General John J. Pershing

General John Joseph Pershing was born on September 13, 1860 in the state of Missouri. Pershing attended the United States Military Academy and later taught therein. ⁣ Pershing’s military career included Indian related conflicts and was involved in the Spanish-American War. Fellow mason and President Theodore Roosevelt appointed him Brigadier General (BG). In 1914 Pershing arrived and took command of Fort Bliss. Pershing was tasked with capturing Francisco “Pancho” Villa. Pershing’s residence in Ft. Bliss continues to be a fixture. In addition to his residence, a street in El Paso bears his name. ⁣ ⁣ Pershing was a mason and belonged to Lincoln Lodge No. 19 in Lincoln, Nebraska. There is ample evidence that Pershing visited with masons of El Paso Lodge No. 130 who served in the military and local politics. Mason and Mayor Tom Lea Sr. received death threats from Villa. ⁣ ⁣ Lea Sr. and Pershing coordinated intelligence about Villa’s machinations. ⁣ ⁣ Photo Rights/Credit: Texas State Historical Association⁣ ⁣ Image Description: A man wearing a military uniform sits on a horse in this black and white photograph. The man is wearing a hat and is holding the reins of the horse in his left hand. He is positioned in a three-quarter view. The horse’s head is positioned away from the camera and facing the back of the photograph. There is a cast shadow underneath the horse. In the background, there is a landscape of trees and mountains. ⁣

Area: Central / Pershing/Government Hill

Source: Texas State Historical Association

Uploaded by: Alonso Wells IV