What pioneering tactic did Pershing employ at St. Mihiel?

• A. Combined air, tank, and infantry attack
• B. Amphibious assault
• C. Nuclear-armed artillery
• D. Nighttime stealth raids

Answer: (A)

The key idea here is coordinating different arms into a single, synchronized attack. At St. Mihiel, Pershing helped push American forces into a concerted operation where air power, artillery, and infantry worked together to achieve a rapid, decisive advance. Aircraft provided reconnaissance, observation, and suppression of enemy positions, guiding artillery fire and helping to neutralize defenses before the infantry moved in. This integrated use of air support with ground forces represented a pioneering application of combined arms for American troops, demonstrating that an independent American-led offensive could be executed effectively with close coordination between air, artillery, and infantry. The approach stood in contrast to more segmented tactics and laid the groundwork for the even larger Meuse-Argonne efforts that followed.