American Military Patches, Other Insignia and Decorations
of World War Two by Dr. Howard G. Lanham c.2001
Other Cloth Insignia Not Shoulder Sleeve Insignia
Second World War
U.S. Army Grade Insignia of the Second World War
Part One: General Officers
General of the Army
The grade of General of the Army was approved by Act of Congress December 14, 1944. It was chosen to be distinct from
the title "General of the Armies" given to John J. Pershing. The first generals to receive the grade were Marshall,
Eisenhower, MacArthur and Arnold. The grade was both to honor our senior commanders and to give them equal status to
officers of allied and enemy powers who were titled Marshal or Field Marshal.
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| General (cap insignia)
| Lieutenant General (cap insignia)
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Major General Huebner (1st Division) wearing two stars on a bar similar to the above insignia.
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| Major General (shoulder loop insignia)
| Brigadier General
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It was common practice for generals with a grade higher than brigadier to wear multiple single stars not fixed to
a bar. These insignia could be metallic or made of bullion embroidery.
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