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Source:  Carroll, Andrew, ed. War Letters. New York: Washington Square Press, 2001.

Writing to His Nine-Year-Old Son, Warren, Gen. John Pershing Explains Why He and His Troops Are Fighting in France

On the morning of August 27, 1915, a year-and-a-half before America went to war, a newspaper reporter named Norman Walker called the office of Gen. John Pershing in Fort Bliss, Texas to confirm a tragic story coming over the wires about Pershing's wife and children. Certain the voice at the other end was a military aide, Walker inquired about the deaths at Gen. Pershing's residence in San Francisco. "What has happened!?" demanded the voice. It was Pershing, himself. Norman stumbled through the report as the general listened: Mrs. Pershing, only thirty-five, and their three daughters-ages eight, seven, and three-were all killed when afire swept through their house at the Presidio. Only six-year-old Warren was pulled out alive. Less than a year later, Pershing was sent to Mexico in the Punitive Expedition against Pancho Villa and in June 1917 he was off to Europe to lead American forces in the war. Notoriously stern and reserved before the fire, Pershing became even more withdrawn in its aftermath. Pershing demonstrated great warmth and tenderness, however, in his letters to Warren, who was living with his Aunt May in Lincoln, Nebraska. The general wrote the following to his son on October 10, 1918.

My dear Kiddie:

I have your letter of Sunday (no date) written on letter paper with the Stars and Stripes on one edge. It makes very pretty writing paper. The letter was No. 8 so I suppose you can tell the date but I cannot.

I have often promised in my various letters that you should come to France while I am still here, and I am going to keep this promise and you may count upon it. I do not know just when it will be nor how I shall arrange it, but we can work that out a little bit later.

I want you to come so that you yourself can see something of the army and see something of France. I want you to know while you are still a boy something of the fine patriotism that inspires the American soldiers who are fighting over here for the cause of liberty. They are fighting as you know against Germany and her Allies to prevent the rulers of Germany from seizing territory that does not belong to them and from extending their rule over the people of other governments who do not wish to be ruled by Germany. I might add that in order to do this the German army, under orders from the Ruler of Germany, has committed most serious crimes, and for that also we are fighting in order to punish them.

I want you to see some of the battlefields of France with me, over which the American soldiers have fought in carrying out the great purpose of our people. It will enable you to realize later in life just what sacrifice means and just what degree of sacrifice our army is called upon to make and which they have made and are making bravely and courageously.

I think that you should talk this over with your Auntie and I want you to regard it, of course, as confidential, and let me have any suggestion that you and she wish to make regarding it. In the meantime, work as hard as you ought to work giving yourself plenty of time for play and exercise in the open air, to the end that you may prepare yourself as well as the average boy prepares himself, or better, for whatever calling you may follow in life. And might I add, as I have already said to you, that it is my hope that you will always be what I believe you to be-a very manly, upright, honest, industrious, wholesome, wide-awake boy. I look forward to your companionship with a great deal of pleasure, and after the war is over we can have many good times together.

Give my love to your Aunties, and believe me, as always, 
Yours affectionately,

Papa

General Pershing kept his promise to Warren, and in March 1919 the general and his son were reunited in France. Outfitted in a miniature Officer's uniform, Warren toured the country with his celebrated father.