5 STAR GENERALS DON’T COME AROUND OFTEN, AND MAYBE THAT'S A GOOD THING


By bblouin
5 star general Omar Bradley

Technically, becoming a 5 Star General can be done during peacetime, but let’s face it, the few men that have become 5 Star Generals have all been involved in numerous, ferocious conflicts. Not only were they a part of them, but they proved themselves capable and worthy through victory in extreme conditions. Thankfully, the leadership of these men helped to shape the course of history positively for the United States and its allies. Learn more about their impact and legacies. Related Read: 3 Stories of Presidents Who Served in the Military

How Many 5 Star Generals Are There?

There have been five 5 Star Generals in the history of the United States. They are George C. Marshall, Douglas MacArthur, Dwight D. Eisenhower, Henry H. Arnold, and Omar Bradley. This rare designation comes only out of some of the worst conflicts mankind has ever known. Note: while these are examples of Five Star Officers in the U.S. Army, there have also been four others that have achieved this feat in the U.S. Navy. The four Five Star Fleet Admirals are William D. Leahy, Ernest King, Chester W. Nimitz, and William Halsey Jr.

Let’s Hope We Don’t Have Another Any Time Soon

With all due respect to those that have served and are serving, while aspiring to be all that you can be for your country is admirable, having someone become a 5 Star General means a lot of war and tragedy has to go down. In fact, of the five 5 Star Generals, all of them served in the greatest conflict known to mankind, World War II: George C. Marshall General Marshall fought successfully in World War I and WWII. In the latter, he would help bring Allied victories both directly and through his appointment and recommendations of several notable leaders including George S. Patton, Dwight D. Eisenhower, and Omar Bradley to name a few. Douglas MacArthur From serving in World War I to helping lead an American victory in the Pacific Theatre of World War II, General MacArthur’s service is duly noted in the pages of history. But that wasn’t the end of his career as he would go on to lead the occupation of Japan post-WWII and lead U.N. forces in Korea. Dwight D. Eisenhower After serving in WWI, Eisenhower would earn the title of Supreme Commander of the Allied Expeditionary Force in WWII. He would also become a 5 Star General. Seeing a pattern yet? Ironically, while his service was instrumental in defining an important portion of the military history of the United States, these titles were not the highest rank Eisenhower would obtain. He would go on to become the 34th President of the United States. Suggested Read: How the Noncommissioned Officer Enhances the American Armed ForcesHenry H. Arnold Stop me if you’ve heard this before, but this 5 Star General served in both World War I and World War II. What is especially unique about General Arnold, however, is that he was not only a 5 Star General in the U.S. Army but also the only man to hold the rank in the U.S. Air Force as well. Omar Bradley General Bradley helped guard copper mines in Butte, Montana, during World War I. In World War II, Bradley would assist in commanding troops during D-Day as well as pushing through Europe to drive back the advances of Nazi Germany. During the Korean War, he would help develop policies for the U.S. military. As you can see, there is a trend among these men and it all involves terrible battles in heinous conditions. Their leadership and tactics are largely responsible for how the world is shaped today, primarily in Europe and the United States. We are thankful for their service, but we must also recognize that the achievement of this rank is wrought with tragic circumstances.

A Six Star General?

Let’s be clear, the rank of Six Star General doesn’t officially exist, and yet, some argue that there have been three throughout the history of the United States: George Washington, Ulysses S. Grant, and John J. Pershing. The discrepancy comes from the title of General of the Armies, which has been applied once during a conflict (Pershing), and twice posthumously to both Washington and Grant as commemorative honors. Because the person who holds the title of General of the Armies is elevated to a higher rank than US 5 Star Generals, some make the argument that these positions are actually Six Star Generals. As of this writing, the highest ranking starred General in the U.S. Army remains at 5 stars. Of course, this could change in the future due to legislation and organization within the American Armed Forces. For now, there's still some debate, including some who take things a step even further to claim that despite Pershing officially only having a theoretical six stars, he was actually, in fact, a 7-Star General.

Who Was the Last 5 Star General?

Omar Bradley was the last 5 Star General appointed by the U.S. military. His appointment occurred on September 22, 1950. Since this time, no other 5 Star U.S. Generals have been appointed. Again, this may not be a bad thing as a whole lot of war is the main requirement for the promotion, and that's something that everyone can mostly do without. Either way, should others reach the status of becoming the next 5 Star Generals to serve our nation, it's nothing short of an amazing feat that should be celebrated due to its historic circumstances. Read Next: These 20 Cool Military Call Signs Will Leave You Jealous (or Laughing)


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