<P> Nine Americans have been promoted to five - star rank , one of them , Henry H. Arnold , in two services ( US Army then later in the US Air Force ) . As part of the bicentennial celebration , George Washington was , 177 years after his death , permanently made senior to all other US generals / admirals , with the title General of the Armies , effective on 4 July 1976 . The appointment stated he was to have `` rank and precedence over all other grades of the Army , past or present '' . </P>
<P> Nine Americans have been promoted to five - star rank , one of them , Henry H. Arnold , in two services ( US Army then later in the US Air Force ) . As part of the bicentennial celebration , George Washington was , 177 years after his death , permanently made senior to all other US generals / admirals , with the title General of the Armies , effective on 4 July 1976 . The appointment stated he was to have `` rank and precedence over all other grades of the Army , past or present '' . </P>
how many 5 star general in us history
how many 5 star general in us history
Nine
Nine