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{{short description|Proposed U.S. military rank}}
{{merge|General of the Armies|date=October 2013}}
{{redirect|Six-star general|the 1973 record album of that name|Vinegar Joe (band)|other high military ranks|highest military ranks}} {{redirect|Six-star general|the 1973 record album of that name|Vinegar Joe (band)|other high military ranks|Highest military ranks}}
{{original research|date=December 2020}}
] produced a single sketch of how the insignia for a six-star rank would appear; this sketch was later filed in ]'s ].<ref>Service Record of Douglas MacArthur – 1945{{contradiction-inline|reason=secondary sources give a date 10 years later|date=September 2013}} Promotion Proposal Package – ].{{Nonspecific|date=February 2011}}{{primary-inline|date=September 2013}}</ref>]]
⚫ {{See also|General of the Armies of the United States}}
{{Use American English|date=February 2023}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=February 2023}}


A '''six-star rank''' is a theoretical U.S. military rank whose badge of rank is designated by six stars. In the ], a '''six-star rank''' is a proposed rank immediately superior to a ], possibly to be worn by the ].


== History ==
] held the rank of ] after ], but no special insignia was designed to go with the title.<ref name=foster/> The ] insignia for the rank ] was introduced in 1944.<ref name=foster/> Although Pershing wore four stars,<ref name=grier/> in the words of military historian ], "it was like a six-star rank".<ref>Abrams, Jim (March 21, 1991) , Associated Press</ref>
When Congress approved a bill to create the rank of Fleet Admiral in 1944,<ref>] Pub.L. 78-482 – To establish the grade of Fleet Admiral for the United States Navy; to establish the grade of General of the Army, and for other purposes.</ref>{{primary source inline|date=December 2020}} the Navy wanted to re-establish and elevate Admiral of the Navy to be equivalent to General of the Armies, <ref name=":2">{{Cite web|date=20 July 1944|title=Hearings Before the Committee on Naval Affairs of the House of Representatives on Sundry Legislation Affecting the Naval Establishment, 1943–1944, Seventy-eighth Congress, First–Second Session. Washington, D.C.: Government Printing Office. 1944. pp. 1339, 2357–2362.|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=7EggKi9ZfMYC&pg=PA2357|access-date=1 November 2020|website=]}}</ref>{{primary source inline|date=December 2020}} which requires an Act of Congress. ] Vice Admiral Randall Jacobs testified before the Committee on Naval Affairs of the ], recommending that the rank of Admiral of the Navy be made the Naval equivalent to General of the Armies,<ref name=":2" /> which a previous failed bill submitted on 25 February 1944 tried to do. <ref name=":2" /> Congress passed ] ] on 14 December 1944, creating the rank of Fleet Admiral, without re-establishing the rank of Admiral of the Navy.<ref>{{cite web|date=14 December 1944|title=An Act to establish the grade of Fleet Admiral for the United States Navy; to establish the grade of General of the Army, and for other purposes|url=http://www.nightscribe.com/military/public_law_482.htm|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120206041537/http://www.nightscribe.com/military/public_law_482.htm|archive-date=6 February 2012|access-date=2012-09-21}}</ref>{{primary source inline|date=December 2020}}


===Post{{ndash}}World War II===
In 1955, a six-star rank insignia and promotion to General of the Armies was considered for General of the Army ], but the idea was shelved.<ref name=foster>Foster, Frank C. (2011) ''United States Army Medal, Badges and Insignias'', Medals of America Press, ISBN 9781884452673, page 19</ref><ref>] (2007) ''15 Stars: Eisenhower, MacArthur, Marshall: Three Generals Who Saved the American Century'', Simon & Schuster, ISBN 9781416545934, page 488</ref><ref>] (2009) ''Ike'', HarperCollins, ISBN 9780061744969, page 190</ref>
As such, the rank of Admiral of the Navy continued to be inactive. By 1955, the Navy concluded that the rank was honorary.<ref name=":4">{{Cite web|title="How Many Stars Does 'Admiral of the Navy' Rate?". All Hands. January 1955. p. 23.|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=iKnqzC24-yAC&pg=PA23|access-date=1 November 2020|website=]}}</ref> And while they held to the belief that it was equivalent to General of the Armies,<ref name=":4" /> the Navy amended its regulations to establish fleet admiral as its highest achievable rank, adhering to the standard set by the law.<ref name=":4" />


On 21 January 1955, a draft resolution was proposed to the ] to authorize ] ] to appoint ], then a five-star ], to be elevated to the "six-star rank" of ] "in recognition of the great services to his country", with "such appointment to take effect as of the seventy-fifth anniversary of his birth, 26 January 1955."<ref name=SJRes26>], 21 January 1955.</ref><ref name=ThreeGenerals/><ref>{{cite book|author=Foster, Frank C.|year=2011|title=United States Army Medal, Badges and Insignias|publisher=Medals of America Press|isbn=9781884452673|page=19|quote=effort was made to reward General Douglas MacArthur, this time with specifying a six-star rank, but it never came to fruition}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|author-link=Michael Korda|last=Korda|first=Michael|year=2009|title=Ike|url=https://archive.org/details/ikeamericanhero00kord|url-access=registration|publisher=HarperCollins|isbn=9780061744969|page=|quote=Congress would twice try to promote him from the new rank of General of the Army—a five-star general—to the unique rank of General of the Armies: a proposed six-star general.}}</ref> The proposal had little chance of passing and was never voted on.<ref name=ThreeGenerals>{{cite book|author-link=Stanley Weintraub|last=Weintraub|first=Stanley|year=2007|title=15 Stars: Eisenhower, MacArthur, Marshall: Three Generals Who Saved the American Century|publisher=Simon & Schuster|isbn=9781416545934|page=488|quote=A few MacArthur devotees in Congress, like Representative Martin, tried to organize support for honorary six-star rank for the general, but as that would have been a slap at Eisenhower, such legislation had no chance.}}</ref>
The American supreme rank of six-star General of the Armies has only been awarded once, posthumously to ].<ref name=grier>Grier, Peter (March 2012) , ''Air Force Magazine'', vol. 95, no. 3</ref><ref name=register>, ''Eugene Register-Guard'', October 12, 1976</ref> At his death in December 1799, Washington was a three-star lieutenant-general.<ref name=grier/> Although Congress created a higher rank in March 1799, President ] did not submit Washington's name for confirmation and so the rank was not awarded in Washington's lifetime.<ref name=register/> Two hundred years later, as part of the ] celebrations, Congress passed a joint resolution (sponsored by Representative ]<ref name=register/>) on September 28, 1976, calling for Washington to be posthumously promoted to the highest possible rank above all other ranks in the United States Army for ever.<ref name=grier/><ref name=register/> President ] signed the order on October 12,<ref name=register/> with an effective date of July 4, 1976.<ref name=grier/> Representative ], who opposed the resolution, said the rank was "superfluous and unnecessary&nbsp;... it is like the Pope offering to make Christ a cardinal."<ref name=register/>
{{check quotation}}
The rank of General of the Armies had previously been granted in 1919 to active-duty ] General ]. The markings used to identify Pershing's new ranking as higher than general was a bank of four gold (rather than silver) stars.{{cn|date=December 2020}}


In 1976, as part of commemorations for the ], ] was posthumously promoted to the rank of General of the Armies of the United States.<ref>], (13 March 1978). Department of the Army order to enact Public Law 94-479.</ref> Although the law did not actually specify the number of stars,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://washingtonexaminer.com/sunday-reflection-how-the-indispensable-man-became-americas-only-six-star-general/article/2526401#!|title=Sunday Reflection: How the 'indispensable man' became America's only six-star general|author=Dooley, Joseph|date=April 6, 2013|work=Washington Examiner}}</ref> some U.S. newspapers<ref name="register">{{cite news |title=George Washington Wins Promotion to Six-Star Rank |last= United Press International |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1310&dat=19761012&id=MuVVAAAAIBAJ&pg=5963,2770662 |newspaper= Eugene Register-Guard |location= Eugene, Oregon |date= 12 October 1976 |access-date= 1 March 2014 |page= 7A }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Washington Gets Star |newspaper=The New York Times |url=https://query.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=9900E2D6143EE334BC4B52DFB667838D669EDE |date=13 October 1976 |quote=President Ford signed today a bill that posthumously promoted George Washington to the rank of six-star General of the Armies}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|author=Kilian, Michael|title=Foursquare opposed to a six-star Washington|newspaper=Chicago Tribune|date=5 August 1976|page=A2}}</ref> and members of Congress<ref>{{cite web |author=Dooley |first=Joseph |date=6 April 2013 |title=Sunday Reflection: How the 'indispensable man' became America's only six-star general |url=https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/opinion/columnists/545543/sunday-reflection-how-the-indispensable-man-became-americas-only-six-star-general/ |work=Washington Examiner |quote=Rep. ], R-Va., ... noted, is "the only six-star general in the nation's history."}}</ref> described this as a "six-star rank". His appointment had been to serve as "General and Commander in Chief of the Army of the United Colonies".<ref>.</ref><ref>.</ref>
⚫ == References ==

<references />
== Gallery ==
<gallery class="center" widths="225px" heights="200px">
File:George washington charles peale polk.jpg|Painting of ] showing three star insignia. He was posthumously promoted to the rank of General of the Armies of the United States in 1976.
File:Orders 31-3.jpg|] for promoting George Washington to the rank of General of the Armies of the United States effective 4 July 1976
File:Douglas MacArthur 58-61.jpg|General ] showing ] insignia. A proposal in Congress (1955) that MacArthur be promoted to General of the Armies lapsed.
File:Douglas MacArthur promotion order to General of the Armies.jpg|Proposed Congressional resolution authorizing promotion of Douglas MacArthur to General of the Armies. Copy taken from his service record on file at the ].
File:General John Joseph Pershing head on shoulders.jpg|] held the rank General of the Armies during his lifetime, though he only wore four stars.
File:Ulysses S Grant by William F Cogswell, 1868.jpg|] currently the rank General of the Armies on the retired list, though he never wore more than four stars.
</gallery>


==See also== ==See also==
* ]
⚫ * ]
* ]
* ]
* '']'' * ]
* ]

⚫ == References ==
{{Reflist}}


{{Star officer ranks}} {{Star officer ranks}}


] ]
]

Latest revision as of 08:12, 22 November 2024

Proposed U.S. military rank "Six-star general" redirects here. For the 1973 record album of that name, see Vinegar Joe (band). For other high military ranks, see Highest military ranks.
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See also: General of the Armies of the United States

In the United States Armed Forces, a six-star rank is a proposed rank immediately superior to a five-star rank, possibly to be worn by the General of the Armies.

History

When Congress approved a bill to create the rank of Fleet Admiral in 1944, the Navy wanted to re-establish and elevate Admiral of the Navy to be equivalent to General of the Armies, which requires an Act of Congress. Chief of Naval Personnel Vice Admiral Randall Jacobs testified before the Committee on Naval Affairs of the House of Representatives, recommending that the rank of Admiral of the Navy be made the Naval equivalent to General of the Armies, which a previous failed bill submitted on 25 February 1944 tried to do. Congress passed Pub.L. 78-482 on 14 December 1944, creating the rank of Fleet Admiral, without re-establishing the rank of Admiral of the Navy.

Post–World War II

As such, the rank of Admiral of the Navy continued to be inactive. By 1955, the Navy concluded that the rank was honorary. And while they held to the belief that it was equivalent to General of the Armies, the Navy amended its regulations to establish fleet admiral as its highest achievable rank, adhering to the standard set by the law.

On 21 January 1955, a draft resolution was proposed to the U.S. Senate to authorize President Dwight D. Eisenhower to appoint Douglas MacArthur, then a five-star General of the Army, to be elevated to the "six-star rank" of General of the Armies of the United States "in recognition of the great services to his country", with "such appointment to take effect as of the seventy-fifth anniversary of his birth, 26 January 1955." The proposal had little chance of passing and was never voted on. The rank of General of the Armies had previously been granted in 1919 to active-duty four-star General John J. Pershing. The markings used to identify Pershing's new ranking as higher than general was a bank of four gold (rather than silver) stars.

In 1976, as part of commemorations for the U.S. Bicentennial, George Washington was posthumously promoted to the rank of General of the Armies of the United States. Although the law did not actually specify the number of stars, some U.S. newspapers and members of Congress described this as a "six-star rank". His appointment had been to serve as "General and Commander in Chief of the Army of the United Colonies".

Gallery

  • Painting of George Washington showing three star insignia. He was posthumously promoted to the rank of General of the Armies of the United States in 1976. Painting of George Washington showing three star insignia. He was posthumously promoted to the rank of General of the Armies of the United States in 1976.
  • Order 31-3 for promoting George Washington to the rank of General of the Armies of the United States effective 4 July 1976 Order 31-3 for promoting George Washington to the rank of General of the Armies of the United States effective 4 July 1976
  • General Douglas MacArthur showing five-star rank insignia. A proposal in Congress (1955) that MacArthur be promoted to General of the Armies lapsed. General Douglas MacArthur showing five-star rank insignia. A proposal in Congress (1955) that MacArthur be promoted to General of the Armies lapsed.
  • Proposed Congressional resolution authorizing promotion of Douglas MacArthur to General of the Armies. Copy taken from his service record on file at the National Personnel Records Center. Proposed Congressional resolution authorizing promotion of Douglas MacArthur to General of the Armies. Copy taken from his service record on file at the National Personnel Records Center.
  • John Pershing held the rank General of the Armies during his lifetime, though he only wore four stars. John Pershing held the rank General of the Armies during his lifetime, though he only wore four stars.
  • Ulysses S Grant currently the rank General of the Armies on the retired list, though he never wore more than four stars. Ulysses S Grant currently the rank General of the Armies on the retired list, though he never wore more than four stars.

See also

References

  1. s:Public Law 78-482 Pub.L. 78-482 – To establish the grade of Fleet Admiral for the United States Navy; to establish the grade of General of the Army, and for other purposes.
  2. ^ "Hearings Before the Committee on Naval Affairs of the House of Representatives on Sundry Legislation Affecting the Naval Establishment, 1943–1944, Seventy-eighth Congress, First–Second Session. Washington, D.C.: Government Printing Office. 1944. pp. 1339, 2357–2362". Google Books. 20 July 1944. Retrieved 1 November 2020.
  3. "An Act to establish the grade of Fleet Admiral for the United States Navy; to establish the grade of General of the Army, and for other purposes". 14 December 1944. Archived from the original on 6 February 2012. Retrieved 21 September 2012.
  4. ^ ""How Many Stars Does 'Admiral of the Navy' Rate?". All Hands. January 1955. p. 23". Google Books. Retrieved 1 November 2020.
  5. U.S. Senate Joint Resolution 26, 21 January 1955.
  6. ^ Weintraub, Stanley (2007). 15 Stars: Eisenhower, MacArthur, Marshall: Three Generals Who Saved the American Century. Simon & Schuster. p. 488. ISBN 9781416545934. A few MacArthur devotees in Congress, like Representative Martin, tried to organize support for honorary six-star rank for the general, but as that would have been a slap at Eisenhower, such legislation had no chance.
  7. Foster, Frank C. (2011). United States Army Medal, Badges and Insignias. Medals of America Press. p. 19. ISBN 9781884452673. effort was made to reward General Douglas MacArthur, this time with specifying a six-star rank, but it never came to fruition
  8. Korda, Michael (2009). Ike. HarperCollins. p. 190. ISBN 9780061744969. Congress would twice try to promote him from the new rank of General of the Army—a five-star general—to the unique rank of General of the Armies: a proposed six-star general.
  9. Department of the Army Order 31-3, (13 March 1978). Department of the Army order to enact Public Law 94-479.
  10. Dooley, Joseph (6 April 2013). "Sunday Reflection: How the 'indispensable man' became America's only six-star general". Washington Examiner.
  11. United Press International (12 October 1976). "George Washington Wins Promotion to Six-Star Rank". Eugene Register-Guard. Eugene, Oregon. p. 7A. Retrieved 1 March 2014.
  12. "Washington Gets Star". The New York Times. 13 October 1976. President Ford signed today a bill that posthumously promoted George Washington to the rank of six-star General of the Armies
  13. Kilian, Michael (5 August 1976). "Foursquare opposed to a six-star Washington". Chicago Tribune. p. A2.
  14. Dooley, Joseph (6 April 2013). "Sunday Reflection: How the 'indispensable man' became America's only six-star general". Washington Examiner. Rep. Frank Wolf, R-Va., ... noted, is "the only six-star general in the nation's history."
  15. Cont'l Cong., Commission for General Washington, in 2 Journals of the Continental Congress, 1774–1789 96-7 (Library of Cong. eds., 1905).
  16. Cont'l Cong., Instructions for General Washington, in 2 Journals of the Continental Congress, 1774–1789 100-1 (Library of Cong. eds., 1905).
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