WW1 Armistice General Pershing returns home

[Miningman]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wWJCXuaa_pE

https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=mdp.39015024036462;view=1up;seq=44;size=125

Something called the Ogdensburg Declaration. 1940, before America's involvement in WWII, to assure the security of North America and America itself. Meeting between Prime Minister McKenzie King and President Roosevelt at Ogdensburg, NY. 

[Miningman]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DKCigLVIIKk

Above is a short Pathe clip with General Pershing and President Roosevelt for Veterans Day ceremonies. 

Remembrance Day up here is a really a big deal and has always centered around WWI. There isn't a town across the country that does not have a WWI memorial. There were also canon in parks all over the place. Used to play on them as a kid.  

Just to add. Canada was in WWI alongside Britain right from the start in August 1914, some 3 years before US involvement. With a population of 8 million there was not a town that did not lose young men and the feel the effects. 

Everyone wears a poppy a week ahead of time for as long as I can remember. Everyone.

We live in a world today that is shaped by the consequences of WWI. Recently Bosnia and even more recently the rise of Islamic extremism and all those artifically imposed borders in the Middle East. Even Putin's Russia, searching for a path forward for its future and how it is to be. 

To get back to Railroads, it brings up the question once again as to how the border was handled with the New York Central's CASO and Ottawa lines and the Great Northern into Manitoba and British Columbia. Also Pere Marquette and Wabash through Southern Ontario, Detroit/Windsor to Buffalo/Fort Erie.  There is virtually no documentation or record of what transpired and I'm sure things were tightened up and watched closely with restrictions. Also security with armed troops at stations and bridges. Those were very active and busy lines in those days of 1914 and throughout the war.

My instincts tell me things were generally cooperative and friendly but a watchful eye was ever present. 

Late Edit:

Just watched this all on the CBC a short while ago. Firelock will enjoy the Piper. Very moving, very stirring. Thanks a whole bunch to Mike.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7XmYI6rw4sE&t=1h2m

 

 

[Firelock76]

I just thought of another few personal Pershing anecdotes.

Back in the 80's we were at an antique show in northern New Jersey.  One of the exhibitors had a group photograph of General Pershing and some of his staff with some local dignitaries titled "General Pershing visits Cresskill NJ."

I was looking at the photo and my friend Charlie comes over.  "What are you lookin' at Wayne?" 

"I'm looking for someone in that photo that should  be there, and yep, there he is!"

"Who is it?

"It's George Marshall.  He was Pershing's chief of staff at the time, and you know he went on to become the first Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff during World War Two."

"Oh yeah, that's him all right!"

Just then the exhibitor came over, he'd overheard me, looked at the photo and his eyes got as big as saucers.  He reached over and took the photo down.

"Sorry guys, I'm keeping this one!"  He looked the right age for a World War Two veteran.  I can't say I blame him but I was going to buy it myself!

Just about the same time I went to a militaria show and there was a two-volume set of Pershing's "My Experiences In The World War" and autographed by the man himself.  The seller wanted $50.  I had a brain-blockage and passed it up.

WHAT was I thinking?  I've been kicking myself in the butt ever since!

A sad note, General Pershing's grandson, 2d/Lt Richard Pershing USA, 101st Airborne Division, was killed in Vietnam.  They're buried side by side in Arlington National Cemetery.

[Jones1945]

BaltACD

Imortalized as The General Pershing Zephyr

I really like the Pershing Zephyr, if only diesel power was developed base on the form and style of the Zephyr. The six-wheel truck was not for everyone but I think it was the most interesting part of it. 

 

A Korean National CS-2 2-8-0s: 

Background history: http://donsdepot.donrossgroup.net/dr142.htm

"The second group of Consolidation, Class 2, were sent to Korea in 1947. There were 100 of the World War II USArmy S160 locomotives which were numbered 1 thru 100. In addition, there was a World War I Pershing which was numbered 101. It had been built by Baldwin in 1917. It was later renumbered 765 in honor of the shop battalion at Pusan, where it served as a shop goat. Later it was renumbered back to 101 and sent to the National Railway Museum at Green Bay, WI, by the Korean government in 1959."

[Miningman]

Watched an interview yesterday with his granddaughter on a news channel. Fascinating, great talk. She stated he came from a very poor farm. The family could not afford to send him on to any kind of college so he enlisted in order to further his education. Not like he had a straight path to West Point, it was a hard go to get there. 

His humble beginnings always made him identify more with the regular soldiers, and although a very tough guy he was a friend of the common man and soldier. 

Quite right Firelock... he certainly looks the part of General.  

[BaltACD]

Firelock76

Thanks Mike!  And thanks Miningman for passing it along!

Here's a recoding from 1918 featuring General Pershing.  Not only did he look the part of a general, he even sounded like one!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Sg3rZwQ2oUQ

In studying the period, I've seen there's really two John J. Pershings.  There's the wartime commander, who looks stern, serious, and pretty formidable.  But then when the war's over, you see him smiling, joking, laughing, pretty obvious he's a whole different person when the burden's lifted.

Pretty much in the same way you don't see that famous big Eisenhower smile until after V-E day.

Imortalized as The General Pershing Zephyr

[Firelock76]

Thanks Mike!  And thanks Miningman for passing it along!

Here's a recoding from 1918 featuring General Pershing.  Not only did he look the part of a general, he even sounded like one!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Sg3rZwQ2oUQ

In studying the period, I've seen there's really two John J. Pershings.  There's the wartime commander, who looks stern, serious, and pretty formidable.  But then when the war's over, you see him smiling, joking, laughing, pretty obvious he's a whole different person when the burden's lifted.

Pretty much in the same way you don't see that famous big Eisenhower smile until after V-E day.

[Miningman]

http://www.odcnrhs.org/equipment_roster/albermarle/trains_article.pdf

 

[Miningman]

General Pershing waving from the observation car upon his return. PRR Link at bottom. Thanks to Mike 

Wilmington Morning News, Sept. 13, 1919

Wilmington was Pershing's heart and soul yesterday. The nation's hero smiled and bowed himself into the affections of the people of the city in the same simple and unassuming manner in which he has won their admiration. It took just eighteen minutes to turn 15,000 Delawareans into hero-worshippers of the most ardent kind. Bowing, smiling, waving his arm, saluting, General John J. Pershing became the focus for 15,000 pairs of eyes as whistles blew, a band of forty pieces played and the opening bars of the National Anthem were sung as his train pulled into French street station at 1:16 o'clock yesterday afternoon. Thousands lined the northbound platform, thousands filled every vantage point on the central platform and many more were on the northbound track, while others hung to roofs adjoining the railroad station or clung to perilous positions wherever a glimpse of Black Jack Pershing might be had. Standing erect on the back platform, living up to his reputation of being one of the most military-looking figures in the Great War, General Pershing looked over a sea of faces and a veritable forest of waving arms, handkerchiefs and hats. The cheering was infectious and tumultuous. It could not be stilled long enough to allow Mayor Taylor to make his welcoming speech, nor was it without difficulty that the applauding thousands were silenced long enough to listen to the General's few, modest words of answer to the city's greeting. But once his words had begun to flow there was a silence that was intense, one of the profoundest tributes given to America's greatest heroes during his short stay here… General Pershing's Speech: "Your Honor, I thank you from the bottom of my heart for the honor you pay me and extend thanks to the people of Wilmington for such a display of patriotism, for that is really what it is. I was but one member of the American Expeditionary Forces in Europe and I interpret this gathering as an expression of the appreciation of the glowing achievements of the whole American army. What they did is to the credit of the entire nation. Delaware did her share. Wilmington did its share. But victory could not have been accomplished except for the determination of our people to maintain the principle of liberty for which our forefathers fought. The spirit of our army was the spirit of the people. It was the men and the women, and let us not forget the children, who gave us the inspiration we needed. Permit me to thank you again for the honor you have paid me today. It was a kindly thought which prompted this scene today. I thank you."

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BPy4Dcau6G8&t=8m37s