[Vermont Lt]

Five stars were created in WWII to outrank the Field Marshalls of England. Pershiing and Washington were granted them posthumously--as a courtesy. Eisenhower was reinstated after he left the Presidency.

Powell was not given 5 stars. There was talk, but it was silly.

Five stars aint gonna happen again. At least for a long, long time.

[Alas Babylon!]

I believe MacAurthur and Nimitz got their fifth star as well.

[Cvengr]

Concur,...besides it would cost too much to provide all those parking blocks outside the commisaries, exchanges and O-Clubs for "Any 5-Star Officer".

[Tallguy]

Five stars were created in WWII to outrank the Field Marshalls of England.

Rank-equivalencies are a bit vague and usually have to be straightened-out between allies. That being said, the general officer ranks match-up from Brig. Gen. (Brigadier) all the way through to (full) General. The US had no equivalent rank of Field Marshall going into WW2, until the rank of "General of the Army" (5-star) was created.

There was a story that the title "Field Marshall" was given consideration, but it was dropped on account of the fact that the Army Chief of Staff happened to be Gen. George Marshall. I guess they thought that nobody could say "Field Marshall Marshall with a straight-face. Don't know if the story is true, but it should be...

[Beenliedto]

Five stars were created in WWII to outrank the Field Marshalls of England. Pershiing and Washington were granted them posthumously--as a courtesy. Eisenhower was reinstated after he left the Presidency.

The rank was created, and is equal to Field Marshal, because Marshall didn't want to be called Field Marshal Marshall.

In all, there have been nine to hold the rank: Marsahll, Eisenhower, MacArthur and Bradley for the Army (Plus Arnold for the Army Air Corps). Admirals of the Fleet were Leahy, King, Nimitz and Halsey.

There is one rank higher, General of the Armies, which has been awarded to two Americans:

John J. Pershing

and

George Washington.