Who commanded the American Expeditionary Force and insisted soldiers fight as independent units?

• A. George S. Patton
• B. Douglas MacArthur
• C. John J. Pershing
• D. Chester Nimitz

Answer: (C)

This question focuses on who led the American Expeditionary Force in World War I and insisted that American troops fight as independent, American-controlled units rather than being merged into Allied formations. That leader was John J. Pershing. He commanded the AEF in France and fought to keep American divisions under U.S. command, arguing that the United States must prove itself on its own terms and maintain its own military identity rather than being absorbed into French or British corps. This approach helped establish the credibility and autonomy of U.S. forces in major battles like Meuse-Argonne. The other figures are notable for different roles in later conflicts: George Patton is famous for his World War II leadership, Douglas MacArthur for commanding Allied forces in the Pacific (and later in Korea), and Chester Nimitz for leading the U.S. Navy in the Pacific during World War II. They did not command the AEF in World War I, and the distinctive policy of independent American units belongs to Pershing.