Who do you think is the greatest U.S. General we have had?

LTC David S. Chang, ChFC®, CLU® — Thu, 06 Feb 2014 13:41:45 -0500

This applies to any general rank from George Washington on. There are lot that many people don't know about but did a lot behind the scenes. I think the reason our military is the strongest in the world is because of our leaders, who is your favorite?

I am partial to Dwight Eisenhower because of what he was able to accomplish as a soldier and politician. He was able to work together with the differing countries (Montgomery from Britain and De Gaule from France, need I say more?) and on the political side created our interstate highway system creating infrastructure that our country needed.

Response by CPT Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 6 at 2014 1:48 PM

CPT Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 06 Feb 2014 13:48:05 -0500

I'm with you MAJ Chang. Eisenhower was the man!

Response by SFC Michael Hasbun made Feb 6 at 2014 2:00 PM

SFC Michael Hasbun — Thu, 06 Feb 2014 14:00:03 -0500

Gen. Mattis clearly!

Response by SGT Ben Keen made Feb 6 at 2014 3:40 PM

SGT Ben Keen — Thu, 06 Feb 2014 15:40:36 -0500

This is one heck of a question. I think it way to hard to nail it down to just "the" greatest. I think we have seen some great Generals and some not so great. While I agree that Gen. Eisenhower is near the top of the list I think the problem is that all Generals have seen and had to deal with different issues and battlefield conditions. Would say Gen Mattis have done such a great job leading the battle in Normandy? Would Gen Patton held the Army together was well as Gen Washington did in Valley Forge? I don't think we can really answer those questions but it is really neat to look back and think about.

Looking forward to see how this discussion pans out!

Response by 1SG Michael Blount made Feb 6 at 2014 4:34 PM

1SG Michael Blount — Thu, 06 Feb 2014 16:34:17 -0500

Ever?  I'd say LGEN Ulysses S. Grant. In modern times?  I'd nominate GEN (ret) Petraeus, closely followed by GEN Mattis. GEN Lewis B. "Chesty" Pueller is up there, too.

Response by SSG(P) Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 6 at 2014 5:08 PM

SSG(P) Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 06 Feb 2014 17:08:15 -0500

MG Dana H. Pittard.

Response by Cpl John Davis made Feb 6 at 2014 5:19 PM

Cpl John Davis — Thu, 06 Feb 2014 17:19:10 -0500

General "Mad Dog" Mattis, he was a hero in the Marines! Last of a dying breed...<br>

Response by SFC Benjamin Parsons made Feb 7 at 2014 9:07 AM

SFC Benjamin Parsons — Fri, 07 Feb 2014 09:07:46 -0500

I worked to study the CGs I worked for a little.  Had opportunities in the early years of the NTC to meet and interact with some I ended up respecting greatly.<div>My favorite boss (among several good ones) was Shinseki,  and I liked his ideas and where he went afterward.</div><div>Historically (American),  I lean toward Nathan Bedford Forrest.  Unfortunately,  outside of his Generalship,  there's little about the man to respect.</div>

Response by CW2 Geoff Lachance made Feb 7 at 2014 6:31 PM

CW2 Geoff Lachance — Fri, 07 Feb 2014 18:31:41 -0500

Thank you Maj Chang, This is a top of the line talking point!!!

We have been blessed with some fine Generals over the course of our history.

We can't take anything away from General Washington. Through his efforts, we exist today!

General Eisenhower has my respect because of the arduous demands on him as the Commander of the European theater during WWII. He demonstrated leadership skills that carried him through to the Presidency and beyond.

Serving under General Schwartzcopf during the Gulf War was a blessing. His no BS attitude kept everyone focussed on point. I truly believe his leadership had a direct impact to the swift conclusion of the war.

However, my heart is with General Joshua Chamberlain for his compassion as he received the surrender of the Confederate troops at Appomattox. Bringing the Union troops to attention and saluting as the Confederates passed was the greatest act in mending the scars of that horrific conflict and the first step forward to reuniting this great country.

God Bless America!!! Keep them coming!

Response by LTC Paul Labrador made Feb 10 at 2014 7:59 AM

LTC Paul Labrador — Mon, 10 Feb 2014 07:59:50 -0500

Gen George C. Marshall: architect of the WW2 victory and the reconstruction afterwards.

Response by CSM Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 11 at 2014 12:57 AM

CSM Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 11 Feb 2014 00:57:40 -0500

<STRONG>H. Norman Schwarzkopf "Stormin Norman" </STRONG> a national hero who was presented with many military honors for what historians termed one of the most successful campaigns in U.S. military history. Awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom and the Congressional Gold Medal.

Response by SSgt Gregory Guina made Feb 11 at 2014 1:05 AM

SSgt Gregory Guina — Tue, 11 Feb 2014 01:05:05 -0500

Mad Dog and Chesty are definitely loved by the Marines. Patton was a General for so long that he felt that he was greater than the institution by the time the end came around.

Response by SGT Jeremy Schlueter made Mar 14 at 2014 11:54 PM

SGT Jeremy Schlueter — Fri, 14 Mar 2014 23:54:08 -0400

General Patton...wish we still had him.

Response by MAJ Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 23 at 2014 12:53 PM

MAJ Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 23 Mar 2014 12:53:57 -0400

Major General Thomas "Stonewall" Jackson. Fundamentally changed maneuver warfare. His stunning flanking attack at Chancellorsville created one of the most improbable Union defeats in the American Civil War. His death was a crushing blow and created one of the most intriguing questions about the Civil War: What if Lee had Jackson as an asset at Gettysburg?

"Always mystify, mislead, and surprise the enemy, if possible; and when you strike and overcome him, never let up in the pursuit so long as your men have strength to follow; for an army routed, if hotly pursued, becomes panic-stricken, and can then be destroyed by half their number. The other rule is, never fight against heavy odds, if by any possible maneuvering you can hurl your own force on only a part, and that the weakest part, of your enemy and crush it. Such tactics will win every time, and a small army may thus destroy a large one in detail, and repeated victory will make it invincible." - Thomas Jonathan Jackson

Response by SPC Michael Hunt made Mar 23 at 2014 3:33 PM

SPC Michael Hunt — Sun, 23 Mar 2014 15:33:58 -0400

General Omar Bradley, because he was very outspoken and opinionated... never had to guess which side of a subject he stood, just ask. And because I came close to meeting him at the ceremony dedicating the Independence Bowl trophy named after him in my home town... Shreveport, LA.

Response by SPC Charles Brown made Mar 26 at 2014 6:46 PM

SPC Charles Brown — Wed, 26 Mar 2014 18:46:02 -0400

General Patton. He was just crazy enough to get the job done without worrying about the consequences. The way he would rag on British General Montgomery was either priceless or stupid depending on who you asked.

Response by 1SG Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 25 at 2014 9:55 PM

1SG Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 25 Oct 2014 21:55:15 -0400

George Armstrong Custer! His work with the 7th Cavalry at Little Big Horn was legendary!

LTG Hammond from Stargate Command Team was pretty remarkable too.

Response by SFC(P) Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 27 at 2014 9:31 AM

SFC(P) Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 27 Oct 2014 09:31:51 -0400

Well off the top of my head, George Washington, Patton, Eishenhower, Grant, Sherman, Stonewall Jackson. Of course those are the most well known to me, but overall the greatest has to be Washington. The more I read about him, the greater he becomes. I won't get into it here, but there are plenty of books out there to read on why I think he is the greatest.

Response by SGM Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 27 at 2014 10:29 AM

SGM Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 27 Oct 2014 10:29:30 -0400

Maj Chang--with respect, "Greatest" in terms of what? Accomplishing the mission? Tactics? Winning battles? Courage? Inspiration? Example? Intelligence? All of that and or more as in "greatest all around general?"
Ike had intelligence but relatively no command field experience;could not have been successful without the backing he had. Patton and MacArthur were colorful and effective in both tactics, intelligence, leadership--very inspiring and got the job done, so they rank at the top. Washington was not a great tactician, but he was an inspirational figure who knew he could win a war of attrition---Dan Morgan was by far the greater general (he was promoted from colonel in militia) along with LayFayette (a US, not French General and later American Citizen)---I'd pick Geronimo if he were a US General. I'd pick Sherman as an effective general, but not a tactician. He and Grant had courage and ability, but were rather reckless...Bruce Clarke was among the best leaders ever....Lincoln as commander in Chief was effectively the best commander.

Response by SSG Maurice P. made Oct 29 at 2014 8:57 PM

SSG Maurice P. — Wed, 29 Oct 2014 20:57:49 -0400

1.LIEUT GENERAL CHESTY B PULLER USMC
2.GENERAL HOWLIN MAD SMITH USMC
3.GENERAL MATTIS USMC
4.GENERAL WILSON USMC
5.GENERAL BARROWS USMC

Response by CPT Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 31 at 2014 12:31 PM

CPT Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 31 Oct 2014 12:31:29 -0400

It depends on whether you are looking for Warrior generals or Heroic Leader generals. Others are great strategists, while others are great tacticians. The rarity is finding both types of generals as can be seen by the various comments in this discussion.