How Many Presidents Did Not Serve in the Military?
The military service of United States presidents has been a topic of interest and debate among historians and the general public. While many presidents have had a military background, there are some who did not serve in the military. In this article, we will explore the number of presidents who did not serve in the military and provide a brief overview of their service records.
Direct Answer:
According to various sources, including the Library of Congress and the U.S. Army Center of Military History, five presidents did not serve in the military:
- Donald Trump (2017-2021): Trump received five deferments from military service during the Vietnam War, four for college and one for medical reasons.
- Jimmy Carter (1977-1981): Carter was a naval officer in the United States Navy Submarine Force and served on the USS Donald Cook from 1946 to 1953.
- Gerald Ford (1974-1977): Ford served in the United States Naval Reserve from 1942 to 1946 and was commissioned as an ensign in 1942.
- Harry S. Truman (1945-1953): Truman served in the United States Army Reserve from 1918 to 1953 and was a captain in the 129th Field Artillery Regiment.
- Warren G. Harding (1921-1923): Harding served in the Ohio National Guard from 1896 to 1898 and was a member of the 7th Ohio Volunteer Infantry.
Presidents with Limited Military Service:
While some presidents did not serve in the military, others had limited military service. Here are a few examples:
- John F. Kennedy (1961-1963): Kennedy was a naval officer in World War II and served as a commander of the PT-109, a patrol torpedo boat.
- Dwight D. Eisenhower (1953-1961): Eisenhower was a five-star general in the United States Army during World War II and served as the Supreme Allied Commander of the Allied Expeditionary Force.
- Herbert Hoover (1929-1933): Hoover served in the United States Army during World War I and was a mining engineer in the Army Corps of Engineers.
Presidents with No Direct Military Service:
The following presidents did not serve in the military, either due to medical reasons, college deferments, or other circumstances:
- Donald Trump (2017-2021): As mentioned earlier, Trump received five deferments from military service during the Vietnam War.
- James Buchanan (1857-1861): Buchanan was a lawyer and politician who never served in the military.
- Franklin Pierce (1853-1857): Pierce was a lawyer and politician who served in the Mexican-American War as a brigadier general, but did not see combat.
Table: Presidents and Their Military Service
| President | Military Service |
|---|---|
| Donald Trump | None |
| Jimmy Carter | Naval Officer |
| Gerald Ford | Naval Reserve |
| Harry S. Truman | Army Reserve |
| Warren G. Harding | Ohio National Guard |
| John F. Kennedy | Naval Officer |
| Dwight D. Eisenhower | Five-Star General |
| Herbert Hoover | Army Corps of Engineers |
| James Buchanan | None |
| Franklin Pierce | Brigadier General |
Conclusion:
While many presidents have had a military background, there are some who did not serve in the military. Five presidents did not serve in the military, either due to medical reasons, college deferments, or other circumstances. Additionally, some presidents had limited military service, while others had no direct military service at all. This article has provided a brief overview of the military service records of the presidents of the United States.
