Who has met/seen a 5 Star General or Admiral before?

2016-12-19T23:03:43-05:00

Its a honor to talk about history and more importantly sharing our military heritage. If you have some memories pleasure share. Standing by:

The following Americans have been promoted to five-star rank:
• Fleet Admiral William D. Leahy 15 December 1944
• General of the Army George Marshall 16 December 1944
• Fleet Admiral Ernest King 17 December 1944
• General of the Army Douglas MacArthur 18 December 1944
• Fleet Admiral Chester W. Nimitz 19 December 1944
• General of the Army Dwight D. Eisenhower 20 December 1944
• General of the Army & Air Force Henry H. Arnold 21 December 1944 & 7 May 1949
• Fleet Admiral William Halsey, Jr. 11 December 1945
• General of the Army Omar Bradley 20 September 1950
• General of the Armies George Washington 4 July 1976, with an effective appointment date of 4 July 1776a

Response by LTC Stephen F. made Dec 19 at 2016 11:04 PM

2016-12-19T23:04:53-05:00

SFC Joe S. Davis Jr., MSM, DSL I was part of the USMA Corps of cadets pass in review in 1978 for General of The Army Omar Bradley.

Response by SFC George Smith made Dec 19 at 2016 11:06 PM

2016-12-19T23:06:27-05:00

Omar Bradley in 1980 when he was on a tour of Ft Bragg

Response by SSG Mark Franzen made Dec 19 at 2016 11:21 PM

2016-12-19T23:21:12-05:00

I was at patch Barracks in Germany when Gen Haig had his retirement and did meet general patton 1 star. Before that we as a BN at Ft Lewis we ran with Gen Schwarzkopf every Friday 5 miles and I meet Him.

Response by MSG Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 19 at 2016 11:28 PM

2016-12-19T23:28:08-05:00

Since you mentioned General of the Armies (Six Stars) George Washington, I would be remiss if I didn't mention the only other General of the Armies ... John J. Pershing ... c. 1919 or 1920 (I'm not quite sure). He was actually promoted to the rank before Washington but Washington's date of rank was made retroactive and is therefore the highest ranking servicemember to have served the United States.

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 19 at 2016 11:44 PM

2016-12-19T23:44:26-05:00

I saw a poser online once!

Response by LTC Stephen C. made Dec 19 at 2016 11:50 PM

2016-12-19T23:50:35-05:00

Have never met one, SFC Joe S. Davis Jr., MSM, DSL. I hope never to meet one, because the circumstances that would create one would very likely mean WWIII.

Response by CAPT Kevin B. made Dec 20 at 2016 12:13 AM

2016-12-20T00:13:25-05:00

Met Ike and Mamie after he left office at the rededication of the National Presbyterian Church in DC. I was a kid and my Grandma was a DC socialite who ran the Red Cross. We went through a reception line. Shook his hand and Mamie pinched my cheek (that hurt!). Grandma was always looking for the limelight so made sure to get on the invite list.

Response by SGT Ben Keen made Dec 20 at 2016 7:53 AM

2016-12-20T07:53:11-05:00

Seeing that there hasn't been a 5-Star General since the 1950s, I think the possibility of seeing or meeting one of these great commanders would be next to impossible. It would be awesome though to just sit down and shake any of their hands.

Response by SPC Margaret Higgins made Dec 20 at 2016 9:02 AM

2016-12-20T09:02:39-05:00

I have met two Generals; once in San Francisco; and once up at a ranch in Healdsburg. Both were retired. I am not sure of what rank either one was; as I did not ask them.
They were both exceedingly kind. [SFC Joe S. Davis Jr., MSM, DSL]
A funny story about the general in Healdsburg: I asked this man-in civilian clothes-if he were a General, knowing that he had been military; and he answered with a swift "Yes!" A group of us sitting at the round table with him: all laughed. ;)
Happy Holidays, Joe!
-With My Love in Him, Margaret

Response by SSG(P) Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 20 at 2016 9:16 AM

2016-12-20T09:16:19-05:00

With regard to George Washington, he was never a 5 Star, but only a 3 Star. He said that since the Colonial Army was not big enough for more than a LTG, he would not presume to hold any rank higher.

I have met General Alexander Haig at the Ellis Island rededication in 1991 (I think that's when it was)

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 20 at 2016 9:54 AM

2016-12-20T09:54:45-05:00

Before the five-star ranks were established in 1944, two officers had previously been promoted from their four-star ranks to the superior and unique ranks of Admiral of the Navy and General of the Armies: Admiral George Dewey (appointment 1903 retroactive to 1899, died 1917) and General John J. Pershing (appointed 1919, died 1948). In 1944 the Navy and Army specified that these officers were considered senior to any officers promoted to the five-star ranks within their services (but it was not clear if they were senior by rank or by seniority due to an earlier date of rank).

Five-star ranks were created in the US military during World War II because of the awkward situation created when some American senior commanders were placed in positions commanding allied officers of higher rank. US officers holding five-star rank never retire; they draw full active duty pay for life. The five-star ranks were retired in 1981 on the death of General of the Army Omar Bradley.

Nine Americans have been promoted to five-star rank, one of them, Henry H. Arnold, in two services (US Army then later in the US Air Force). As part of the bicentennial celebration, George Washington was, 177 years after his death, permanently made senior to all other US generals/admirals, with the title general of the armies, effective on 4 July 1976. The appointment stated he was to have "rank and precedence over all other grades of the Army, past or present".

During World War II and (later) serving NATO, a small number of American five-star commanders have held the additional title Supreme Allied Commander, given operational control over all air, land, and sea units led by the four-star commanders of multi-national forces.

Response by MSG Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 20 at 2016 10:47 AM

2016-12-20T10:47:54-05:00

I have a feeling I shall perish from this Earth before another 5 Star is appointed.

Response by SGT James Colwell made Dec 20 at 2016 11:39 AM

2016-12-20T11:39:55-05:00

Nope. Closest I came was a four star general. Deputy Army Chief of Staff. He visited my EIB testing station.

Response by PO1 William "Chip" Nagel made Dec 20 at 2016 3:13 PM

2016-12-20T15:13:35-05:00

Nope, Way before My Time. I will just have to be Happy having served on 4 Star's Staff, Cincpacflt Thomas T. Hayward, In Direct Support of a 3 Stars Staff, Deputy Cincusnaveur and Master at Arms to a 2 Stars Staff Comspawarsyscom.

Response by SMSgt Lawrence McCarter made Dec 21 at 2016 8:57 AM

2016-12-21T08:57:20-05:00

I have seen two that held the Five star rank, the 1st was Dwight Eisenhower just after He was elected as the new President of the United States. That was at Pearl Harbor Navel station in Hawaii where my Dad was stationed in the early 1950s The second was General Douglas MacArthur at West Point at a parade in 1962 He was reviewing following His farewell address to the Corps of cadets. I was present for that parade as a Cadet at Bordentown Military Institute on our annual visit to The USMA at West Point.

Response by CSM Richard StCyr made Dec 22 at 2016 12:48 PM

2016-12-22T12:48:58-05:00

Where's Pershing, he was a five star with the rank of General of the Armies.

Response by CPT Aaron Kletzing made Sep 15 at 2017 8:41 PM

2017-09-15T20:41:58-04:00

would have loved to meet one of these distinguished leaders

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 15 at 2017 8:42 PM

2017-09-15T20:42:53-04:00

Omar Bradley passed away when I was in. I never had the privilege of meeting him.

Response by PO1 William "Chip" Nagel made Sep 15 at 2017 8:52 PM

2017-09-15T20:52:01-04:00

Nope Can't Say as I have., I'll Just have to be Satisfied having worked on 4 Star ADM Thomas Hayward's Staff at CINCPACFLT and being Master at Arms for Chief of Staff COMSPAWARSYSCOM a 2 Star.

Response by LTC Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 15 at 2017 9:07 PM

2017-09-15T21:07:42-04:00

I met 4 Star Admiral Mile Mullen in Afghanistan while touring our Fob in Farah, Afghanistan in late 2008. He had his Aide de Camp give out his coin.

Response by SGT Jim Arnold made Sep 15 at 2017 9:19 PM

2017-09-15T21:19:43-04:00

I only rubbed elbows with the signal corp general in 85 when he visited our communications site. Only time we got served steak and lobster and the Korean cooks over cooked it

Response by LCDR Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 15 at 2017 9:28 PM

2017-09-15T21:28:22-04:00

No, I've never met one, but you forgot two. While they never technically held 5 star rank, both George Dewey (Admiral of the Navy) and John J. Pershing (General of the Armies) are considered to be senior to any of the 5 stars. It was never made clear if they were senior by rank or by date of rank, but they are senior.

Response by LTC Stephen F. made Sep 15 at 2017 9:39 PM

2017-09-15T21:39:46-04:00

Well SFC Joe S. Davis Jr., MSM, DSL when I was a USMA, West Point cadet we had the honor to march in a corps-wide pass-in-review in honor of General of the Army Omar Nelson Bradley on the Plain at West Point in 1978. Omar Nelson Bradley and Dwight David Eisenhower were classmates from the USMA class of 1915.
In his West Point 1978 Founder's Day speech, General of the Army Omar Nelson Bradley said, "For 176 years the Long Gray Line has met the needs of our changing society while remaining an impregnable bastion of those ideals upon which our country was founded."
Omar Nelson Bradley died on April 8, 1981 in New York City.
I know many Generals who are currently serving: General Joe Votel [CENTCOM], General Raymond Tony Thomas [SOCOM] and General Vince Brooks [USFK] are classmates of mine from USMA class of 1980. There are other members of our class serving an 4 and 3 star generals still.
I know many other generals who retired in the past ten years or so.
Images: General of the Army Omar Nelson Bradley; General Vincent Brooks [Commander USFK];
General Raymond Thomas [Commander SOCOM]; General Joseph Votel [Commander CENTCOM]
FYI COL Mikel J. Burroughs LTC Stephen C. Capt Seid Waddell Capt Tom Brown SFC William Farrell SSgt Robert Marx Maj Marty Hogan PO1 William "Chip" Nagel SPC Margaret Higgins SSG William Wall MSgt Jason McClish AN Christopher Crayne LTC Bill Koski Sgt Trevor Barrett SPC Tom DeSmet SGT Charles H. Hawes LTC Wayne Brandon SGT Private RallyPoint Member

Response by SFC William Farrell made Sep 15 at 2017 10:30 PM

2017-09-15T22:30:17-04:00

SFC Joe S. Davis Jr., MSM, DSL while I cannot say that I met General MacArthur, I was there as a ten year old cub scout in 1962 when he bid farewell to the Corps of Cadets. We watched him on the parade field in his Jeep Willys in front of the Corps of Cadets. LTC Stephen F.

Response by SMSgt Lawrence McCarter made Sep 15 at 2017 11:07 PM

2017-09-15T23:07:05-04:00

Not so much as having met but have at least seen in person, first the newly elected President of the United States, Dwight D. Eisenhower when our kindergarten Class watched His motorcade go by near My school on Pearl Harbor Navel Station where My Dad served in the US Navy. Eisenhower of course had held five star rank. Shortly after His farewell address to the Corp of Cadets at West Point I saw General Douglas MacArthur when He stood as reviewing Officer of the parade that followed that address. I watched as He rode a jeep, staning up holding a railing to troop the line across the front of the Cadet Corps in formation then proceed to the reviewing stand to watch the entire Cadet Regiment pass in Review with Him as the reviewing Officer. In both cases I had seen each of them they were in civilian clothes. Eisenhower wore a gray suit, MacArthur had on a black (or very dark blue) suit. The picture shown here is of that very parade with General MacArthur in the dark suit when that jeep was trooping the line. Notice the red plate with the five silver stars in a circle on the front of that jeep.

Response by SGT Joseph Gunderson made Sep 15 at 2017 11:30 PM

2017-09-15T23:30:27-04:00

Closest I've gotten is a four star. General Cone. He was an incredible man. May he rest in peace.

Response by MAJ Don Bigger made Sep 15 at 2017 11:43 PM

2017-09-15T23:43:46-04:00

Never met a 5-Star. Best I can do is having met Vice Admiral James Stockdale, former POW and MOH recipient, and a one-on-one meeting with General William Westmoreland, former Commander, MACV, and Army Chief of Staff. Meeting with Gen Westmoreland was unplanned. He had just finished giving a lecture and his transportation, as I recall, was late. So, he ended up in my office for about 20 minutes where we chatted about the U. S. role on the world stage and solved other pressing world problems.

Response by CAPT Kevin B. made Sep 16 at 2017 12:42 AM

2017-09-16T00:42:12-04:00

Sure I mentioned this before. Subsequent to his Presidential term, Ike laid the cornerstone for the new National Presbyterian Church in DC. I was 14 in '67 and my Grandma was a recent head of the DC Red Cross and got an invite. Apparently it's important to keep yourself in the Green Book. I had a 2 week school absence for a tutorial trip to DC that Grandma arranged. So she made sure I went with her and pushed me through the reception line. I just remember shaking his hand and Mamie pinching my cheek that I still feel to this day. Ike had a kind smile and a brightness to his eyes. Wish I could remember more. Years later, I was back at the same church to see how it all turned out. The main church has this fantastic pipe organ. I was looking at the pipe banks all alone in the church. This guy with long hair and tie dyed tee asked if I wanted to see where the organist worked. Sure. I was then astounded when he started flipping switches, powering up the blowers and then playing the best rendition of Innagadadavida I ever heard. Guess the Clergy wasn't around. Thought I was in the Twilight Zone.

Response by SCPO Morris Ramsey made Sep 16 at 2017 1:18 AM

2017-09-16T01:18:27-04:00

SFC Joe S. Davis Jr., MSM, DSL Never met one. I did have the pleasure of working with Admiral Grace Hopper.

Response by SPC Casey Ashfield made Sep 16 at 2017 1:22 AM

2017-09-16T01:22:24-04:00

All well before my time. Most rank I ever ran across at once was 10 stars split among 3 people. A former Army COS (4 star), AMC commander (4 star), and a Coast Guard Admiral (2 star).

Response by LTC John Mohor made Sep 16 at 2017 1:43 AM

2017-09-16T01:43:35-04:00

I just wanna know why Five star General John " Blackjack" Pershing was missing from the list? I've been where four were buried but that's as close as I'll ever get.

Response by SGT Michael Thorin made Sep 16 at 2017 1:45 AM

2017-09-16T01:45:12-04:00

Great survey. I knew there weren't many, but never that there were so few.

The way we're going, we may see another five-star soon, LOL, SFC Joe S. Davis Jr., MSM, DSL.

Response by SPC Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 16 at 2017 3:13 AM

2017-09-16T03:13:58-04:00

I never did, too young. My mother said she saw General of the Army Omar Bradly though

Response by SGT David A. 'Cowboy' Groth made Sep 16 at 2017 6:47 AM

2017-09-16T06:47:42-04:00

The highest ranking General I have ever met, was a LT General. Even shook hands with him, really great officer.

Response by SSG Mark Lawless made Sep 16 at 2017 10:53 AM

2017-09-16T10:53:28-04:00

I never met Omar Bradley, but from my apartment near Fort Bliss I could watch him every day in his wheelchair when his hospital orderly took him out for fresh air.

Response by CW5 Ranger Dave made Sep 16 at 2017 4:52 PM

2017-09-16T16:52:06-04:00

I have never met a Five Star General. However I served with some outstanding Company Grade Officers that made full General. They included: 2LT David Petraeus (General/Director CIA) and CPT Dick Cody (General/Vise Chief of Staff). Both were truly outstanding officers and Leaders.

Response by LTC John Mohor made Sep 16 at 2017 10:13 PM

2017-09-16T22:13:55-04:00

Thanks for sharing Joe and the Pershing answer too!

Response by SSgt David Marks made Sep 17 at 2017 2:25 AM

2017-09-17T02:25:29-04:00

No I have not, the last ones I knew of, I believe passed away in the 60's. They were General Dwight D. Eisenhower, and General Douglas McArthur.

Response by CWO3 Dennis M. made Sep 17 at 2017 11:00 AM

2017-09-17T11:00:32-04:00

I never met him, but as a kid on Long Island NY in the 50's, I saw General Eisenhower in person when he was running for president. He was a hero to me as I grew up in the new GI housing being built in Long Island after WWII. I wore his "I LIKE IKE" button all the time as kid. I still remember how unhappy I was when he was no longer our President when JFK became took office.

Response by SMSgt Lawrence McCarter made Sep 27 at 2017 12:23 AM

2017-09-27T00:23:54-04:00

In another grain speaking on meeting General's this is a picture of Me in 1972 where I shown with General Chen I. Fan, Commander in Chief (equal to our Chief of Staff, USAF) of the Chinese Air Force at His office in CAF Headquarters in the Republic of China, Taipai, Taiwan. Myself and the two US Cadets I escorted to met with him for 1 and 1/2 hours as part of the International Air Cadet Exchange IACE which We carried on with 46 Countries including the ROC. This is an annual program conducted by Civil Air Patrol, the Auxiliary of the US Air Force. In CAP i was an Officer although I was still active duty USAF and traveled on official USAF travel orders at the expense of the USAF Approx one week later We met with Lt General Teh, Supt of the Chinese Air Force Academy in His office at the CAF Academy. In meeting I wore the official blazer uniform but most visits were wore the light blue Air Force shirt and dark AF blue pants. The portrait on the Wall was President Chang Kai Chek, who was a WWII General whom We also met for 20 minutes at the Presidential Palace in Taipai, Taiwan, ROC

Response by SGT David A. 'Cowboy' Groth made Sep 27 at 2017 6:13 AM

2017-09-27T06:13:10-04:00

Only have seen picture, and articles on these men of high valor.

Response by PVT Raymond Lopez made Sep 27 at 2017 9:10 AM

2017-09-27T09:10:11-04:00

The nice old Gentleman who lived down the road when my family lived in Gettysburg one of the greatest poker players who ever graduated from West Point!

Response by PO1 Donald Hammond made Sep 27 at 2017 11:05 AM

2017-09-27T11:05:25-04:00

George Washington for sure.

Response by SSgt Jim Gilmore made Sep 27 at 2017 12:29 PM

2017-09-27T12:29:28-04:00

I had the honor of meeting 2 Major Generals, one of whom became a Lt. General a couple of years later. The one who made Lt. General swore me in when I re-enlisted.

Response by SGT Eric Knutson made Sep 27 at 2017 1:11 PM

2017-09-27T13:11:11-04:00

Best I could do was 3 star, LTG Fredrick Franks, VII Corps a little before Desert Shield started, a few 2 stars at the time, but GEN Keene was the 101st CG and went on to 4 stars CJCS. GotA Bradly was still alive and I heard he was hanging out at Bliss when my dad was at Hollaman AFB just up the road, but that was the closest I ever got.

Response by SPC Margaret Higgins made May 20 at 2018 6:55 PM

2018-05-20T18:55:46-04:00

I have, however, met two Generals in my lifetime. I don't know how many stars they had; as, I didn't ask them. They were just as kind, and, nice as far as people go: that you would Ever want to meet!

Response by LTC Private RallyPoint Member made May 20 at 2018 8:03 PM

2018-05-20T20:03:16-04:00

No.

Response by SP5 Dennis Loberger made May 20 at 2018 8:54 PM

2018-05-20T20:54:00-04:00

No. Highest ranking I ever met, Major General

Response by LTJG Richard Bruce made May 20 at 2018 10:06 PM

2018-05-20T22:06:16-04:00

Congress passed a resolution making Gen Washington the most senior military leader of all time, past and future. Technically never given a 6th star retroactively, Congress wanted Washington to outrank everyone, so many refer to Gen Washington as a 6 star general.

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made May 21 at 2018 12:07 AM

2018-05-21T00:07:35-04:00

4 Star, Army and Marine at the same time and place, walking around inspecting the camp, the 4 Stars had full bird Colonel carrying their briefcases. Our Camp in picture.

The event why so much brass walking around was, 1972 Democratic National Convention Miami Florida, 1 battalion from the 82nd. ABN Inf. and 1 battalion from the Marines, all there for riot control, we were all stationed at a tent camp located a Homestead AFB, out of the public eye.
That's where I learned the words, "Fix Bayonets".

We even got to shake the hand of the president at the time, Richard Nixon.

Response by PO1 Don Gulizia made May 21 at 2018 9:44 AM

2018-05-21T09:44:22-04:00

I've seen a few 4 Stars and had the honor to brief Air Force General Chuck Horner. I'm not even sure if any 5 Stars were around after I was born.

Response by SCPO Private RallyPoint Member made May 22 at 2018 12:29 AM

2018-05-22T00:29:12-04:00

Do you mean while the person was a serving 5-star, or even after retirement from the military? If it’s the latter, I met President Eisenhower while an elementary school lad.

Response by SCPO Private RallyPoint Member made May 22 at 2018 1:05 AM

2018-05-22T01:05:20-04:00

There were two other individuals who held five-star rank, SFC Joe S. Davis Jr., MSM, DSL , but one of those two and one from your list were actually authorized to wear SIX stars, if they wanted to do so. Who knows without Google-ing? Technically, both five-and six-star ranks still exist today, though, not even the newest Private or Seaman Recruit is likely to ever see someone higher than a four-star.

Response by CW4 Craig Urban made Apr 21 at 2019 4:29 AM

2019-04-21T04:29:55-04:00

Personnaly know at least 50 generals. Up to the 4 star rank. Have two 3 stars as senior raters on my OERs

Response by SSG Robert Mark Odom made Jan 3 at 2020 3:12 PM

2020-01-03T15:12:17-05:00

When I was stationed at Fort Hood, Texas back in the early 1970's General Omar Bradley, the last general of the Army, and a 5-star who was living his final days out in retirement at Fort Bliss Texas. And that's about as close as I ever got to actually meeting one.

Response by CPL Douglas Chrysler made Feb 4 at 2020 6:48 PM

2020-02-04T18:48:49-05:00

In 1952 my sister and her friend walked to downtown Spokane to see and hear presidential candidate Dwight Eisenhower. I was too young so I didn't get to go. I was happy to get out of school for the day.

Response by Lt Col John (Jack) Christensen made Feb 4 at 2020 7:00 PM

2020-02-04T19:00:07-05:00

Great soldiers all of them, but the rank was eliminated for a reason and I would not like to see it come back.

Response by LTC Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 4 at 2020 8:07 PM

2020-02-04T20:07:27-05:00

Would like to have met Omar Bradley.

Response by SPC Erich Guenther made Feb 4 at 2020 11:28 PM

2020-02-04T23:28:43-05:00

I saw a Sheriff wearing those once, hilarious.