Who is the only 7 star general in American history?

There is no official 7-star general rank in U.S. history; the highest rank is General of the Armies, a 5-star equivalent bestowed on George Washington (posthumously), John J. Pershing (lifetime), and Ulysses S. Grant (posthumously), but some unofficially call this a 6-star or even "seven-star" rank due to its unique seniority over all other generals, though technically it's the highest achievable, not a distinct star level.

How many 7 star generals are there?

8.0 Introduction. No person have ever been awarded or promoted to a seven-star rank, although some commentators might argue that General George Washington posthumously became a seven-star general in 1976 (see Part Seven).

Who are the only 6 star generals?

Gene Schwartz A 6-star general is a common, informal term for the rank of General of the Armies of the United States, the highest possible rank in the U.S. Army. This rank has been bestowed upon only three individuals: John J. Pershing, George Washington (posthumously), and Ulysses S. Grant (posthumously).

Who was the highest ranking general in U.S. history?

The highest rank in the U.S. Army is the General of the Armies of the United States, a unique rank held by only three men: George Washington, John J. Pershing, and Ulysses S. Grant (posthumously promoted in 2023). While sometimes called a six-star general, it's considered above the five-star rank and is the ultimate position, with Washington often considered the highest due to being senior to all other generals. 

Who is the only 5 star general?

There have been five 5-star generals: George C. Marshall, Douglas MacArthur, Dwight D. Eisenhower, Henry H. Arnold, and Omar Bradley.

Every Five-Star General in American History, Part 1

Who is the highest ranking general right now?

Chairman, Joint Chiefs of Staff

General Dan Caine is the 22nd Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, the nation's highest-ranking military officer, and the principal military advisor to the President, Secretary of Defense, and National Security Council.

Who was higher rank, Bradley or Patton?

[2] Bradley took rank over Patton in rank and became the commander of the invasion of Normandy, leaving Patton with the Third Army. Bradley had a close personal relationship with both men and many times had to be the neutral person between the two.

Who is considered the best general ever?

Considered by some to be the United States' best ever battlefield commander, Douglas MacArthur was undoubtedly brilliant—and undoubtedly controversial.

Who is the black 4 star general?

Gen. Michael E. Langley has made history as the first Black four-star general in the Marine Corps' 246- year history. Commissioned in 1985, Langley has served with distinction across multiple commands.

Who is the most decorated soldier in the army?

The most decorated U.S. Army soldier is widely considered to be Audie Murphy, a World War II hero who received every U.S. military combat award for valor, including the Medal of Honor, along with French and Belgian decorations, for his extraordinary bravery and actions, especially his single-handed defense against German forces.
 

Who was the youngest general?

The youngest general in U.S. history is widely recognized as Galusha Pennypacker, who became a Brigadier General in the Union Army at the age of 20 during the Civil War, making him the only general too young to vote for his appointing president, and he was awarded the Medal of Honor for his valor. While others, like William Paul Roberts (Confederacy) or Kaitho Sukhai (Naga), were young generals, Pennypacker holds the U.S. Army record.
 

Was Patton a five-star general?

No, General George S. Patton was never a five-star general; he achieved the rank of a four-star general (full General) in April 1945, a rank he held until his death, though he was a three-star Lieutenant General for most of the war. The U.S. Army had a limited number of five-star ranks during World War II, held by figures like Eisenhower and MacArthur, and Patton's command responsibilities and controversial moments prevented him from receiving the fifth star. 

Has a woman ever been a General of the Army?

On June 11, 1970, Colonel Anna Mae Hays, Chief, Army Nurse Corps was promoted to the grade of brigadier general. She became the first woman in the history of the U.S. Army to attain general officer rank.

Are any 5 star generals alive today?

There are no current 5-star generals in the U.S. military, as this rank is reserved for wartime or extraordinary circumstances and hasn't been held since General Omar Bradley (Army) died in 1981, though the ranks of General of the Army (Army), Fleet Admiral (Navy), and General of the Air Force (Air Force) still exist in law and are considered 5-star ranks. The highest active ranks are 4-star generals, with dozens serving across different branches. 

What is the salary of a 2 star general?

A U.S. 2-star General (Major General, O-8) earns a base pay from around $10,600/month (entry) up to over $18,000+/month (max for O-7/O-8), but their total compensation (including housing/food allowances like BAH/BAS) can range from roughly $157,000 to over $225,000 annually, varying with experience and allowances, with pay capped by Executive Schedule Level II, notes Military-Ranks.org, FederalPay.org, and DFAS.mil. 

Who is the most decorated general?

The title of "most decorated general" often goes to U.S. Marine Major General Smedley D. Butler, known as the most decorated Marine, uniquely earning two Medals of Honor (for actions in Mexico and Haiti) plus the Marine Corps Brevet Medal, totaling 16 medals for heroism and distinguished service across numerous conflicts, making him a legend in American military history. Other highly decorated figures include Britain's Sir Adrian Carton de Wiart, a WWI legend with multiple Wounds and Victoria Cross, and U.S. General Norman Schwarzkopf Jr. for modern conflicts. 

Is there a female four-star general?

Yes, there have been female four-star generals and admirals in the U.S. military, with ten women achieving this rank in history, though the number serving at any one time varies and recently dropped to zero briefly in early 2025 before new appointments. These trailblazers include Army General Ann E. Dunwoody (first ever) and Air Force General Jacqueline Van Ovost, leading major commands, paving the way for more women in top leadership roles despite past barriers.
 

Who are the Black elites in America?

Black elites in America are a diverse, influential group spanning historical figures to modern leaders, characterized by wealth, education, and significant social/political influence, including Gilded Age intellectuals and modern-day CEOs, celebrities (Oprah Winfrey, Jay-Z, Lebron James), politicians (Barack Obama, Kamala Harris), and entrepreneurs (Don Peebles, David Stewart), representing a growing segment of the population with high net worths, despite historical barriers, and often leveraging exclusive networks and institutions for success.
 

Who is the youngest 4 star general?

The youngest four-star general in U.S. Army history was Mark W. Clark, promoted at age 48 during World War II, though records sometimes vary with Alfred Gruenther, who became one at 53, and others like Curtis LeMay, who was 44 when he received his fourth star in the Air Force, making him the youngest American four-star general since Ulysses S. Grant, highlighting different service branches and eras for the distinction. 

What general never lost a battle?

Several famous generals are known for never losing a battle, with prominent examples including Alexander the Great, Khalid ibn al-Walid (the "Sword of Allah"), Russia's Alexander Suvorov, and the American Civil War's Union General George H. Thomas (the "Rock of Chickamauga"), highlighting different eras and military traditions. 

Which general has won the most battles in history?

Among all generals, Napoleon had the highest WAR (16.679) by a large margin. In fact, the next highest performer, Julius Caesar (7.445 WAR), had less than half the WAR accumulated by Napoleon across his battles. Napoleon benefited from the large number of battles in which he led forces.

Who is America's highest ranking general?

The highest possible rank in the U.S. Army is the special grade of General of the Armies of the United States, held by three historical figures: George Washington, John J. Pershing, and Ulysses S. Grant, all posthumously, with Washington ranking first. Currently, the highest-ranking active general is typically the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, though this changes with appointments, with General Dan Caine (USAF) currently holding that top role as of late 2025, representing the highest active officer command. 

Which general did the Germans fear the most?

According to Farago, after his campaign in Sicily, Patton was the Allied general the Germans regarded as “their most dangerous adversary in the field,” which led them to watch his comings and goings “like rubbernecked spectators following a tennis ball at Wimbledon. ” The problem is, notes Yeide, that “there does not ...

What was Dwight D Eisenhower's rank?

Dwight D. Eisenhower's highest military rank was General of the Army, a five-star general, achieved in December 1944 during World War II, making him the Supreme Commander of the Allied Expeditionary Forces in Europe. He had a distinguished career, rising from a junior officer to command millions, and later became the 34th U.S. President, with his five-star rank restored by Congress in 1961 upon his military retirement. 

Why didn't Eisenhower attend Patton's funeral?

Only two months earlier he had told Ike, “I cannot eat at the same table with Beetle Smith,” and before he died he told Beatrice that he did not want either of them to attend his funeral. Patton could never forgive Ike for removing him from command of the Third Army.