General John J. "Black Jack" Pershing is known to history for quite a few reasons. He was cited for gallantry and awarded the Silver Star for actions in the Spanish-American War. The Pershing tank was named after him. He commanded the American Expeditionary Force (AEF) in Europe in World War I. After WWI, he was promoted to the rank of General of the Armies of the United States, the highest rank possible for any member of the United States armed forces, which was created especially for him.
But in March of 1916, Pershing led troops into Mexico to capture the bandit Pancho Villa. Pershing organized and commanded the Mexican Punitive Expedition, a combined armed force of 10,000 men that penetrated 350 miles (560 km) into chaotic Mexico. They routed Villa's revolutionaries, but failed to capture him.