A few facts about the five star rank: In WW II there were eight men promoted to the 5 star rank (O-11). They were all either Army or Navy (and carried the title General of the Army or Fleet Admiral). They were specifically approved by congress and awarded on specific dates in order to establish an order of precedence / seniority. They were: 1. William Leahy - Fleet Admiral - 15 Dec 1944 2. George Marshall - General of the Army - 16 Dec 1944 3. Earnest King - Fleet Admiral - 17 Dec 1944 4. Douglas MacArthur - General of the Army - 18 Dec 1944 5. Chester Nimitz - Fleet Admiral - 19 Dec 1944 6. Dwight Eisenhower - General of the Army - 20 Dec 1944 7. Henry Arnold - General of the Army - 21 December 8. William Halsey - Fleet Admiral - 11 December 1945 (just after WW II ended) These eight 5 star officers were junior to General of the Armies (note the distinction between Army and Armies) John Blackjack Pershing who had been promoted to 5 star in WW I and was sill alive, holding the rank for life. In 1976 congress awarded the five star rank posthumously (and retroactively) to George Washington making him therefore senior to all of nine of them. When the USAF was separated from the US Army, Henry Arnold was transferred as a 5 star to the USAF making him the only person to hold that rank in two services. On 22 September 1950 when Omar Bradley was appointed to the position of the first Joint Chiefs of Staff, he was promoted to 5 star so that he would not be out ranked by Douglas MacArthur, who was still on active duty. These are the only eleven officers to hold the 5 star ranks in the US Military. Seven in the US Army, four in the US Navy, and one in US Air force (also counted in the Army). There were considerations to promote Colin Powell but it was never carried out.
Posted on: Wed, 25 Jun 2014 20:04:23 +0000