MILITARY SERVICE
The United States gained its independence after a titanic eight-year battle against the British Empire in the last quarter of the 18th century. In the 236 years since, we have 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-turned statesman.
With such a deep role in the psyche and history of our nation, it should come as no surprise that, for many Americans, the military remains as one of the most important considerations in the choice of their 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 demand completely different skill sets, took a more central role in the public's consciousness. It certainly did not help that the perceived righteousness and sense of honor often associated with our military campaigns have been 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 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