Formally titled "General of the Army," the five-star general is the highest possible rank awarded in the U.S. Army in modern times and has been awarded to only five men in the nation's history: George C. Marshall, Douglas MacArthur, Dwight D. Eisenhower, Henry H. Arnold, and Omar N. Bradley. In addition to their rank, these distinguished soldiers all shared the experience of serving or studying at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas, where they gained the knowledge that would prepare them for command during World War II and the Korean War. In Generals of the Army , James H. Willbanks assembles top military historians to examine the connection between the institution and the success of these exceptional men. Historically known as the "intellectual center of the Army," Fort Leavenworth is the oldest active Army post west of Washington, D.C., and one of the most important military installations in the United States. Though there are many biographies of the five-star generals, this innovative study offers a fresh perspective by illuminating the ways in which these legendary figures influenced and were influenced by Leavenworth. Coinciding with the U.S. Mint's release of a series of special commemorative coins honoring these soldiers and the fort where they were based, this concise volume offers an intriguing look at the lives of these remarkable men and the contributions they made to the defense of the nation. "Though Leavenworth graduates have served with distinction in every conflict since its founding, this book is a tribute to Generals of the Army George C. Marshall, Douglas MacArthur, Dwight D. Eisenhower, Henry H. 'Hap' Arnold, and Omar N. Bradley; to the venerable military post that molded and shaped them; and to every officer who ever has or ever will serve at Fort Leavenworth."―General Gordon R. Sullivan, USA (Ret.), from the foreword " Generals of the Army provides a concise account of the extraordinary careers of the five men who had perhaps the greatest impact on the U.S. military of the late twentieth century while also delineating how their lives were affected by and had impact on the American military education system. A highly-recommended study of the interaction between education and the real world of the military."―Andrew Wiest, Distinguished Professor of History, The University of Southern Mississippi, author of The Boys of '67: Charlie Company's War in Vietnam , and Founding Director of the Center for the Study of War and Society at the University of Southern Mississippi. "This book, Generals of the Army, is an excellent review of the lives and challenges, on and off the battlefield, during trying times for our country. I recommend that every young American officer read it and learn of these five great Americans who made a positive difference for the national security of our nation."―Ike Skelton, Former Chairman, House Armed Services Committee, U.S. Congress " Generals of the Army offers a timely and thoughtfully crafted series of biographical portraits of the five individuals awarded five star rank by a grateful nation in the era of World War II. Distinguished historian James H. Willbanks has enlisted superbly qualified scholars from the U.S. Army Command and General Staff College's Department of Military History to trace the careers of these officers, giving noteworthy emphasis to the influence of Fort Leavenworth, deservedly described as the cradle of U.S. Army senior leaders of the World War II generation. Highly recommended."―Theodore A. Wilson, University of Kansas "This book appropriately heralds the contributions of our Nation's highest ranking General Officer graduates of the US Army Command and General Staff College. Recognition of the Five Star Generals' service, how they were influenced by their "Leavenworth Experience" and how that enabled them to better serve and lead our deployed forces in World War II is of enormous importance as is appropriate and due recognition of the institution that helped form them."―Lt. General John E. Miller, USA (Ret.) "A wonderful read: Generals of the Army provides rich, objective, and instructive descriptions of the five-star generals who led our Army and America's 'Greatest Generation' during WWII and in a variety of post-war endeavors. Readable and impressively researched, the accounts of these legendary figures will be enjoyed―and revisited―by all those who want to recall the lives and times of the men who shaped the strategies and oversaw the operations of the greatest alliance of all times."―General David H. Petraeus,USA, (Ret.), Commander of U.S. and Coalition Forces in Iraq (2007-2008) and Afghanistan (2010-2011) "This excellent summary chronicles the careers of the five highest-ranked generals in U.S. Army history, connecting their success at five-star generals to their service at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas."― Culture "The book is well organized and researched. Each biography is a good summary of the man's life, service, and importance