29 American Presidents Who Served in the Military

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

Image: Wikimedia Commons

Service: United States Army Reserve, United States Army Air Corps

Rank: Captain

Conflict: Stateside during World War II

4. Jimmy Carter

Image: Wikimedia Commons

Service: United States Navy

Rank: Lieutenant

Conflict: World War II and Korea

5. Gerald Ford

Service: United States Naval Reserve

Rank: Lieutenant commander

Conflict: World War II

6. Richard Nixon

Image: Wikimedia Commons

Service: United States Naval Reserve

Rank: Commander

Conflict: World War II

Awards: Two Service Stars

7. Lyndon B. Johnson

Service: United States Naval Reserve

Rank: Commander

Conflict: World War II

Awards: Silver Star

8. John F. Kennedy

Service: United States Navy

Rank: Lieutenant

Conflict: World War II

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

Image: Wikimedia Commons

Service: Army Officer Reserve Corps

Rank: Colonel

Conflict: World War I

11. Theodore Roosevelt

Service: United States Army

Rank: Colonel

Conflict: Spanish-American War

Awards: Medal of Honor (Roosevelt is the only U.S. president to have received this award)

12. William McKinley

Service: United States Army

Rank: Brevet major

Conflict: American Civil War

13. Benjamin Harrison

Image: Wikimedia Commons

Service: United States Army

Rank: Brigadier general

Conflict: American Civil War

14. Chester A. Arthur

Service: New York State Militia

Rank: Brigadier general

Conflict: American Civil War

15. James Garfield

Service: United States Army

Rank: Major general

Conflict: American Civil War

16. Rutherford B. Hayes

Image: Wikimedia Commons

Service: United States Army

Rank: Major general

Conflict: American Civil War

17. Ulysses S. Grant

Service: United States Army

Rank: General of the Army

Conflict: Mexican-American War and American Civil War

18. Andrew Johnson

Service: United States Army

Rank: Brigadier general

Conflict: American Civil War

19. Abraham Lincoln

Service: Illinois State Militia

Rank: Captain

Conflict: Black Hawk War

20. James Buchanan

Image: Wikimedia Commons

Service: Pennsylvania State Militia

Rank: Private

Conflict: War of 1812

21. Franklin Pierce

Service: United States Army

Rank: Brigadier general

Conflict: Mexican-American War

22. Millard Fillmore

Service: New York State Militia

Rank: Major

Conflict: American Civil War

23. Zachary Taylor

Service: United States Army

Rank: Major general

Conflict: War of 1812, Black Hawk War, Second Seminole War, Mexican-American War

24. James K. Polk

Service: Tennessee State Militia

Rank: Colonel

Conflict: Did not see war service

25. John Tyler

Service: Virginia Militia

Rank: Captain

Conflict: War of 1812

26. William Henry Harrison

Service: United States Army

Rank: Major general

Conflict: Northwest Indian War and the War of 1812

27. Andrew Jackson

Image: Wikimedia Commons

Service: United States Army

Rank: Major general

Conflict: American Revolutionary War, War of 1812, Creek War and the First Seminole War

28. James Monroe

Service: Continental Army

Rank: Major

Conflict: American Revolutionary War

29. George Washington

Service: Virginia militia, Continental Army, United States Army

Rank: General

Conflict: French and Indian War and American Revolutionary War

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