Pershing House has been the residence of the commanding officers of Fort Sam Houston since 1881. Located in Bexar County, San Antonio, Texas, the military post is currently part of Joint Base San Antonio. The house was added to the National Register of Historic Places listings on 30 July 1974. After the Texas annexation to the Union in 1845, the United States Army became a steady presence in what was then designated the Department of Texas, providing a line of defense during both the 1846–1848 Mexican–American War, and the Texas–Indian wars that ended with the 1875 surrender of Comanche chief Quanah Parker at Fort Sill, Oklahoma. The combining of Fort Sam Houston, Randolph Air Force Base, Lackland Air Force Base and Martindale Army Airfield, to create Joint Base San Antonio, took place in 2009.

Following the end of the American Civil War, the United States Department of War accepted an offer from San Antonio for three parcels of land on which the United States Army would construct Fort Sam Houston. The site and its surrounding area would come to be known as Government Hill. Edward Braden Construction began work on the project in 1876. Architect Alfred Giles designed the general staff quarters, as well as the commanding general's quarters, now known at Pershing House. Constructed in 1881 at a cost of $17,076 (equivalent to $457,000 in 2020), it was originally designated as "Quarters No. 6, Staff Post". The , two-story house has eleven rooms, six full bathrooms and one half bath. In various phases during the 20th century, improvements included an enclosed porch and upgrades to plumbing, electricity and air conditioning.

While under its original name, the house would become the residence of 16 succeeding commanding officers. They were some of the most accomplished leaders in the United States Army prior to their being given charge of the base. The first occupant of the house was Major General Christopher C. Augur, a West Point graduate and veteran of several military conflicts, including the Mexican–American War and the American Civil War. Numerous Medal of Honor recipients have resided there.

The house has been referred to by its current name since John J. Pershing served as the base commanding officer in 1917, following his participation in the Pancho Villa Expedition. He was at Fort Sam Houston only two months before being given charge of the American Expeditionary Forces in Europe. Pershing held the rank of General of the Armies. The only other American to hold that rank was George Washington. The names of all the occupants from 1881 through 1973 appear on two brass-plated plaques that were initially created in the 1950s by Julia Cotton White, wife of General Isaac D. White, who was then serving as commanding officer. She presented them as a gift to Fort Sam Houston, and they were kept up to date by succeeding residents at least through 1973 when the house was added to the National Register of Historic Places.

Commanding officer chronology 1881 through 1973

Key to military ranks GA General of the Armies (5 stars) CSA Chief of Staff of the United States Army, General (4 stars). As of 1943, all Chiefs of Staff are stationed in The Pentagon. Prior to that date, they all worked on-site at local bases. 4SG General (4 stars) LG Lieutenant General (3 stars) MG Major General (2 stars) BG Brigadier General (1 star)

Key to burial sites

ANCArlington National Cemetery CCCongressional CemeteryFBFort Bliss National CemeteryFSHFort Sam Houston National CemeteryFSPCFort Sill Post CemeteryLVCLake View CemeteryMAGMagnolia CemeteryMANMansfield CemeteryOCOakwood CemeterySFNCSan Francisco National CemeterySBSanta Barbara CemeterySMECSt. Mary's Episcopal Churchyard SAHNCUnited States Soldiers' and Airmen's Home National CemeteryWPWest Point Cemetery

Residents + Fort Sam Houston commanding officers who lived at Pershing House 1881 through 1973ResidencyNameRankImageBirth–DeathBurial siteNotesRefs 1881–1883 BG(1821–1898)ANCVeteran of the American Civil War. Burned Native American villages during the Texas Red River War, in conjunction with the military actions of Ranald S. Mackenzie 1883BG(1840–1899) WPUnion general during the American Civil War, later fought in numerous Texas–Indian wars1883–1884 LG(1831–1906)ANCMedal of Honor for action at the August 10, 1861 Battle of Wilson's Creek. Schofield Barracks in Hawaii named for him.1884–1892BG(1828–1902)SAHNCMedal of Honor for action November 30, 1864 Battle of Franklin 1892–1895 MG(1833–1903) ANC Served in the American Civil War and Indian Wars. Inducted into the Rhode Island Heritage Hall of Fame1895–1897 MG(1835–1900)ANCMedal of Honor for actions at the 1862 Battle of Fredericksburg; 1897–1898 MG(1834–1916) CCPeninsula campaign, Battle of Antietam, Battle of Gettysburg, Battle of Malvern Hill, Spanish–American War; 1899–1901 BG (1841–1918) ANC Brigadier General of volunteers and conscripts, Santiago campaign1902–1904 MG(1850–1912) WPU.S. Minister to Austria-Hungary (1889–1893); New York City Police Commissioner (1895–1897). Son of Ulysses S. Grant1904–1906 BG(1843–1926) ANCServed in the American Civil War. Spanish–American War, Philippine–American War Boxer Rebellion;1906–1907 MG(1843–1914) SFNCEnlisted at the start of the Battle of Fort Sumter; participated in Sherman's March to the Sea ;1907–1910 BG(1846–1914) OCActing Alcalde of Ponce, Puerto Rico, during the United States Puerto Rico campaign1910–1911 BG(1849–1920) LVCService in the Spanish–American War and the Puerto Rico campaign1911–1912 BG(1853–1912) ANC First Battle of Bud Dajo, Philippine Islands1913–1915 CSA(1853–1930) ANCChief of Staff of the United States Army, American Permanent Military Representative, Supreme War Council1915–1917 MG(1865–1917) SFNCMedal of Honor for April 27, action at 1899 Calumpit, Luzon, Philippine Islands1917 GA(1860–1948)ANCArrived February 21, 1917, departed May 2 to take charge of American Expeditionary Forces in Europe1917 MG(1854–1934) SMECMedal of Honor for actions on December 4, 1899, during the Philippine–American War1917–1918 MG(1858–1921) WPPresided over the trial of black soldiers following the Houston riot of 1917, and ordered the verdicts kept secret, with no appeals. Relieved of command May 19181918 MG(1860–1932) ANCGraduate of US Military Academy, served during the Philippine–American War Civil Governor of the province of Antique, Panay in the Philippine Islands;1918–1919 MG (1861–1924) SFNCFormer Chief of Staff to John J. Pershing;1919–1921 MG(1857–1927)ANCCommanding General, VIII Corps Area1921–1922 CSA(1868–1968) ANC Veteran of the Spanish–American War and the Philippine–American War; 1922–1924 MG(1863–1949)SFNCServed in the Spanish–American War1924–1925 4SG(1867–1955) ANCChief of Staff of the United States Army 1926–1930; president of The Citadel 1931–19531925–1928 MG(1864–1941) FSH Chief of Artillery for the American Expeditionary Forces1928 MG(1864–1934) ANC Veteran of the Wounded Knee Massacre ; 1928–1930 MG(1867–1959) SBSpanish–American War, World War I;1930–1933 MG(1869–1947) WPWorld War I, Pancho Villa Expedition (aka Punitive Expedition, U.S. Army), Philippine–American War; 1933–1936 MG(1873–1948)MAGWest Point graduate; removed from command in Texas following his public criticism of President Roosevelt's funding of the WPA.1936 MG(1872–1947) MANServed in the Philippines, Puerto Rico, Cuba, South America, China, France1936–1940 LG (1877–1958) FSHSpanish–American War, World War I, World War II1941–1942 4SG(1881–1967) ANCCommander of the Sixth United States Army in the South Pacific; 1942–1943 4SG(1887–1966)ANC Commanded First U.S. Army 1944–451944 4SG(1888–1990) ANCCommanding General of the Ninth United States Army European Theater of Operations during World War II.1944–1945 MG(1890–1949) ANCCommander of VI Corps during the Battle of Anzio (Operation Shingle) in the Italian Campaign of World War II.1945 4SG(1889–1945) WPWorld War II, commander U.S. Army and Marine Corps forces during the Guadalcanal campaign in the Pacific, and the Seventh Army on the Western Front in Europe. 1946–1947 4SG(1883–1953) ANCWorld War II Commander of US forces 12 March to 7 May 1942 during the fall of the Philippines.1947–1949 4SG(1892–1982)ANCWorld War I and World War II1949–1952 LG(1890–1980) ANCWorld War II commanding general of the Fourth United States Army.1952–1953 4SG(1894–1979)ANC Distinguished Service Medal and Silver Star for heroism under fire during World War I; also served in World War II and the Korean War.;1953 4SG(1896–1975) ANCWorld War II, Cold War,. His utilization of the Japanese-American 442nd Regimental Combat Team led to them being the most highly decorated unit in the history of the US Armed Forces.1953–1955 4SG (1901–1990) UnknownCommanding General of the United States Constabulary for the European Command, and of X Corps during the Korean War.1955–1958 LG(1899–1980) FSH Commander of 2nd Armored Division units in World War II and as the Inspector of Armor, Office of the Chief of Army Field Forces.1958–1959 4SG(1903–1964) ANCServed as commander of all U.S. forces in Korea during the Cold War.;1959–1961 LG(1901–1973) FSHChief of artillery for the Third United States Army in Europe during World War II, commander of the United States Army Field Artillery Center.1961–1962 LG(1902–1993) ANCChief of Staff, Persian Gulf Command 1944–45, U.S. High Commissioner, Ryukyu Islands 1958–1961 1962–1964 LG(1905–1984)FSH When Jark retired, Texas Congressman Henry B. González read his military record into the Congressional Record1964–1966 LG(1904–1993) FSHHe was the highest-ranking member of the Army Reserve on duty with the Regular Army at the time of his retirement.1966–1967 LG(1908–1983) WPWorld War II, the Korean War1967–1968 LG(1909–2000)ANC Distinguished Service Medal for services to the War Department during World War II.;;;1968–1971 LG(1912–1982) FSPCService in Europe until 1948, returning to Fort Sill. Korean War in 1953 and 1954. Commander of the U.S. Army Field Artillery Center, Fort Sill.; 1971 LG(1914–1971) WPWorld War II service in the Battle of Luzon, commander of the 4th Infantry Division during the Vietnam War and of the VII Corps in West Germany.1971 4SG(1913–1984) FBMultiple tours of duty in San Franicsco, Hawaii and China; Assistant to the Special Representative of China envoy General George C. Marshall. 1966 Commanding General, 32d Artillery Brigade, in Kaiserslautern, Germany.1971–1973LG (1915–1990) FSHWorld War II veteran, Commanding Officer, 1st Battalion, 502d Infantry Regiment, 101st Airborne Division.

See also List of major generals in the United States Regular Army before 1 July 1920 Major general (United States) General officers in the United States List of United States Army four-star generals List of lieutenant generals in the United States Army before 1960 List of brigadier generals in the United States Regular Army before February 2, 1901

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