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{{merge|General of the Armies|date=October 2013}} {{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}}
] 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 Promotion Proposal Package – ].{{Nonspecific|date=February 2011}}{{primary-inline|date=September 2013}}</ref>]] ] 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>]]


A '''six-star rank''' is a theoretical U.S. military rank whose badge of rank is designated by six stars. A '''six-star rank''' is a theoretical U.S. military rank whose badge of rank is designated by six stars.


] held the rank of ] after ], but no special insignia was designed to go with the title. Pershing chose an insignia of 4 gold stars, but never actually wore it.<ref name=foster/> The ] insignia for the rank ] was introduced in 1944.<ref name=foster/><ref name=grier/> Retired Army colonel and military historian ] has stated of Pershing's 1919 rank that "it was like a six-star rank".<ref>Abrams, Jim (March 21, 1991) , Associated Press</ref> ] 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>


In 1945, prior to the planned invasion of Japan, a six-star rank insignia and promotion to General of the Armies was considered for General of the Army ]. As the invasion never occurred, the proposal was shelved. In 1955, the proposal was revived, but MacArthur advised Dwight Eisenhower that he wished to decline promotion, and the bill to promote MacArthur was dropped.<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> 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>


The "''Eugene Register-Guard'' inaccurately states that ] was promoted to six-star rank.<ref name=register>, ''Eugene Register-Guard'', October 12, 1976</ref> Congress posthumously promoted Washington to the American supreme rank of General of the Armies.<ref name=grier>Grier, Peter (March 2012) , ''Air Force Magazine'', vol. 95, no. 3</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/> 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/>


== References == == References ==

Revision as of 16:08, 7 October 2013

It has been suggested that this article be merged with General of the Armies. (Discuss) Proposed since October 2013.
"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.
The Institute of Heraldry produced a single sketch of how the insignia for a six-star rank would appear; this sketch was later filed in Douglas MacArthur's service record.

A six-star rank is a theoretical U.S. military rank whose badge of rank is designated by six stars.

John J. Pershing held the rank of General of the Armies of the United States after World War I, but no special insignia was designed to go with the title. The five-star rank insignia for the rank General of the Army was introduced in 1944. Although Pershing wore four stars, in the words of military historian Trevor N. Dupuy, "it was like a six-star rank".

In 1955, a six-star rank insignia and promotion to General of the Armies was considered for General of the Army Douglas MacArthur, but the idea was shelved.

The American supreme rank of six-star General of the Armies has only been awarded once, posthumously to George Washington. At his death in December 1799, Washington was a three-star lieutenant-general. Although Congress created a higher rank in March 1799, President John Adams did not submit Washington's name for confirmation and so the rank was not awarded in Washington's lifetime. Two hundred years later, as part of the United States Bicentennial celebrations, Congress passed a joint resolution (sponsored by Representative Mario Biaggi) 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. President Gerald Ford signed the order on October 12, with an effective date of July 4, 1976. Representative Lucien Nedzi, who opposed the resolution, said the rank was "superfluous and unnecessary ... it is like the Pope offering to make Christ a cardinal."

References

  1. Service Record of Douglas MacArthur – 1945 Promotion Proposal Package – National Personnel Records Center.
  2. ^ Foster, Frank C. (2011) United States Army Medal, Badges and Insignias, Medals of America Press, ISBN 9781884452673, page 19
  3. ^ Grier, Peter (March 2012) "The Highest Ranking", Air Force Magazine, vol. 95, no. 3
  4. Abrams, Jim (March 21, 1991) "Schwarzkopf, Powell Up For Awards But Fifth Star Not Given Lightly", Associated Press
  5. Weintraub, Stanley (2007) 15 Stars: Eisenhower, MacArthur, Marshall: Three Generals Who Saved the American Century, Simon & Schuster, ISBN 9781416545934, page 488
  6. Korda, Michael (2009) Ike, HarperCollins, ISBN 9780061744969, page 190
  7. ^ George Washington Wins Promotion to Six-Star Rank, Eugene Register-Guard, October 12, 1976

See also

Star officer grades
By star ranks
By titles
Categories: