Question:
Who was the Longest Serving 5 star General in the US Army?
OIFV79
2008-05-27 17:18:25 UTC
Between Eisenhower, Bradley, MacArther, Arnold (To include his Air Force Time), and Marshal?
Also between the 4 5 star Fleet Admiral's, Halsey, Leahy, King, and Nimitz?

I am just look to see who served the longest before retiring. I know Eisenhower was commander of the UN till 51, and MacArther was relieved about that time. Just can't find any info about the rest.
Thanks
Seven answers:
rageinbull
2008-05-27 17:45:34 UTC
Once an officer retires he keeps his highest rank he attained. Since Bradly outlived all the other 5 stars who were appointed at the same time. He would have held the rank the longest.



Eisenhower held on active duty the longest. He was appointed around the same time as the other 5 stars and he held the rank until his presidency when he was forced to retire it, and then after his presidency Kennedy recommissioned him as a 5 star.



Pershing was not a 5 Star. The rank was not invented until WWII.
phil
2015-03-09 22:58:50 UTC
Well, technically speaking, Omar Bradley. He was appointed to the 5 star rank in 1950, and since 5 star generals are always on "active duty", he retained this rank until his death in 1981. 31 years as a 5 star general. BTW, General Pershing was never a 6 star general. While he and George Washington are considered to be the highest ranking generals of all time (a formality) only Douglas Mac Arthur was ever considered for a special 6th star, as he would command several 5 star generals and admirals in the final invasion of Japan. The atom bomb precluded this promotion.
*8
2015-09-06 07:39:51 UTC
Curtis Emerson LeMay
Havoc
2008-05-27 17:25:44 UTC
MacArthur



For Fleet Admirals, its probably Leahy
jeeper_peeper321
2008-05-27 20:08:45 UTC
Bradley.



He was carried on the roles as an active 5 star, untill his death in the 1980's.
Billy11B
2008-05-27 17:39:56 UTC
GEN John J Persching General of the Armies 1918-1948 - see below



Once he returned to Washington D.C. in 1917, and due to the sudden death of General Funston, President Wilson, on the advice of his military attache, Major Douglas McArthur, named him to command the American Expeditionary Forces being sent to France after America's declaration of war on Germany. The army he was to command did not exist yet; his task was to create it. One of his first actions upon arriving in France was to pay respects at the tomb of the Marquis de Lafayette. As he laid a wreath on the French soldier's grave, his aide announced, "Lafayette, we are here!" This signified to the French people that America was ready to assist them as they had the young American republic in 1776. He fought diligently to maintain the integrity of the American forces. He did not, and would not, concur with the plan to use American forces only as replacements for depleted French and British troops. He also refuse to allow any American forces to fight seperately; insisiting that all American forces fight together as a unit. Indeed it was his American troops who defeated the Germans in the St. Mihiel Salient in September 1918. In October, the Americans fought bravely against the Germans along the Hindenburg Line during the Meuse-Argonne Offensive and on November 11, 1918, the armistice was declared. Upon his return to the United States, he received a hero's welcome. Congress conferred upon him the Thanks of Congress and the rank of General of the Armies of the United States. With this rank he was given the option of 5 stars but declined the offer which is why he is always pictured wearing 4 stars. (This rank was created by Congress in 1799 explicitly for George Washington. Interestingly, it was later learned that Washington had never accepted the rank, so the Congress conferred it upon Washington posthumously in 1976, maintaining Washington's place as the senior ranking officer on the United States Army roster.) He served as Army chief of staff from 1921 until his retirement in 1924. He went on to chair the American Battle Monuments Commission and write his two-volume memoirs, which earned him a Pulitzer Prize. Though he lived at Walter Reed Hospital, he was called upon during World War II for advice and counsel by the Army chief of staff General George C. Marshall. It was during World War I that Peshing met Marshall though not in the usual way. Extremely upset that he would "chew out" Major General William L Sibert in front of his officers, Captain Marshall spoke out, "there are some things to be said here, I think I should say them." He then blasted him with a furious monologue addressing the condition of the troops and inadequate supplies and transportation. For most officers this display would have been career suicide, but Marshall was transferred to his headquarters at Chaumont and later became the General's principal aide. He also would later serve at Marshall's wedding as the best man. Marshall continued to serve him until his retirement. In 1948 upon his death, his funeral cortege was led by the President of the United States, Harry S. Truman, himself a veteran "doughboy" from World War I.







Interesting tid bits:



Who beats a five star general? A General of the Armies of the United States -- the highest military rank of all time, hands down. To date, only George Washington and John J. Pershing have held this position.





Henry H. (Hap) 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 haveheld the five-star rank.
2008-05-27 17:22:22 UTC
I think it was Omar Bradley.


This content was originally posted on Y! Answers, a Q&A website that shut down in 2021.
Loading...