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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

• Admiral of the Navy (United States)
• Highest military ranks
• Generalissimo

• Military ranks