The highest rank in the United States army is "General of the Army", the rank held by Eisenhower, and US Grant, and McArthur. This prescribes a 5 star rank insignia and some other perks, and the responsibility of overall direction of the or a, war effort, usuall limited to a given theater, and is familiar to most people as the highest general rank of our republic...except it isn't. Two extraordinary men have been elevated, intentionally, even beyond these dizzy heights, by act of Congress. The Rank is titled "General of The Armies", and was awarded to Washington, and to John .J. "blackjack" Pershing. These two men outrank every 5 star general, and are intended to Always rate the highest rank in the US Army. Oddly there is argument even today if the rank should ACTUALLY have  6 stars. The reason is that one of them,  Washington, predated the Star insignia scheme adopted AFTER the Revolution, so never needed nor had 6 stars, While Pershing's elevation to GotAs in World War One included language in the order allowing him to design his own uniform and insignia of rank...and he stuck with his current 4 star insignia, simply adding a bronze eagle to his collar for distinction. On his burial, it was debated whether or not to bury him in 6 stars as an honor indicating his precedence over all 5 star fellows, or the uniform insignia he wore in life... in the end his family and the army elected to send him off in his accustomed 4+Eagles, Today no soldier living holds the rank, and possibly never will again so the question remains open, is there such a thing as a 6 star general in the Army? Even the Army isn't sure. The illustrations show the fanciest dressiest uniform Blackjack ever wore, a custom uniform worn to represent the US at The 1902 Coronation of England's George V., the coat is now in the Smithsonian collection.  and his more customary khakis for contrast.