The Lives of Military Families | The Presidio

Submitted by the Event Organizer

On August 27, 1915, while Brigadier General John J. Pershing was deployed in Texas with his command, the 8th Infantry Brigade, the upper story of his quarters at the Presidio of San Francisco suffered a severe fire set off by a coal fired stove.

Please note this event takes place at Pershing Square, near the Presidio Officers’ Club, 50 Moraga Avenue

In the fire, Mrs. Frances Pershing and three daughters, Mary, 6, Anne, 7, and Helen, 8 years old, all perished. Pershing’s son, Warren was on a lower floor and escaped with the help of a soldier returning to barracks. This was the great tragedy of General Pershing’s life.

On Thursday, August 27, 2015, the World War One Historical Association will remember the Pershing family tragedy with a public wreath laying at Pershing Square in the Presidio of San Francisco at 2 pm. A public program in the Presidio Officers’ Club follows at 2:15 pm. Historian Michael Hanlon and National Park Service Historian Stephen Haller will present an overview of Brigadier General John Pershing’s career, the events of the Pershing house fire and highlight World War One and the Presidio of San Francisco. Major General Alfred Valenzuela, United States Army, Ret., World War One Centennial Commission, will discuss the lives of military families.​

Disclaimer: Please double check event information with the event organizer as events can be canceled, details can change after they are added to our calendar, and errors do occur.