[Rider on the Rain]

I know of only two generals who've been awarded the fifth star: John J. Pershing and Dwight D. Eisenhower.

Suggest you do your homework, Mr. Libertarian. MacArthur, Eisenhower, Arnold, Bradley, Nimitz, Halsey, and King were promoted to five-star rank, the first 4 to General of the Army, the last 3 to Admiral of the Fleet.

Although Pershing was promoted to General of the Armies (presumably even higher than the above), he never wore more than 4 stars.

[fporretto]

Suggest you do your homework, Mr. Libertarian.

And I suggest you work on your manners, Mr. Heckler. I wrote "I know of," not "There have been only." I avoid doctrinaire statements when I don't have a complete set of references before me. Just now I'm doing this from a hotel room; my books are far away.

And exactly what do my political convictions have to do with the subject? Are you so allergic to libertarians that you'll go out of your way to register a slam against one? Or are you so pleased to find out that you know something a particular libertarian doesn't know that in your joy you simply have to trumpet the event to the entire known universe?

Freedom, Wealth, and Peace,
Francis W. Porretto
Visit the Palace Of Reason:
http://palaceofreason.com

[tanknetter]

MacArthur, Eisenhower, Arnold, Bradley, Nimitz, Halsey, and King were promoted to five-star rank, the first 4 to General of the Army, the last 3 to Admiral of the Fleet.

I remember reading somewhere recently that an equal number of 5 star ranks were authorized by Congress in WWII -- to be split between the Army and the Navy. The Army used up all its allotment, but the Navy didn't and still has one "authorized" unused 5 star slot available. I think that there's been some talk about elevating Spruance, posthumously.