Famous Freemasons in the US Military

Military Freemasons

General Ethan Allen

Revolutionary War Hero; Founded State of Vermont

General Henry “Hap” Arnold

American general whose efforts helped establish what is now the U.S. Air Force. Commander, Army Air Force in World War II, he is the only person to ever hold five star rank in two services and the only person to ever hold five star rank in the US Air Force.

General of the Army – WWI

General of the Air Force – WWII

Taught to fly by the Wright Brothers

Raised a Mason in 1927 in Junction City, Kansas. Scottish Rite degrees 1929 in Ft. Leavenworth, Kansas, and 33rd degree in 1945.

Masonic tribute Nov. 8, 2008 Sonoma, California

Military Freemasons

General Omar Bradley

American general. Played a major part in the Allied victory in World War II.

Last 5 star General

First General selected Chairman of Joint Chiefs

West Point class of 1915 – 59 Generals including Eisenhower - The West Point graduating class of 1915 numbered 164. More than a third of that extraordinary class won stars, 59 in all-24 brigadier generals (one star), 24 major generals (two stars), 7 lieutenant generals (three stars), two generals (four stars), and 2 generals of the army (five stars).

Raised a Mason in 1923 in West Point Lodge #877, Highland Falls, New York.

Military Freemasons

General Omar Bradley

Military Freemasons

Admiral Richard Byrd

American naval officer and explorer. He was the first to fly over the North Pole (with Floyd Bennet in 1926).

General Mark Clark

US Army General who commanded the American Fifth Army when it made its initial landings on the Italian mainland. Later commanded the 15th Army Group consisting of the British Eight and American Fifth Armies as it effected the conquest of Italy.

General James Doolittle

American Army officer and aviator, he led the daring raids on Tokyo.

Pilot Virgil Grissom

Astronaut who made the second crewed spaceflight in 1961, he was tragically killed in a launch pad explosion in 1967

Military Freemasons

Admiral John Paul Jones Scottish born seaman, he became a naval hero and 'Father of the U.S.

Navy'. He later commanded Russian naval ships in their war against the Ottoman empire.

General Chappie James A fighter pilot in the Air Force who became the first African American to

reach the rank of four-star general in 1975 His son, Daniel, retired a Lieutenant General in the Air Force

General Henry Knox US Revolutionary War hero, he was the first Secretary of War under

the U.S. Constitution. A Masonic lodge named in his honor was constituted on the gun deck of the USS Constitution ('Old Ironsides') in 1926. Knoxville, Tennessee and the famous "Fort Knox" were named in his honor.

Military Freemasons

Admiral Earnest King Fleet Admiral as of Dec. 17, 1944 Received Masonic degrees in 1935 in George C. Whiting Lodge #22

(now Potomac Lodge #5) in Washington, D.C. Received Royal Arch degrees in 1938 in San Diego, California. Said to be greatly interested in Masonry, and attended Lodge and Chapter often. Also a member of the Knight Templar Commandery (1939, in Cleveland, Ohio), and Al Koran Shrine in Cleveland, 1946.

Audie Murphy Most decorated American Soldier of WWII, he also achieved fame as

an actor in movies (Westerns). An autobiographical movie was made of his heroic combat exploits. He was active and interested in Freemasonry.

Military Freemasons

General Douglas MacArthur

A former US Chief of Staff, he commanded the Allied Forces in the South Pacific during World War II. He promised the Filipino people "I shall return" to save them from the occupying Japanese Forces. He was ultimately removed from military leadership by another Mason, President Harry S. Truman.

Made a Mason at Sight by the Grand Master of the Philippines on Jan. 17, 1936, and affiliated with Manila Lodge #1. Joined Scottish Rite in Manila, also in 1936, and 33rd degree in 1947 in Tokyo. Life member of Nile Shrine in Seattle, Washington. Wrote positively about Freemasonry on several occasions.

Military Freemasons

General George Washington

General of the Armies of the United States as of 1976, when posthumously appointed pursuant to an Act of Congress, and General Washington raised to rank 1st among all officers of the Army, past and present

Received his 3 Masonic Craft degrees in the Lodge at Fredericksburg (now Fredericksburg Lodge #4) in Virginia, in 1752 and 1753. He was named, but did not actually serve, as Charter Worshipful Master of Alexandria Lodge #22 under its Virginia Charter in 1788-1789. Wrote positively about Freemasonry on many occasions, and led the Masonic cornerstone laying of the U.S. Capitol in September 1793.

Military Freemasons

General George Marshall

American soldier, diplomat and politician. He served as Secretary of State from 1947-1949 and organized the European Recovery Plan most often referred to as the "Marshall Plan" for which he received the 1953 Nobel Peace Prize.

Made a Mason at Sight by the Grand Master of the District of Columbia, on December 16, 1941, about a week after the Pearl Harbor attack, when General Marshall (then 4 stars) was Chief of Staff of the U.S. Army

Military Freemasons

General George Marshall

Military Freemasons

General John Joseph Pershing

("Black Jack") American Army General who led the American Expeditionary Forces in Europe during World War I. In 1921, he was given the rank of General of the Armies, a rank only conferred once.

General of the Armies of the United States as of Sept. 3, 1919 (but wore only 4 stars even though he remained preeminent among all Army Generals until his death in 1948)

Received Masonic degrees in December 1888 in Lincoln Lodge #19, Lincoln, Nebraska. In 1919 Pershing was made an Honorary Member of Stansbury Lodge #19 in D.C. In 1941 or 1942 Senator Harry S. Truman presented Pershing a certificate as an Honorary Member of the Grand Lodge of Missouri (Pershing's home state). Pershing was also a member of the Scottish Rite (Wheeling, W.V., 1920) and received 33rd degree, 1930. He was also a member of the Royal Arch and Knight Templar Commandery (both 1894 in Lincoln, Nebraska), and the Shrine.

General John J. Pershing

Military Freemasons

Major General George Pickett One of the three Confederate generals who attacked the Union lines

at the US Civil War Battle of Gettysburg, the famous 'Pickett's Charge' is named after him.

Eddie Rickenbacker American aviator who was the most decorated combat pilot of World

War I and later became president of Eastern Airlines.

General Matthew Ridgeway US Army Chief of Staff. Assumed leadership after MacArthur was relieved of duty in Korea Member of West Point Lodge # 877 32nd Degree A.A.S.R. At Tokyo, in Oct. 1951

Military Freemasons

General Norman Schwarzkopf is a retired United States Army General who, while he served as

Commander of U.S. Central Command, was commander of the Coalition Forces in the Persian Gulf War of 1991

Summary There have been 7 Army (or Air Force) Generals who held the rank of

General of the Army (5 Stars) or higher (Pershing or Washington might be considered higher). 6 of these 7 were Freemasons

There have been 4 Navy Admirals who held the rank of Fleet Admiral (5 Stars).

1 of these 4 was a Freemason

Famous Masons –Military – Complete List

Aldrin, Edwin E. "Buzz" Astronaut; second man on the moon, Montclair Lodge No. 144 New Jersey.

Allen, Ethan - General, Revolutionary War; Windsor, Vermont

Arnold, Gen. Henry "Hap" - Commander of the Army Air Force during World War II

Bradley, Omar N. - Five Star General of the Army, World War II, U.S.

Byrd, Richard E. Admiral - Arctic & Antarctic explorer, 1st to fly over North Pole

Cooper, Gordon "Gordo" – Astronaut

Chenault, Claire L. - World War II General

Clark, Mark - World War II General, European Theater

Doolittle, James - General, famous World War II Air Force Pilot

Farragut, Admiral David G. (First Admiral of the U.S. Navy)

Famous Masons –Military – Complete List

Grissom, Virgil (Gus) – Astronaut

Irwin, Jim – Astronaut

James, Daniel "Chappie" - General, U.S. Air Force

Jones, John Paul - Founder and First Admiral of the U.S. Navy - St. Bernard Lodge No. 122 (now St. Cuthbert No. 41)

King, Ernest J. - World War II Five Star Admiral, Commander of Pacific Theater

Knox, Henry - Revolutionary War General Lafayette, Marquis de - Supporter of American Freedom

LaMay, Curtis E. - Air Force General, Commander of Strategic Air Command

Lindbergh, Charles – Aviator

Famous Masons –Military – Complete List

MacArthur, Douglas - Five Star General, Allied Commander in the Pacific in World War II, “Duty, Honor, Country” Speech

Marshall, George C. - Five Star General, Chairman Joint Chiefs of Staff World War II, Post war Secretary of State and Architect of the Marshall Plan.

McClellan, General George B. - Army of the Potomac, Presidential candidate against Abe Lincoln, faced General Robert E. Lee at the battle of Antietam and twice Governor of New Jersey.

Montgomery, Richard Major General - Fist General Officer of the Continental Army killed in the Battle for Quebec on Dec 31, 1775.

Murphy, Audie - Most decorated American Soldier of World War II

Peary, Robert E. Admiral - First man to reach the North Pole (1909) - Kane Lodge No. 451, NY

Perry, Matthew Calbraith - Commodore; responsible for opening relations with Japan; Holland Lodge No. 8, New York City

Famous Masons –Military – Complete List

Pershing, John Joseph "Blackjack" - General of the Armies, Commander of the American Expeditionary Force in World War I

Pickett, George E. - Maj. Gen. (CSA), led "Pickett's Charge" at Gettysburg

Pike, Zebulon - Military explorer who discovered Pike's Peak, which is named for him

Rickenbacker, Eddie - Great American Air Force Ace

Ridgeway, Matthew B. - US Military Leader, General who succeeded MacArthur in Korea

Schirra, Wally – Astronaut

Schwarzkopf, Norman - Former U.S. General, Desert Storm commander

Stillwell, Joseph - World War II General Tirpitz, Alfred Von - German Naval officer responsible for submarine warfare

Wainwright, Jonathon - World War II General, survived Battan Death March

MacArthur and his trademark corncob pipe.

General Douglas MacArthur

“I shall return”

In Hawaii with FDR and Admirals Leahy and Nimitz

The “Long Gray Line” speech at West Point Chapel” 1962

MacArthur with the Philippine's President - October 1944

Signing the Japanese surrender agreement on the deck of the USS Missouri

MacArthur with the Sho-wa Emperor

Shelling of Inchon – USS Mount McKinley Korea - September 15, 1950

Receiving Distinguished Service Cross from General Pershing

MacArthur Memorial in Norfolk, Va

“ I shall return”

Final Rest Norfolk, Va

MacArthur Leadership Principles

Douglas MacArthur was one of the finest military leaders the United States ever produced. John Gardner, in his book On Leadership described him as a brilliant strategist, a farsighted administrator, and flamboyant to his fingertips. MacArthur’s discipline and principled leadership transcended the military. He was an effective general, statesman, administrator and corporate leader. William Addleman Ganoe recalled in his 1962 book, MacArthur Close-up: An Unauthorized Portrait, his service to MacArthur at West Point. During World War II, he created a list of questions with General Jacob Devers, they called The MacArthur Tenets. They reflect the people-management traits he had observed in MacArthur. Widely applicable, he wrote, “I found all those who had no troubles from their charges, from General Sun Tzu in China long ago to George Eastman of Kodak fame, followed the same pattern almost to the letter." 1. Do I heckle my subordinates or strengthen and encourage them? 2. Do I use moral courage in getting rid of subordinates who have proven themselves beyond doubt to be unfit?

MacArthur Leadership Principles

3. Have I done all in my power by encouragement, incentive and spur to salvage the weak and erring? 4. Do I know by NAME and CHARACTER a maximum number of subordinates for whom I am responsible? Do I know them intimately? 5. Am I thoroughly familiar with the technique, necessities, objectives and administration of my job? 6. Do I lose my temper at individuals? 7. Do I act in such a way as to make my subordinates WANT to follow me? 8. Do I delegate tasks that should be mine? 9. Do I arrogate everything to myself and delegate nothing? 10. Do I develop my subordinates by placing on each one as much responsibility as he can stand? 11. Am I interested in the personal welfare of each of my subordinates, as if he were a member of my family?

MacArthur Leadership Principles

12. Have I the calmness of voice and manner to inspire confidence, or am I inclined to irascibility and excitability? 13. Am I a constant example to my subordinates in character, dress, deportment and courtesy? 14. Am I inclined to be nice to my superiors and mean to my subordinates? 15. Is my door open to my subordinates? 16. Do I think more of POSITION than JOB? 17. Do I correct a subordinate in the presence of others?

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