"4 US Presidents Who Were War Heroes" Topic

Military: link

Wasn't Andrew Jackson considered a War Hero in War of 1812? – Odd he wasnt included in the article

Eisenhower?

George H.W. Bush. Youngest Navy carrier pilot at the time. Shot down on a bombing mission off IIRC Chichi Jima and picked up by a sub.

Truman? Good guy and good president. Not sure serving in the armed forces competently by itself makes you a war hero. If so the list of U.S. war hero presidents would be much longer.

Zachary Taylor? (Black Hawk War, Mexican-American War)
William Henry Harrison? (Tippecanoe)
JFK???? (PT-109)

All were war heroes to the nation at the time. In Harrison's case, it was a slogan in his presidential campaign!!!

Granted, Taylor didn't have a celebrated incident of personal bravery in war, but he was a hero for his victories and beloved by his troops.

Harrison also didn't have a personal significant action for which he was lauded, but he was definitely present and active and very much in harm's way during the Battle of Tippecanoe— he was the initial intended target of the Indian attack!

The list does seem a bit lacking.

I had the same thoughts about the "forgotten" ones listed above. And about these three post-Civil War presidents who served in the Union Army:

Rutherford B. Hayes -- left a fledgling political career to join the Union Army as an officer; was wounded five times, most seriously at the Battle of South Mountain in 1862; earned a reputation for bravery in combat, rising in the ranks to serve as brevet major general.

James Garfield -- he successfully led a brigade at Middle Creek, Kentucky, against Confederate troops. At 31, Garfield became a brigadier general, two years later a major general of volunteers.

Benjamin Harrison -- commanded the 70th Indiana Regiment and then a brigade in the Atlanta campaign and at Nashville, promoted to brevet brigadier general of volunteers for his bravery at Resaca and Peachtree Creek.

Jim

Also

Monroe

"In 1775 he enlisted in the Third Virginia Infantry and then fought under George Washington's command during the Revolutionary War. Monroe was wounded during the Battle of Trenton, and eventually reached the rank of Lieutenant Colonel."

Agree with everyone. They many more that should be on that list. Kennedy earned the top naval medal. He should be on the list for sure.

Interesting the 4 chosen of the 31 who served in the military

Harrison "Tippecanoe and Tyler, too!"

Lincoln was in the Blackhawk war

I agree with the position that this was a poor article for several reasons. Mainly the choice of presidents could not be supported. As many noted their were many presidents with a better record. The top two in my opinion was Grant and Eisenhower. A good debate for the next two slots.