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The Most Important Military Leaders In US History

America's legendary military history is dotted with some of the greatest generals and admirals to ever put on a uniform. While there have been thousands of high-ranking U.S. Army generals and and military leaders in American history, only a few have truly changed the world with their bravery, intelligence, strategic planning ability, and the way they look wearing a uniform full of medals. Some of the best American generals are also the top military leaders in history. The army leaders and generals in the US Army on this list all either held the most important positions in the US military or were immortalized in the history books for their actions in war. To be a great US Army officer takes great courage and leadership. Who has had the most impact and led his men and women to historic triumphs? Leading the ranks of the army is no easy feat, but throughout army history, many great men have made a name for themselves. Vote for who you think are the most important leaders from the United States Army, armed forces, and other military branches on this list, and vote down the ones you think might be a little overrated. And feel free to add generals and admirals who you feel were unfairly forgotten.

Entries: 61
Votes: 81.7K
Updated: 8 days ago

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#1Currently leadingGeorge Washington

1
George Washington
81% upvoted
2
Ulysses S. Grant
75% upvoted
3
Dwight D. Eisenhower
75% upvoted
4
George S. Patton
74% upvoted
5
Chester W. Nimitz
75% upvoted
6
George Marshall
74% upvoted
7
William Tecumseh Sherman
72% upvoted
8
Nathanael Greene
Sent by Washington to replace Gates in the South and drive Cornwallis out of South Carolina. He was called the Fighting Quaker and had been Washinton's Quartermaster.
73% upvoted
9
John Paul Jones
Best-known naval leader for the U.S. in the Revolutionary War.
72% upvoted
10
John J. Pershing
71% upvoted
11
Stonewall Jackson
69% upvoted
12
Omar Bradley
68% upvoted
13
Robert E. Lee
67% upvoted
14
William Halsey, Jr.
68% upvoted
15
Raymond A. Spruance
72% upvoted
16
Chesty Puller
69% upvoted
17
Andrew Jackson
Led U.S. troops to victory over the British in the Battle of New Orleans in the War of 1812.
64% upvoted
18
Norman Schwarzkopf, Jr.
64% upvoted
19
Douglas MacArthur
64% upvoted
20
Gilbert du Motier, Marquis de Lafayette
69% upvoted
21
Friedrich Wilhelm von Steuben
68% upvoted
22
Winfield Scott
65% upvoted
23
James Longstreet
66% upvoted
24
Theodore Roosevelt
Led American troops, the Roughriders, up San Juan Hill for decisive victory. Was eventually awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor, in 2001, for his actions.
61% upvoted
25
Henry H. Arnold
65% upvoted
26
David Farragut
65% upvoted
27
Philip Sheridan
64% upvoted
28
Matthew Ridgway
64% upvoted
29
Curtis LeMay
63% upvoted
30
Oliver Hazard Perry
64% upvoted
31
Zachary Taylor
62% upvoted
32
Winfield Scott Hancock
61% upvoted
33
Joseph Stilwell
61% upvoted
34
Alexander Vandegrift
60% upvoted
35
George Dewey
59% upvoted
36
J.e.b. Stuart
59% upvoted
37
Anthony Wayne
60% upvoted
38
Oliver P. Smith
Marine general who heroically commanded the 1st Marine Division during the Battle of Chosin Reservoir during the Korean War. The marines (and nearby Army units) became surrounded, he led the breakout and withdrawal. Without his preparation before and leadership during the battle, historians believe the marine and army units would have been destroyed.
60% upvoted
39
Arleigh Burke
59% upvoted
40
Casimir Pulaski
59% upvoted
41
Ernest King
56% upvoted
42
Creighton Abrams
56% upvoted
43
George Meade
55% upvoted
44
Jim Mattis
54% upvoted
45
Nathan Bedford Forrest
52% upvoted
46
Carl Andrew Spaatz
52% upvoted
47
Colin Powell
50% upvoted
48
Tadeusz Kościuszko
51% upvoted
49
William Henry Harrison
49% upvoted
50
Maxwell D. Taylor
48% upvoted
51
James Van Fleet
48% upvoted
52
P. G. T. Beauregard
42% upvoted
53
Horatio Gates
42% upvoted
54
Courtney Hodges
39% upvoted
55
J. Lawton Collins
39% upvoted
56
Mark W. Clark
37% upvoted
57
Wesley Clark
33% upvoted
58
Charles Lee
31% upvoted
59
Peyton C. March
33% upvoted
60
John William Vessey, Jr.
28% upvoted
61
William Westmoreland
29% upvoted