The 6-star general rank is an extremely rare and prestigious distinction in U.S. military history, granted only three times. This rank was awarded to military leaders whose exceptional wartime achievements set them apart from all others. Of these three instances, one was bestowed during a general’s lifetime, while the other two were given posthumously. The individuals who received this honor are recognized for their unparalleled contributions to the nation’s military efforts, making the 6-star general one of the most exceptional accolades in U.S. history.
John J. Pershing’s slow climb up the US military hierarchy
Long before he became a 6-star general, John J. Pershing attended the United States Military Academy West Point. Following his graduation, he spent the first years of his military career fighting the Apache and Lakota Sioux in New Mexico, as well as at other Western outposts. While in Montana, he was promoted to first lieutenant of the 10th Cavalry Regiment.
In 1898, Pershing and the 10th Cavalry traveled to Cuba to fight in the Spanish-American War. He fought in the battles of Santiago de Cuba and San Juan Hill, earning himself a Silver Citation Star that was later upgraded to the Silver Star and a promotion to captain. After heading to the Philippines to lead repeated efforts to subdue the Moro Rebellion, he earned yet another promotion, this time to brigadier general.
In 1916, US President Woodrow Wilson had Pershing lead an expedition in Mexico to search for revolutionary Francisco “Pancho” Villa, who’d recently raided Columbus, New Mexico. The search included approximately 10,000 soldiers and lasted nearly a year. However, despite the efforts of Pershing and his men, which included the defeat of Villa’s forces, the man remained at large.
John J. Pershing refused to sacrifice American lives
When the United States entered World War I, John J. Pershing’s military career reached a major milestone with his promotion to General of the Armies, a rank often considered equivalent to a six-star general. President Woodrow Wilson appointed him to lead the American Expeditionary Force (AEF) and sent him to France to establish and train a modern U.S. Army presence in Europe.
To achieve this, Pershing created the General Organization Report, which outlined the plan to build an army of one million soldiers by 1918, with the ultimate goal of reaching three million by the following year. His primary focus was to transform inexperienced recruits into a skilled, disciplined fighting force.
While the French and British suggested merging American troops into their own depleted units, Pershing firmly opposed the idea. He rejected the proposal made by the Supreme War Council, famously dismissing it as “pouring new wine into old bottles.” Pershing was determined that U.S. soldiers would fight as part of a unified American army, not as reinforcements for foreign forces, and refused to let them be treated as expendable replacements.
Promotion to six-star general
Upon returning to the United States, John J. Pershing was honored for his World War I contributions and became the first person to attain the rank of six-star general. This newly created rank, known as “General of the Armies of the United States,” had no established insignia. As a result, Pershing chose to create it himself, opting for gold stars instead of the silver ones used by other generals.
Pershing retained his six-star rank throughout the remainder of his military career. According to the US Army Center of Military History, he retired from the Army on September 13, 1924, yet continued to hold this rank until his death in 1948.
Trouble with George Washington’s military rank
John J. Pershing was the first to officially hold the rank of six-star general, also known as “General of the Armies of the United States.” He was awarded this distinction for his outstanding leadership during World War I. However, many years after his death, another figure, George Washington, was posthumously granted the same rank. Although Washington was widely acknowledged as one of the most pivotal figures in American history—leading the Continental Army to victory in the American Revolutionary War and becoming the first president—he had passed away holding the rank of three-star lieutenant general.
In the years following Washington’s death, military leaders like Pershing achieved higher ranks, such as four- and five-star generals. To honor Washington’s immense contributions and prevent any future officer from surpassing his status, Congress promoted him to the six-star general rank in 1976, as part of the bicentennial celebrations of the United States.
A posthumous promotion to six-star general
When George Washington was promoted to lieutenant general, the ranks of four-star, five-star, and six-star generals did not yet exist. When these higher ranks were later introduced, the U.S. Congress decided it was inappropriate for the esteemed military leader and former president to be outranked by officers who served during the American Civil War, the First World War or World War II.
To resolve this, Congress passed a law on March 13, 1978, posthumously promoting Washington to the rank of six-star general, General of the Armies of the United States, with the promotion backdated to July 4, 1976. The law determined that “no officer of the United States Army should outrank Lieutenant General George Washington on the Army list.”
Although John J. Pershing also held the rank of six-star general, he was not considered to outrank Washington, and his status remained unchanged.
Ulysses S. Grant showed military promise from a young age
Prior to becoming the 18th president of the US, Ulysses S. Grant had dedicated his life to military service, attending West Point on the recommendation of Democratic congressman Thomas L. Hamer and, later, serving at the Jefferson Barracks, Missouri under the command of Col. Stephen W. Kearny.
Grant got his first taste of combat during the Mexican-American War, participating in the Battle of Palo Alto and several other engagements against the Mexican forces. The conflict allowed him to show his prowess on the battlefield and it didn’t take very long for higher-ups in the military to see the soldier’s potential.
Leading the Union forces to victory during the American Civil War
Fast forward to the American Civil War, where Ulysses S. Grant solidified his place in history. Called up by Illinois Gov. Richard Yates to lead the less-than-proper 21st Illinois Volunteer Infantry Regiment, he quickly showcased his ability to whip troops into shape. Before long, he’d been named brigadier general of volunteers (later to be major).
Over the course of the conflict, Grant led his men through many high-profile engagements, including attacks on Fort Henry and Fort Donelson and the casualty-heavy Battle of Shiloh. After skillfully succeeding in splitting the Confederate forces in two with the Vicksburg Campaign, the military leader set his sights on Chattanooga, followed by the controversial Battle of Cold Harbor.
By the Confederate surrender in 1865, Grant had risen to commander of the Army. He subsequently ran for the presidency and was sworn in, in 1869, serving two terms.
A long-overdue promotion to six-star general
In December 2022, on the 200th anniversary of his birth, Ulysses S. Grant was posthumously promoted to the rank of six-star general. This was made possible by a provision in the 2023 National Defense Authorization Act, which was approved by the US Congress and signed into law by President Joe Biden, much to the satisfaction of military enthusiasts.
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With the promotion, Grant became the third individual to receive the title of General of the Armies of the United States. It’s unknown if we’ll ever see a fourth be promoted to the prestigious rank.