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Sunday Reflection: How the ‘indispensable man’ became America’s only six-star general

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Historian James Thomas Flexner referred to George Washington as “the indispensable man.” Americans all know he was a general, but have you ever wondered what grade of general? How many stars did Gen. Washington have?

In today’s Army, a one-star general is a brigadier; two stars is a major general; three stars is a lieutenant general; four stars is just plain general. During World War II, Congress created the five-star general, the modern rank of general of the Army.

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