Five-Star Generals and Admirals
On December 14, 1944, Congress passed Public Law 482, authorizing the temporary establishment of a five-star rank: General of the Army and, for the U.S. Navy, Fleet Admiral. This aligned the United States'military ranks with those of itsWorld War II allies, thuseliminating the problem of U.S.officers commanding Allied officers of technically higher rank. In December 1944, the Army promoted four general officers to General of the Army: Generals George C. Marshall, Douglas MacArthur, Dwight D. Eisenhower and Henry H. "Hap" Arnold. The Navy, meanwhile, promoted three admirals to Fleet Admiral — Admirals William D. Leahy, Ernest J. King and Chester Nimitz— and a fourth, Admiral William F. Halsey, in December 1945. After the establishment of the Air Force as a separate service branch in 1947, General Arnold also became General of the Air Force. In September 1950, Omar N. Bradley became the fifth Army general to be promoted to five-star rank.
The five-star rank still exists, although no U.S. officers have held it since the death of General Bradley in 1981. The president may promote a general or admiral to five-star rank at any time, with Senate approval. However, U.S. military policy has been to award five-star rank only when the rank of an Americancommander must be equal to or higher than that of officers from other nations under his or her control (as was the case in World War II).
Five of the nine five-star officers are buried at Arlington National Cemetery: Generals Marshall,Arnold and Bradley, and Admirals Leahy and Halsey.
| Name | Date of Rank | Gravesite Location | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Admiral William D. Leahy | Dec. 15, 1944 | Section 2, Grave 932 | |
| General George C. Marshall | Dec. 16, 1944 | Section 7, Grave 8198 | |
| General Henry H. Arnold | Dec. 21, 1944 | Section 34, Grave44-A | |
| Admiral William F. Halsey | Dec. 11, 1945 | Section 2, Grave1184 | |
| General Omar N. Bradley | Sept. 20, 1950 | Section 30, Grave 428-1-2 | |
Only three U.S. officers have held a rank higher than General of the Army or Fleet Admiral: John J. Pershing,George Washington and Ulysses S. Grant, who hold the rank of General of the Armies. Pershing was promoted to General of the Armies in 1919; Washington received a posthumous promotion in 1976, as part of the United States' bicentennial celebration; and Grant received a posthumous promotion as part of the FY 2023 National Defense Authorization Act.However, the Army has never officially adopted six stars to correspond with this rank.
General Pershing is buried at Arlington National Cemeteryin Section 34, GraveS-19.
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The article outlines the historical significance of Public Law 482, enacted by Congress on December 14, 1944, which paved the way for the temporary establishment of a five-star rank—General of the Army for the Army and Fleet Admiral for the Navy. This legislative move aimed to align the U.S. military ranks with those of its World War II allies, resolving the issue of U.S. officers commanding Allied officers of technically higher rank.
In December 1944, four distinguished general officers were promoted to the coveted rank of General of the Army: George C. Marshall, Douglas MacArthur, Dwight D. Eisenhower, and Henry H. "Hap" Arnold. Simultaneously, the Navy promoted three admirals to Fleet Admiral—William D. Leahy, Ernest J. King, and Chester Nimitz—followed by a fourth, Admiral William F. Halsey, in December 1945.
The article also delves into the establishment of the Air Force as a separate service branch in 1947, leading to General Arnold being designated as General of the Air Force. In September 1950, Omar N. Bradley became the fifth Army general to attain the five-star rank.
While the five-star rank still exists, the article notes that no U.S. officers have held it since the death of General Bradley in 1981. The president retains the authority to promote a general or admiral to five-star rank with Senate approval, but U.S. military policy dictates that this honor is reserved for situations where the rank of an American commander must be equal to or higher than that of officers from other nations under their control, echoing the circ*mstances of World War II.
Furthermore, the article highlights the burial locations of five of the nine five-star officers at Arlington National Cemetery: Generals Marshall, Arnold, and Bradley, along with Admirals Leahy and Halsey.
The concluding section of the article provides additional context by mentioning that only three U.S. officers have held a rank higher than General of the Army or Fleet Admiral. John J. Pershing, George Washington, and Ulysses S. Grant hold the rank of General of the Armies. General Pershing's promotion to this distinguished rank occurred in 1919, while George Washington received a posthumous promotion in 1976 as part of the United States' bicentennial celebration. Grant's posthumous promotion was granted as part of the FY 2023 National Defense Authorization Act.
Finally, the article notes that Arlington National Cemetery is the resting place for General Pershing, buried in Section 34, Grave S-19. This comprehensive overview demonstrates a nuanced understanding of the history and intricacies surrounding five-star generals and admirals in the U.S. military.
