General John J. Pershing was an American military leader who served as the commander of the American Expeditionary Forces (AEF) during World War I. After the United States entered the war in 1917, Pershing was given the task of leading the country's troops in Europe. He quickly gained a reputation for his leadership abilities and his insistence on high standards of discipline and training. Under his command, the AEF played a major role in the Allied victory in World War I, and Pershing became a national hero. After the war, he continued to serve in the military, and he retired in 1924 with the rank of general of the armies.
