Who has met or physically seen a 5 Star General in person?

2013-11-25T18:28:43-05:00

Omar N. Bradley was the last General of the Army, (Five Star General) given to him on September 20, 1950.

I personally was given a chance to actually see him in FT Bliss Texas, during a thanksgiving dinner. I was wondering if anyone here has ever seen or met a 5 Star General.

Response by CPT Laurie H. made Nov 25 at 2013 6:38 PM

2013-11-25T18:38:05-05:00

Negative. I met General Casey a couple years back, but never a 5 star.

Response by CMC Robert Young made Nov 25 at 2013 7:13 PM

2013-11-25T19:13:22-05:00

Four stars is the best I've been able to do.

Response by CPT Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 25 at 2013 7:28 PM

2013-11-25T19:28:28-05:00

General Powell During Best Ranger... no 5'ers though.

Response by SFC James Baber made Nov 26 at 2013 2:37 PM

2013-11-26T14:37:36-05:00

I met Schwartkopf (sp), Powell, Casey, and a handful of 3-stars, but I believe the last living one was Bradley and he left service sometime during Vietnam if memory serves me correctly.

Response by Col Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 28 at 2013 12:42 AM

2013-11-28T00:42:19-05:00

SSG P, this is great, very interesting question; so, let's see, I've met two CMCs, the ACMC, CJCS, etc., and more three & four stars throughout the years than I can accurately recall (due to unique assignments and opportunities)... five stars, well, that's another story altogether. It's beginning to look like you had a very rare opportunity indeed!

Response by Sgt Packy Flickinger made Sep 10 at 2014 2:17 AM

2014-09-10T02:17:54-04:00

I was at the atlantic fleet change of command in the 90s. There were two there 5 star admirals there if I'm not mistaken. Although I was not able to see either, I was to far in the back.

The closes I got was a friend of mine served with LtGen Cheatham Jr in Vietnam. When I got to my first duty station, he had the General call me to mess with me. Boy howdy you should have seen the Sgt's face change when the caller Id'd himself as a 3 star.

Response by COL Jean (John) F. B. made Sep 10 at 2014 2:07 PM

2014-09-10T14:07:52-04:00

I got to meet General of the Army Omar Bradley in 1975 (I believe) at Fort Benning, Georgia, where he had come to participate in a ceremony. I was a young Captain and had a part to play in his escort detail. It was thrill to get to meet and speak to this icon. He was very, very personable. Can't say the same for his wife, unfortunately.

Response by MAJ Robert (Bob) Petrarca made Sep 10 at 2014 6:43 PM

2014-09-10T18:43:23-04:00

Negative, Ghostrider. Met plenty of 4-stars in my day but being that Omar Bradley was the last of the breed and up there in age, never had the pleasure.

Response by SFC Mark Merino made Sep 10 at 2014 6:50 PM

2014-09-10T18:50:22-04:00

Every time I look in the mirror. I'm a legend in my own mind SSG Laureano Pabon ....lol

Response by SP5 Tom Carlson made Sep 10 at 2014 6:55 PM

2014-09-10T18:55:08-04:00

Gen Jimmy Dolittle was on our university board of directors when I taught there 79- 85

Response by SP5 Tom Carlson made Sep 10 at 2014 6:55 PM

2014-09-10T18:55:51-04:00

Gen Jimmy Dolittle was on the yniversity board of directors when I taught there 79- 85

Response by SP5 Tom Carlson made Sep 10 at 2014 7:09 PM

2014-09-10T19:09:27-04:00

My Mother wrote to and recieved a recepie for our church cookbook, Mamie Eisenhower,,LOL

Response by LTC Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 10 at 2014 8:49 PM

2014-09-10T20:49:05-04:00

I saw a picture of a 5-Star General once.

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 18 at 2014 8:23 AM

2014-09-18T08:23:12-04:00

I've never met one as at 46 I'm too young for that, but General Douglas MacArthur's tomb and museum is about 4 miles from where I'm sitting right now and I've been to General Eisenhower's Gravesite and childhood home in Abilene, KS several times. The USS Eisenhower is in a shipyard about a mile to my west right now. I pass it on my way to work each day. George Washington was given the title of "General of The Armies" posthumously in 1976 and I've been to his tomb several times.

Response by 1SG Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 18 at 2014 8:52 AM

2014-09-18T08:52:12-04:00

I have not. The highest I have personally met was General Petraeus when he came to one of our memorial ceremonies in Baghdad. It was our second big loss, with 5 Soldiers dying in one deep buried IED explosion, and the first was similar with 4 Soldiers dying in one blast.

I did also meet General Odierno when he was a 3 Star

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 19 at 2014 11:22 AM

2014-09-19T11:22:45-04:00

Man, I was going to say wasn't the last one was Omar Bradley and there is no more after that.

Response by SFC Dr. Joseph Finck, BS, MA, DSS made Oct 18 at 2014 10:34 AM

2014-10-18T10:34:59-04:00

SSG Laureano Pabon ,

Like you, as a child I saw General of the Army Omar N. Bradley. My opportunity came at Fort Hood, TX. He was in a wheel chair but was very lucid (as I remember, since I was quite young).

Response by LTC Hillary Luton made Oct 18 at 2014 12:31 PM

2014-10-18T12:31:00-04:00

I'm afraid not. I've met a few 4-star generals, but no 5-star. I would have been about 15 when General Bradley passed away, so I never had the opportunity.

Response by CMSgt Robert Gates made Oct 18 at 2014 2:47 PM

2014-10-18T14:47:32-04:00

I believe that the rank of five star is only authorized during a declared war.

Response by PO2 Rocky Kleeger made Oct 18 at 2014 5:17 PM

2014-10-18T17:17:34-04:00

No five star. However, while on the Nimitz (named after a five star Admiral) I met four star General Petraeus

Response by LTC William Lee Jr made Oct 19 at 2014 5:58 PM

2014-10-19T17:58:23-04:00

I actually saluted and met General Omar N. Bradley when I was a 'plebe' at the USMA (fall 1978). He was being escorted across the parade field by the USMA Superintendent, Commandant of Cadets, and the Cadet Corps Commander (never saw so many stars in my life and I grew up in the military).

Response by PO1 William "Chip" Nagel made Oct 19 at 2014 6:17 PM

2014-10-19T18:17:07-04:00

Not that Lucky. I was the an Off-Line Operator for Thomas T. Hayward when he was CINCPACFLT and he made Chief of Naval Operations. Also I was Master at Arms to Chief of Staff, Commander Space and Naval Warfare Systems Command so I've met lots of 4, 3 and 2 stars though. I loved Tommy T, His Chief of Staff was pretty cool too. Chief of Staff for Intel RADM Dixon my boss was a Riot and a Super Tennis Player. Attended a Lecture by RADM Grace Hopper, that was one tough onry Lady.

Response by SrA Matthew Knight made Dec 12 at 2015 12:20 PM

2015-12-12T12:20:14-05:00

Negative on the five star, although I have seen four stars. Met retired General Lance Lord, former commander of Air Force Space Command, when he and a bunch of other missile field members came to Oscar Zero (the historic minuteman site I used to work at). Definitely a cool experience from someone who was at the time preparing to join the AF to meet a former 4 star. I also ran into General McDew, current TRANSCOM commander, in the barber shop at Scott. I may or may not have seen General Edward Rice (AETC Commander) while in basic training, can't remember.