29 American Presidents Who Served in the Military
U.S. President John F. Kennedy, during his time in the Navy (image: John F Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum)
Business Insider | By Áine Cain
Serving in the military isn't a prerequisite for becoming president. Nonetheless, out of the 45 presidents of the United States, 29 had some military experience in their background, according to the US Department of Veterans Affairs. This seems fitting, given that the president is the commander-in-chief of America's military.
Military service has also come up as a political issue over time. The military service of George W. Bush and John Kerry received heavy scrutiny during the 2004 presidential campaign.
And while observers have pointed out that U.S. President Donald Trump has a fondness for military trappings and parades — even sparking anger by referring to his staff as "my generals," Business Insider's Mark Abadi reported — the medical deferment that kept him out of the Vietnam War is a source of controversy.
Related: Vetearns Day Free Meals and Restaurant Discounts
These are the presidents who served in the armed forces in some capacity, from the modern day to the American Revolution:
1. George W. Bush
Image: Wikimedia Commons
Service: Texas Air National Guard
Rank: First lieutenant
Conflict: Stateside during the Vietnam War
2. George H.W. Bush
Image: U.S. Navy
Service: United States Naval Reserve
Rank: Lieutenant (junior grade)
Conflict: World War II
Awards: Distinguished Flying Cross
3. Ronald Reagan
Service: United States Army Reserve, United States Army Air Corps
Conflict: Stateside during World War II
4. Jimmy Carter
Service: United States Navy
Conflict: World War II and Korea
5. Gerald Ford
Rank: Lieutenant commander
6. Richard Nixon
Rank: Commander
Awards: Two Service Stars
7. Lyndon B. Johnson
Awards: Silver Star
8. John F. Kennedy
Awards: Navy and Marine Corps Medal and a Purple Heart
9. Dwight D. Eisenhower
Service: United States Army
Rank: Army General during World War I, supreme Allied commander in Europe during World War II
Conflict: World War I and World War II
10. Harry S. Truman
Service: Army Officer Reserve Corps
Rank: Colonel
11. Theodore Roosevelt
Conflict: Spanish-American War
Awards: Medal of Honor (Roosevelt is the only U.S. president to have received this award)
12. William McKinley
Rank: Brevet major
Conflict: American Civil War
13. Benjamin Harrison
Rank: Brigadier general
14. Chester A. Arthur
President Chester A. Arthur
Service: New York State Militia
15. James Garfield
Rank: Major general
16. Rutherford B. Hayes
17. Ulysses S. Grant
Rank: General of the Army
Conflict: Mexican-American War and American Civil War
18. Andrew Johnson
19. Abraham Lincoln
Service: Illinois State Militia
Conflict: Black Hawk War
20. James Buchanan
Service: Pennsylvania State Militia
Conflict: War of 1812
21. Franklin Pierce
Thomas Fisk, vice president of New Hampshire's Pierce Brigade, and Sgt. Maj. Caleb Smith, 197th Field Artillery Brigade, NHARNG, place a floral wreath at the grave of Franklin Pierce during a ceremony held Nov. 24, 2020, at the Old North Cemetery in Concord. (Staff Sgt. Charles Johnston/U.S. Air National Guard photo)
Conflict: Mexican-American War
22. Millard Fillmore
President Millard Fillmore
Rank: Major
23. Zachary Taylor
President Zachary Taylor
Conflict: War of 1812, Black Hawk War, Second Seminole War, Mexican-American War
24. James K. Polk
President James K. Polk
Service: Tennessee State Militia
Conflict: Did not see war service
25. John Tyler
President John Tyler (George Peter Alexander Healy)
Service: Virginia Militia
26. William Henry Harrison
Conflict: Northwest Indian War and the War of 1812
27. Andrew Jackson
Conflict: American Revolutionary War, War of 1812, Creek War and the First Seminole War
28. James Monroe
Service: Continental Army
Conflict: American Revolutionary War
29. George Washington
Washington Crossing the Delaware (Emanuel Leutze)
Service: Virginia militia, Continental Army, United States Army
Rank: General
Conflict: French and Indian War and American Revolutionary War
Want to Know More About the Military?
Be sure to get the latest news about the U.S. military, as well as critical info about how to join and all the benefits of service. Subscribe to Military.com and receive customized updates delivered straight to your inbox.
Related Topics: People Military History Government
© Copyright 2023 Business Insider. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
How Operation Just Cause, the US Invasion of Panama, Ousted a Dictator
Salisbury Steak Was Supposed to Be a Cure-All for Union Troops in the Civil War
James H. Salisbury was both the doctor you want and the doctor you should definitely not listen to, but in his day, he was as...
'We'll Be Back For You': Jesse Brown and the Battle of the Chosin Reservoir
At a time when the United States was still divided by segregation, Navy pilots Jesse Brown and Tom Hudner were a model of...
Auschwitz-Birkenau survivors and other mourners have commemorated the 78th anniversary of the liberation of the Nazi German...
More History Topics
US Military History
Battle of Iwo Jima
Patriot Day: 9/11 Remembrance
Pearl Harbor: Day of Infamy
POW/MIA Recognition Day
USS Cole Sinking
VJ Day
Daily Military Trivia
View More Quizzes
History Quizzes
Military Aircraft Identification Quiz
Think you're a Top Gun at aircraft identification? We've created a quiz to test your ability to recognize military aircraft.
Air Force History Quiz
In honor of the Air Force's birthday, we've put together this Air Force history quiz. Test your knowledge!
Army Birthday Quiz
How much do you know about the founding of the U.S. Army?
Coast Guard Quiz
In honor of the Coast Guard's birthday, we've put together a quiz on the service's history and traditions.
Marine Corps History Quiz
In celebration of the Marine Corps' birthday, Military.com has put together this Marine Corps history quiz.
Navy History Quiz
Test your Navy knowledge with this Navy history quiz by Military.com.
Famous Veterans
Seven Famous Female Veterans
From a computer genius to a popular sitcom star, talented women have made their mark in the U.S. military.
Morgan Freeman Turned Down an Acting Scholarship to Join the Air Force
One of the most memorable actors ever almost gave it up to be an Air Force pilot.
Famous Veterans: Chuck Norris
Chuck Norris, U.S. military veteran, and martial arts superstar began honing his skills in Korea while serving in the Air...
Famous Veterans: Mr. T
Before he went on to fame as B.A. Baracus on "The A-Team," Mr. T was a member of the biggest team of them all -- the U.S...
Famous Veteran: Bob Ross
"I was the guy who makes you scrub the latrine, the guy who makes you make your bed, the guy who screams at you for being...