General of the Armies of the United States, or more commonly referred to as General of the Armies, is the highest possible officer rank of the United States Army, serving directly under the president and holding nearly complete control over armed forces and uniformed services branches.
Only two men have held the rank of General of the Armies:
- John J. Pershing in 1919 to honor his service in World War I
- George Washington in 1976, as part of the American bicentennial celebrations, to commemorate his leadership and involvement in the founding of the United States.
Douglas MacArthur was considered for the rank, both during and after World War II, but a formal promotion order was never issued.
The rank serves directly under the president, and is superior to General of the Army, General of the Air Force and Fleet Admiral.
Read more about General Of The Armies: Creation and Early Usage, World War I and John Pershing, World War II and Six-star Rank, Douglas MacArthur and The Renewed Effort, George Washington, Other "super Ranks"
Famous quotes containing the words general and/or armies:
“However energetically society in general may strive to make all the citizens equal and alike, the personal pride of each individual will always make him try to escape from the common level, and he will form some inequality somewhere to his own profit.”
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“In the weakness of one kind of authority, and in the fluctuation of all, the officers of an army will remain for some time mutinous and full of faction, until some popular general, who understands the art of conciliating the soldiery, and who possesses the true spirit of command, shall draw the eyes of all men upon himself. Armies will obey him on his personal account. There is no other way of securing military obedience in this state of things.”
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