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.