Every American president is known as the “Commander-in-Chief.” While the presidency is a civilian position, most U.S. presidents have a military background. Out of 45 presidents, 31 were in the military, and many served during wartime. The following lists the presidents who were veterans, along with their ranks, years in the service, and any wars in which they served.
Presidents Who Served in the Military
George Washington
General and Commander in Chief, Continental Army
1775-1783
Served during the French and Indian War and the American Revolution. At the time of his death, President Washington was still a member of the army.
Thomas Jefferson
Colonel, Virginia Militia
1770-1779
James Madison
Colonel, Virginia Militia
1775-1781
James Monroe
Major, Continental Army
1775-1778
Served during the American Revolution.
Andrew Jackson
Major General, U.S. Army
1814-1821
Served during the American Revolution, the War of 1812, the Creek War and the First Seminole War.
William Henry Harrison
Major General, Kentucky Militia
1812-1814
Served during the Northwest Indian War and the War of 1812. Presidents Andrew Jackson and Henry Harrison are considered to be two major heroes of the War of 1812.
John Tyler
Captain, Virginia Militia
1812 Served during the War of 1812
James K. Polk
Colonel, Tennessee Militia
1821
Zachary Taylor
Major General, U.S. Army
1805-1815, 1816-1849
Served during the War of 1812, the Black Hawk War, the Second Seminole War and the Mexican-American War.
Millard Fillmore
Major, Union Continentals (home guard)
1861
Served during the American Civil War.
Franklin Pierce
Brigadier General, New Hampshire Militia
1846-1848
Served during the Mexican-American War.
James Buchanan
Private, Pennsylvania Militia
1814
Served during the War of 1812
Abraham Lincoln
Captain, Illinois Militia
1832
Served in the Black Hawk War.
Andrew Johnson
Brigadier General, U.S. Army (Volunteers)
1862-1865
Served in the American Civil War.
Ulysses S. Grant
General, U.S. Army
1866-1869
Served in the Mexican-American War and the American Civil War.
Rutherford B. Hayes
Major General, U.S. Army (Volunteers)
1861-1865
Served in the American Civil War.
James A. Garfield
Major General, U.S. Army (Volunteers)
1861-1863
Served in the American Civil War.
Chester A. Arthur
Brigadier General, New York Militia
1858-1863
Served in the American Civil War.
Benjamin Harrison
Brevet Brigadier General, U.S. Army (Volunteers)
1862-1865
Served in the American Civil War.
William McKinley
Brevet Major, U.S. Army (Volunteers)
1861-1865
Served in the American Civil War.
Theodore Roosevelt
Colonel, U.S. Army (Volunteers)
1898
Served during the Spanish-American War and is the only United States President to receive the Medal of Honor, the most prestigious personal U.S. military decoration.
Harry S. Truman
Colonel, Army Officer Reserve Corps
1919-1945
Served in the National Guard and also in combat during World War I.
Dwight D. Eisenhower
General of the Army, U.S. Army
1915-1948, 1951-1952
Served in World War I and World War II.
John F. Kennedy
Lieutenant, U.S. Naval Reserve
1941-1945
Served in World War II and was awarded a Purple Heart and a Navy and Marine Corps Medal.
Lyndon B. Johnson
Commander, U.S. Naval Reserve
1940-1964
Served during World War II and was awarded a Silver Star by General Douglas MacArthur.
Richard M. Nixon
Commander, U.S. Naval Reserve
1942-1966
Served during World War II. He was honored with a Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal and two service stars.
Gerald R. Ford, Jr.
Lieutenant Commander, U.S. Naval Reserve
1942-1946
Served during World War II, in combat on the USS Monterey.
Jimmy Carter
Lieutenant, U.S. Navy
1946-1953
Served during World War II and the Korean War.
Ronald Reagan
Captain, U.S. Army
1942-1945
Served during World War II.
George Bush
Lieutenant (junior grade), U.S. Navy
1942-1945
Served during World War II and was shot down. Received Distinguished Flying Cross medal which honors ”heroism or extraordinary achievement while participating in aerial flight.”
George W. Bush
First Lieutenant, Texas Air National Guard
1968-1973
Served as a pilot during the Vietnam War.
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