces in World War I, 1917-1919: April 7-September 30, 1917

General of the Armies John J. Pershing (1860--1948) had a long and decorated military career, but is most famous for leading the American Expeditionary Forces in WWI. He published a memoir, My Experiences in the World War, and has been the subject of several biographies; but the literature regarding this towering figure and his enormous role in the First World War deserves to be expanded to include a collection of his wartime correspondence. Carefully edited by John T. Greenwood, volume one of John J. Pershing and the American Expeditionary Forces in World War I, 1917--1919 covers the period April 7 through September 30, 1917. The letters speak to topics including Pershing's appointment to command the US expeditionary force, his initial preparations, and early meetings with Allied civilian and military leaders, including Field Marshal Sir Douglas Haig and General Henri Philippe P tain. The correspondence also describes the creation of the General Organization Project for the AEF which laid out the army, corps, divisional, and regimental organization structures and Tables of Organization and Equipment he desired to support them. Two appendices provide the reader with details of Pershing's relations with the Allied Governments and Armies (as he reported them in an unpublished part of his Final Report of Gen. John J. Pershing in 1920) and his personal appraisal of Marshal Ferdinand Foch as he knew him during the war. Together, these volumes of wartime correspondence provide new insight into the work of a legendary soldier and the historic events in which he participated.