Until the Last Trumpet Sounds: The Life of General of the Armies John J. Pershing

Gene Smith's "Until the Last Trumpet Calls" (1998 Paperback) tells the life story of General John J. Pershing. It is well documented with reviewing personal correspondences, eyewitness interviews, several black and white photos, and extensive (8 pages) endnotes. From his birth in 1860, through his days at West Point (class of 1886), to his various US Cavalry assignments across the American west and the early 20th century Pacific, to his leading the American Expeditionary Forces in World War 1 (WW1), till his death in 1948, John Pershing was well-respected, and often feared, icon determined to perform his duty. Pershing moved slowly through the Army ranks until he met Teddy Roosevelt. After their Spanish American War acquaintance Captain Pershing (only a Captain after 16 years!) was catapulted into a history-making career. By the end of the Great War Pershing achieved 6 stars as General of the Armies (unique to American history)! Smith tells Pershing family celebrations and tragedies, it acquaintances with future history makers, and the General's "Americans fight as Americans" philosophy during WW1. Readers learn about Pershing's mentoring George Patton, George Marshall, and many more. We hear of his close WW1 friendship with France's Marshal Petain (who became the chief voice in the Nazi-Vichy government of World War 2, to Pershing's horror). The General was firmly and verbally anti-Kaiser in 1915 and anti-Nazi in 1940. Smith closes the book with interesting chapters about "Black Jack" Pershing's (an appellation from his pre WW1 days commanding an African American Army division in Texas) son's and grandsons' careers. Each respective had his army career in World War 2, Cold War Europe, and Viet Nam (the youngest grandson was killed during the 1968 Tet Offensive). Unfortunately, General Pershing had no great-grandchildren. The book ends with a feeling of "Taps" for an influential 20th century American family. Although Smith tends towards run-on sentences and the occasional sentence fragment this 320-page book's conversational style makes it an easy read. It is recommended to all military historians, US Cavalry buffs, World War 1 students, and 20th century Americana aficionados.

Until the Last Trumpet Sounds is a fine book. Gene Smith has written an interesting, fast-paced narrative of the life of John J. Pershing. This reader, however, upon finishing the book, was left a bit unfulfilled. At 337 pages, a full 50 of which are devoted exclusively to the lives of Pershing's grandsons, Smith simply cannot do full justice to the highest ranking military officer in US history. Smith merely alights upon a peak of Pershing's career and then sets off for another before the meat of the story is told. What results, nevertheless, is a highly interesting read, but not half of what it could be.Pershing, born in 1860, rose from obscurity to the General of US Armies garnering an unprecedented sixth star. He went from fighting Indians of the American West on horseback to leading mechanized battles of World War I. Gene Smith's Until the Last Trumpet Sounds has only scratched the surface of a truly remarkable life and, therefore, leaves the reader feeling he could have done quite a bit more. Even so, what he has completed merits a solid 4 stars.

Smith's style of writing can be hard to get used to, but when that is done, it is easy reading and very interesting. I knew nothing about J.J. Pershing except his nick name and that he was an American general before I ordered this book (and I considered myself a fairly well rounded student of American history). This book was a great addition to my collection of history books.I must admit that I was a bit upset about the ending (there wasn't one, I thought, when there should have been), when the book extended through the lives of the later generations of the Pershing family. However, when I was done completely with the book I saw the author's reasoning behind it all I think. It left a profound feeling of "so that's what has come of the great Pershing line," in me, probably because I am interested in geneology as well (both mine and famous people). I recommend the book very much, to any history or geneology buff.

Overall, Smith does a pretty good job of bringing Pershing to life. Prior to reading this book, I knew very little about Pershing. This book got me past that, and a good deal more.The details about Pershing's early life are a little sketchy. As the story moves along, Smith includes more and more info (presumably because more source material exists). I never got a sense of what Pershing's life was like growing up, but I got a lot (bordering on too much) about his relationship with his son and sisters.I wholeheartedly disagree with the very negative review below. This book stays VERY focused on Pershing and, in my opinion, does not give too much detail about other people involved in the story. And, while Pershing may not have been as colorful (or as politically active) as Grant, MacArthur, Eisenhower, etc., he sure as heck earned six stars (which he never wore). With very little support from home, and against a great deal of pressure from the French and British, he trained and formed a US Army out of practically nothing, beat the Germans (don't argue that the French and British could have done it alone), and was the ONLY major voice calling for Germany's unconditional surrender (would WWII have happened if Wilson & the others had listened?).The greatness of Pershing's acheivement comes through clearly in Smith's book. Sometimes, it's a little harder to get a feel for the greatness of the man.

Gene Smith has done very thorough research and is a masterful storyteller. There is not a slow moment in this reading, and will open the readers eyes to another time, another way of life and to war. I would recommend this book to anybody who wants to study Pershing, or to anybody who wnats delve into another time and place in history