:quality(85)//cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/infobae/SWC5VLB4GVC6XDSL2GJKRL25UI.jpg "Why an American serviceman has an avenue named after him in Peru")
It’s no secret that when a stranger visits the Peru for the first time, what usually happens is that he falls in love with these lands.
For its people, its gastronomy, its tourist attractions or for any other reason, this beautiful land of the sun always has something that attracts those who were not born there. This is not a phenomenon of today, because It’s happened throughout our historySome have stayed with us forever.
Just as it happened with the American general Jean-Joseph Pershing, who from his place defended the Peruvian people who were attacked by the Chilean people when the two countries were fighting over Tacna and Arica, almost 100 years ago. And here is his story.
John Joseph Pershing was born on a farm near the town of Laclede, Missouri, a September 13, 1860. A few months later, already in 1861, his family decided to move to the center of Laclede at the start of the American Civil War.
Afterwards John Fletcher Pershing, his father, worked for the 18th Missouri Infantry Volunteer Regiment. However, he never actively participated in combat or enlisted in the army.
With his father reaching a comfortable financial position, young Pershing was able to attend one of the best schools in Laclede, which was only for young people. the smartest kids in the area.
As soon as he graduated from high school in 1878, he John J. Pershing he volunteered as a teacher for African-American children in the neighborhood. This experience would be a life lesson for him, as he realized the great racial problems his country already had. The same one that will serve him when he decides to join the army.
Situation that arose in 1880, when he entered Northern Missouri Normal School in Kirkville. At the age of 21, in 1882, he asked to be transferred to the famous military academy of West Point. Without embargo, knew hermana the confession that no estaba interested in hacer la carrera castrense, sino más bien en la educación universitaria que ahí se impartía y que era plus, al menos para él, de la que podía recibir en la Misuri de finales del Nineteenth century.
It will be as a well-known song says “life is a loot box”. Upon arriving at West Point, Pershing immediately stood out for his leadership skills and, in a short time, he became First Cadet Captainthe highest possible cadet rank at West Point.
In 1886, he will obtain his diploma with honors at only 26 years old. Unfortunately, his father will die shortly afterwards, on April 5 of the same year. His mother would do it just a week and a half later. Very quickly, happiness turned into sadness.
Finally integrated into the United States Army, Pershing participated in several battles in his country against the Appalachians, the Lakota Sioux and the Cree Indians. All this during my studies and he graduated in law.
In 1894, already a first lieutenant, he took command of the regiment known as the Buffalo Soldierswhich was made up of black soldiers under the command of white officers.
Although he is almost hated by Native Americans, he has always been known to recognize the value of african american soldiers in the US Army.
In the last years of the 19th century, he took an active part in the war of the United States against Spain. His heroic actions in the battles of the Hills of San Juan, Cuba. Later, he was sent to the Philippines to help suppress local resistance.
In 1903, the American president Theodore Roosevelt He tried to promote Pershing to colonel, but the army general staff denied it, arguing that the president could only promote generals.
In the midst of his numerous military obligations, Peshing married in 1904 with Helene Frances Warren, daughter of then-powerful businessman Francis E. Warren. With his wife, he had four children.
His life took a 180° turn when, in 1914, he was appointed commander of the 8th Cavalry Regiment at Fort Bliss, Texas. His task was to provide security at the border with Mexico.
And it is that after making some arrangements, he convinced his family to move with him to his new job. Just as this was about to happen, he received the sad telegram informing him of the death of his wife and three of his daughters in a fire. After the painful moment, Pershing tried to quickly return to his job. This time next to her surviving son Warren and his sister Mae.
When 1916 arrived, Pershing was placed under the command of General Frederick Funston to be part of the “punitive expedition” (punitive expedition) which went in search of the revolutionary leader Pancho Villa. Although they failed miserably in this attempt, this foray into Mexican lands would serve as an experiment when the United States decided to enter World War I.
Despite the fact that the presidential candidate Woodrow Wilson at the head of the American Expeditionary Force (AEF) was Frederick Funston, eventually leadership returned to Pershing, after the death of his former superior in Mexico of a heart attack.
Under his command, the AEF helped the allies resist the harsh German army offensives in 1918. Then he took the offensive in French territory and collaborated in the German defeat.
Back home, he was decorated and the government of his country and they created, just for him, the new rank of, General of the United States Army.
He was sent to our country by the United States in 1925 to participate as an arbitrator in the dispute between our country and Chile over the territories of Tacna and Arica.
It all happened as the date for the plebiscite to determine the future of the cities in question was approaching. And it is by being in the power of Chileans, Peruvian citizens they were constantly harassed, forced to wear the Chilean cockade and sing their national anthem. In addition, any national celebration of Peru was prohibited, among other insults to the Peruvian community.
In this context, Secretary of State Frank B. Kellogg almost ordered Pershing not to extend the plebiscite any further. But the famous general decided not to approve it because of the situation of constant harassment that the Peruvians were experiencing. And in front of the insistence, he decides to resign from his role of arbitrator on January 27, 1926.
Over the years, and in tribute, an important avenue in Lima was named after him. It begins in San Isidro, crosses Jesús María and ends in Magdalena del Mar. In addition, it joins two other major avenues such as Javier Prado and De La Marina.
In recent years his name has been changed to that of one of the precursors of independence, such as Faustino Sánchez Carrión, but many they still call him Pershing.