MOLINE, Ill. -- On Aug. 10, 1918, Congress established First Army -- the American Expeditionary Forces' first field army -- to storm the French battlefields of World War I. Gen. John J. "Black Jack" Pershing, a West Point graduate with more than 30 years of Army service, became First Army's first commanding general.
Ninety-nine years and 42 commanding generals later, First Army continues to serve, but now on U.S. soil and with the mission of ensuring the training and readiness of Army National Guard and Army Reserve units.
To kick off a year of special centennial events, First Army Soldiers, civilians and their families assembled Sept. 22 for a 99th Birthday Ball at the IWireless Center in Moline, Illinois. In keeping with the historic theme, Soldiers wearing World War I "doughboy" uniforms performed the flag ceremony and guests gave a toast honoring the unit's heritage.
"Tonight is a special night for First Army," said Lt. Gen. Stephen Twitty, commanding general of First Army. "Tonight we begin our official kickoff to commemorate 100 years of First Army. Since I took command of this historic unit more than one year ago, I have come to appreciate how vital First Army's mission is to our nation's security and freedom."
A special guest and keynote speaker at the ball was First Army's 33rd commanding general, Lt. Gen. (Retired) Russel L. Honoré. While commanding First Army in 2005, Honoré entered the national spotlight when he was selected to lead Joint Task Force Katrina, the joint operation between the Department of Defense and the Federal Emergency Management Agency to provide relief and security along the Gulf Coast following Hurricane Katrina.
"The greatest gift we help give the world is freedom," Honoré said. "Other nations helped us get it, our forefathers fought for it. Our ancestors as veterans demonstrated the ultimate of what we expect them to do -- and that is to be prepared to sacrifice. And this freedom comes through great sacrifice."
Other special guests at the ball were World War II veterans Bill Shore and Lawrence McCormick, and Vietnam veteran John Bowman.
Back in 1917, as the United States mobilized nearly 3 million men for war, Pershing remarked "We no longer differentiate in an ultimate sense between Army, National Guard and Reserve Forces. Every energy … is bent to the development of the Army of the United States. Our purpose is to think only of the American citizen and prepare him … for duties in war." A century later, First Army continues to fulfill Pershing's words by serving as the spearhead of Army Total Force Policy: the directive requiring all Army Soldiers and units, regardless of their status or component, meet the same training standards.
First Army has more than 8,000 Soldiers and civilian personnel in nine brigades partnered with reserve-component units preparing for operations across the country and the world.
After the ceremonies, the evening concluded with music and dancing.
"To those who have given all, those who have given parts of their bodies for the freedom of this nation, God bless you, and God bless First Army," Honoré said.
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