Dickman graduated from the United States Army Cavalry School in 1883 and proceeded directly to the Indian territory, where he participated in the Apache War from 1885 to 1886, to include the Geronimo Campaign.

[1] Dickman's early experience sent him to Fort Riley, where he was an instructor at the Cavalry and Light Artillery School from 1893 to 1894.

He was given command of the 85th Infantry Division, at Camp Custer, Michigan, in August 1917, four months after the American entry into World War I.

While allied forces on both flanks retreated, the 3rd Division stood fast in the face of enemy offensives, which led to their moniker, "The Rock of the Marne.

American fighting units not sent home were consolidated under Third Army and prepared to attack if Germany did not accept the terms of peace.

The United States itself was not to sign the agreement but remained technically at war with Germany for two more years.

[1] For his services during the war he was awarded the Army Distinguished Service Medal, the citation for which reads: The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress, July 9, 1918, takes pleasure in presenting the Army Distinguished Service Medal to Major General Joseph Theodore Dickman, United States Army, for exceptionally meritorious and distinguished services to the Government of the United States, in a duty of great responsibility during World War I, as Commander of the 3d Army, American Expeditionary Forces.

The USS Joseph T. Dickman carried soldiers of the 4th Infantry to the beaches of Normandy during Operation Overlord on D-Day.

[citation needed] The famous National Society of Pershing Rifles had its origin in 1894, when future general John J.

"Black Jack" Pershing, then a second lieutenant in charge of military instruction at the University of Nebraska, started a "Varsity Rifles" drill team.