GDG- Military history

[Margaret D. Blough]

That will teach me to rely on my memory.<g>  You are correct. Eisenhower's title was General of the Army, which has been held by only four other men since the most recent legislation (Post Civil War legislation conferred it on Grant, Sherman, and Sheridan) creating it as a temporary grade was passed in December 14, 1944, (George Marshall, Douglas McArthur, Hap Arnold (later changed to General of the Air Force), and Omar Bradley). The rank was made permanent by Congress in 1946.  The title General of the Armies is associated with George Washington, who never held it (it was conferred posthumously), but the only holder, as you noted, was John Pershing, to whom Congress conferred the rank by legislation in 1919 to honor his wartime service.  However, according to the US Army Center for Military History web site, Pershing never wore more than 4 stars, while, after the 1944 legislation, Army regulations specified 5 stars for the rank of General of the Army.

Regards,

Margaret

-------------- Original message -------------- 
From: DTCLEM at aol.com 

> Esteemed GDG Member Contributes: 
> 
> 
> 
> In a message dated 5/10/2007 12:19:22 A.M. Eastern Daylight Time, 
> mdblough1 at comcast.net writes: 
> 
> General of the Armies 
> 
> 
> I thought Pershing was the only holder of this rank. Am I wrong? ;>) 
> 
> Dennis Clemente 
> 
> 
> 
> 
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