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Military ServiceAmerica gained its independence after a titanic eight-year battle against the British Empire in the last quarter of the 18th century. In the 235 years since, we’ve fought in 12 major wars (excluding the Civil War) and 18 armed conflicts (trivia: the United States have only lost one war during the time – the Vietnam War). Our first president and Commander of the Continental Army during the Revolutionary War, George Washington, was a legendary surveyor-turned soldier. With such a deep role in the psyche and history of our nation, it should come as no surprise that the military remains as one of the most important considerations in the choice of our presidents. After all, these men have proven their bravery, valor and leadership ability under the most demanding of situations. Thirty-one of our former presidents were part of the country’s military at some stage of their career. With the exception of the Marine and Coast Guard, every other branch of the nation’s armed forces has contributed at least one president for the country. The trend has somewhat been reversed in the 20th century since the election of Howard Taft in 1909, as economy, health care and foreign relations, which demanded a completely different skill set, took a more central role in the public’s consciousness. It certainly did not help that the perceived righteousness and the sense of honor often associated with our military campaigns were sorely lacking in the several conflicts we’ve had in the last fifty years. Presidents In Combat• George Washington Colonel with the Virginian Colonial troops during the French and Indian War General and Commander in Chief of Continental Army during the American Revolution Lieutenant General of the United States Army • James Monroe Major in the Continental Army during the American Revolution • Andrew Jackson Major General of Continental Army during the American Revolution Also fought in the War of 1812, Creek War and the First Seminole War • William Henry Harrison Major General, U.S. Army Fought in the War of 1812 and the Indian Wars in the Northwest territories • John Tyler Captain, U.S. Army Fought in the War of 1812 • Zachary Taylor Major General, U.S. Army Fought in the War of 1812, the Indian Wars (Black Hawk War and Florida War), and the Mexican wars • Franklin Pierce Brigadier General, U.S. Army Fought in the Mexican-American War • James Buchanan A member of the Pennsylvania State Militia that fought the invading British forces in the War of 1812 • Andrew Johnson Brigadier General, U.S. Army Appointed military governor of occupied Tennessee during the Civil War • Ulysses Grant General, U.S. Army Led the Union to defeat the Confederates in the Civil War • Rutherford Hayes Major General, U.S. Army Fought in the Civil War • James Garfield Major General, U.S. Army Fought in the Civil War • Benjamin Harrison Colonel, 70th Indiana Infantry Brigadier General, U.S. Army Fought in the Civil War • William McKinley Commissary Sergeant, 23rd Ohio Infantry First Lieutenant, U.S. Army Fought in the Civil War • Theodore Roosevelt Colonel, U.S. Army Fought in the Spanish-American War The only President to be awarded the Medal of Honor (posthumously, 2001) • Harry Truman Private, Missouri Army National Guard Colonel, U.S. Navy Reserve (U.S. Army Coast Artillery Corps) Captain, National Guard Served as Battery Commander for Battery D of the 35th Infantry Division in France during World War I. Truman did not lose a single man under his command during the campaign. • Dwight Eisenhower General, U.S. Army Supreme Commander of Allied Command, during World War II Army Chief of Staff (1945) Commander in Chief of NATO (1950) • John Kennedy Lieutenant, United States Navy World War II veteran • Lyndon Johnson Commander, U.S Navy Reserve An appointee of President Roosevelt, Johnson was controversially awarded a Silver Star after a single, 13-minute combat experience during World War II. The military transport aircraft that he was on during a spying mission to Australia reportedly came under fire from the Japanese fighters. • Richard Nixon Commander, U.S. Navy Reserve World War II veteran • Gerald Ford Lieutenant Commander, U.S. Navy Reserve Served on the legendary USS Monterey in the Pacific Theater with the Third and Fifth Fleets during World War II • George H.W. Bush Lieutenant, US Navy Reserve Flew the Grumman TBM Avenger in World War II Shot down during a bombing mission near Chichi-jima, Japan. Was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross (for “heroism or extraordinary achievement while participating in an aerial flight”) Presidents In Uniform• Thomas Jefferson Non-commissioned officer of the Virginia militia (rank of Colonel) • James Madison Colonel of Continental Army during the American Revolution • James Polk Colonel, Tennessee State Militia • Millard Fillmore Major, New York Guard Served during the Mexican–American War • Abraham Lincoln Captain, Illinois State Militia Served during the Black Hawk War, but did not engage in combat • Chester Arthur Brigadier General, New York Guard Colonel, 9th New York Volunteer Infantry Regimen • Jimmy Carter Lieutenant, U.S. Naval Academy Was a specialist on nuclear reactors • Ronald Reagan Second Lieutenant, U.S Army (Officers Reserve Corps of the Cavalry) Captain, Army Air Force (First Motion Picture Unit) Responsible for producing over 400 training films for the Army • George W. Bush First Lieutenant, Texas Air National Guard Civilian Presidents• John Adams (Chairman, Board of War in the Revolutionary War; equivalent to Secretary of Defense ) • John Quincy Adams • Martin Van Buren • Grover Cleveland • William Taft • Woodrow Wilson • Warren Harding • Calvin Coolidge • Herbert Hoover • Franklin Roosevelt • Bill Clinton • Barack Obama |
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