To current & former military people ...
- Thread starter FUD
- Start date
This was a ONE TIME ONLY thing that was done during WW2 by an act of congress and if memory serves me (severe case of CRS) will never be done again. That was my understanding from things that I read back in the 1940's. Hope this helps. 
------------------
"Lead, follow or get the HELL out of the way."
------------------
"Lead, follow or get the HELL out of the way."
FUD
If I remember correctly, Congress said that they would not create another 5 star in the future. That this was a special deal for WW2 only, and I believe the reason for this was to insure that Americans were in charge in the various theaters of operation and not our allies.
------------------
"Lead, follow or get the HELL out of the way."
If I remember correctly, Congress said that they would not create another 5 star in the future. That this was a special deal for WW2 only, and I believe the reason for this was to insure that Americans were in charge in the various theaters of operation and not our allies.
------------------
"Lead, follow or get the HELL out of the way."
FUD,
Hope this helps.
Source: Department of the Army, U.S. Dept. ofDefense
General of the Armies-5 star
General John J. Pershing, the only person to have held this rank, was authorized to prescribe his own insignia, but never wore in excess of four stars. The rank originally was established by Congress for George Washington in 1799, and he was promoted to the rank by joint resolution of Congress, approved by Pres. Ford Oct. 19, 1976.
HJ
Hope this helps.
Source: Department of the Army, U.S. Dept. ofDefense
General of the Armies-5 star
General John J. Pershing, the only person to have held this rank, was authorized to prescribe his own insignia, but never wore in excess of four stars. The rank originally was established by Congress for George Washington in 1799, and he was promoted to the rank by joint resolution of Congress, approved by Pres. Ford Oct. 19, 1976.
HJ
Hydejam, not meaning to disagree with you about General John J. Pershing, but here are some photos of EISENHOWER and MAC ARTHUR taken during WWII ...
... They look like they are wearing five stars ...
... Or, did you mean that General John J. Pershing was the only five star during peace time?
[This message has been edited by FUD (edited June 02, 2000).]
... They look like they are wearing five stars ...
... Or, did you mean that General John J. Pershing was the only five star during peace time?
[This message has been edited by FUD (edited June 02, 2000).]
Slowpoke_Rodrigo
New member
From http://www.infoplease.com/ipa/A0004626.html :
Highest Ranking Officers in U.S. History
General and Commander-in-Chief(1)
George Washington (1732–1799), b. Westmoreland County, Va., unanimously voted by Congress on June 15, 1775, to the rank of general and commander-in-chief (of the Continental Army).
General of the Armies(2)
John Joseph Pershing (1860–1948), b. Linn County, Mo., made permanent general of the armies 1919.
General of the Army, General of the Air Force (Five-Stars)
George Catlett Marshall (1880–1959), b. Uniontown, Pa., promoted December 1944.
Douglas MacArthur (1880–1964), b. Little Rock, Ark., promoted December 1944.
Dwight David Eisenhower (1890–1969), b. Denison, Texas, promoted December 1944.
Henry Harley Arnold (1866–1950), b. Gladwyne, Pa. Arnold had the unique distinction of being a five-star general twice—in 1944 as general of the army, and in June 1949 as general of the air force. He is the only air force general to have held the five-star rank.
Omar Nelson Bradley (1893–1981), b. Clark, Mo., promoted September 1950.
Fleet Admiral (Five-Star)
William Daniel Leahy (1875–1959), b. Hampton, Iowa, promoted December 1944.
Ernest Joseph King (1878–1956), b. Lorain, Ohio, promoted December 1944.
Chester William Nimitz (1885–1966), b. Fredericksburg, Texas, promoted December 1944.
William Frederick Halsey (1882–1959), b. Elizabeth, N.J., promoted December 1945.
1. On March 15, 1978, George Washington was promoted posthumously to the newly created rank of General of the Armies of the United States. Congress authorized this title to make it clear that Washington was the army's senior general.
2. General Pershing was given the option of five stars but he declined. Source: Department of Defense and U.S. Army Historian, Research and Analysis Center.
Highest Ranking Officers in U.S. History
General and Commander-in-Chief(1)
George Washington (1732–1799), b. Westmoreland County, Va., unanimously voted by Congress on June 15, 1775, to the rank of general and commander-in-chief (of the Continental Army).
General of the Armies(2)
John Joseph Pershing (1860–1948), b. Linn County, Mo., made permanent general of the armies 1919.
General of the Army, General of the Air Force (Five-Stars)
George Catlett Marshall (1880–1959), b. Uniontown, Pa., promoted December 1944.
Douglas MacArthur (1880–1964), b. Little Rock, Ark., promoted December 1944.
Dwight David Eisenhower (1890–1969), b. Denison, Texas, promoted December 1944.
Henry Harley Arnold (1866–1950), b. Gladwyne, Pa. Arnold had the unique distinction of being a five-star general twice—in 1944 as general of the army, and in June 1949 as general of the air force. He is the only air force general to have held the five-star rank.
Omar Nelson Bradley (1893–1981), b. Clark, Mo., promoted September 1950.
Fleet Admiral (Five-Star)
William Daniel Leahy (1875–1959), b. Hampton, Iowa, promoted December 1944.
Ernest Joseph King (1878–1956), b. Lorain, Ohio, promoted December 1944.
Chester William Nimitz (1885–1966), b. Fredericksburg, Texas, promoted December 1944.
William Frederick Halsey (1882–1959), b. Elizabeth, N.J., promoted December 1945.
1. On March 15, 1978, George Washington was promoted posthumously to the newly created rank of General of the Armies of the United States. Congress authorized this title to make it clear that Washington was the army's senior general.
2. General Pershing was given the option of five stars but he declined. Source: Department of Defense and U.S. Army Historian, Research and Analysis Center.
<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR>Fud:
The Five Star ranks only existed during WWII and only as long after as they ones that received it remained alive. I don't think there is a congressional authorization for this rank any more. At one time, Major General (two stars) was the highest rank in the army (up to and near the end of the Civil War during which the rank of Lieutenant General was created, I believe).
The five star rank is: General of the Army. Pershing was actually made to the rank of General of the Armies. Some have called this rank a "six star general" ...
... but I don't think that is true and there were no 5 star generals in WWI. I've heard that Washington was promoted to this rank, posthumously sometime in the last 10 to 20 years.
The best answer is that the 5 star rank is a temporary one for an officer that command large forces (theaters) in time of war. And we have not fought a war on the scale of WWII since it ended.
I have wondered why the current Combatant Commanders, the commander in chiefs of the various joint and unified commands such as EUCOM (European Command) PACOM (Pacific Command) are not 5 star officers. But I think the reason is that they would then outrank the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, who is not a commander but the senior advisor to the President. There has been a long and serious debate whether the chairman should be a commander or not. The main reason he is not is it may imply that the military has usurped civilian command of the military which is a foundation of our republic. Giving him 5 starts may imply that he is a commander and give him unintended defacto command authority.
Fred[/quote]
[This message has been edited by FUD (edited June 02, 2000).]
The Five Star ranks only existed during WWII and only as long after as they ones that received it remained alive. I don't think there is a congressional authorization for this rank any more. At one time, Major General (two stars) was the highest rank in the army (up to and near the end of the Civil War during which the rank of Lieutenant General was created, I believe).
The five star rank is: General of the Army. Pershing was actually made to the rank of General of the Armies. Some have called this rank a "six star general" ...
... but I don't think that is true and there were no 5 star generals in WWI. I've heard that Washington was promoted to this rank, posthumously sometime in the last 10 to 20 years.
The best answer is that the 5 star rank is a temporary one for an officer that command large forces (theaters) in time of war. And we have not fought a war on the scale of WWII since it ended.
I have wondered why the current Combatant Commanders, the commander in chiefs of the various joint and unified commands such as EUCOM (European Command) PACOM (Pacific Command) are not 5 star officers. But I think the reason is that they would then outrank the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, who is not a commander but the senior advisor to the President. There has been a long and serious debate whether the chairman should be a commander or not. The main reason he is not is it may imply that the military has usurped civilian command of the military which is a foundation of our republic. Giving him 5 starts may imply that he is a commander and give him unintended defacto command authority.
Fred[/quote]
[This message has been edited by FUD (edited June 02, 2000).]