[1] In terms of heraldic tradition, insignia changes over time created the situation of silver outranking gold.
Congress created the rank of General of the Armies specifically for Washington, although while living he never officially accepted the honor.
In 1976, Congressman Mario Biaggi of New York submitted a house resolution granting Washington the promotion.
Hence, effective date of rank notwithstanding, Washington was permanently made superior to all other officers of the United States Armed Forces, past or present.
[3] While no living officer holds either of these ranks today, the General of the Army title and five-star insignia designed in 1944 are still authorized for use in wartime.
At the start of the American Revolutionary War in 1775, the Continental Army's lack of standardized uniforms and insignia proved confusing for soldiers in the field.
To correct the situation, George Washington, who had been appointed general and commander in chief, recommended the following stopgap solution for distinguishing the ranks: "As the Continental Army has unfortunately no uniforms, and consequently many inconveniences must arise from not being able to distinguish the commissioned officers from the privates, it is desired that some badge of distinction be immediately provided; for instance that the field officers may have red or pink colored cockades in their hats, the captains yellow or buff, and the subalterns green.
All company officers wore dark blue "wings" with gold (infantry: silver) fringes and Embroidery.
Majors wore the same with the lace making up the strap of the epaulette in the opposite color (gold for infantry and silver for others).
In addition, there was on the cuffs a slash flap with several horizontal rows of lace with a button on the outer ends.
However uniform regulations published in the Army and Navy Chronicle on November 26, 1835[12] show shoulder straps were to be worn.
The straps for generals were a rectangle of quarter inch wide gold embroidery with a dark blue center.
The second lieutenant had no grade insignia, but the presence of an epaulet or shoulder strap identified him as a commissioned officer.
For majors, the shoulder strap contained an oak leaf, but like the second lieutenant, the epaulet had no grade insignia.
[13] During the American Civil War, General William Rosecrans issued orders in fall of 1862 which allowed commissioned officers to wear only the bars, oak leaves, or eagle to show their rank, in order to draw less attention from enemy forces on the battlefield.
These orders allowed for what became the predecessor of what is now referred to as "subdued" rank insignia while in the field, though it is unlikely that this term was used at the time.
As the shoulder knots had no fringe, it was necessary that some change in the insignia on the dress uniform be made in order to distinguish the major from the second lieutenant.
As a result, metal insignia was authorized for wear on the service uniform on the shoulder loop and on the collar of the shirt when worn without a jacket.
Shortly after the United States entered the war, only the service olive drab uniform was being worn.
[6] In 1944, officers and enlisted personnel in leadership positions started wearing leader identification badges - narrow green bands under their rank insignia; this was initially approved as a temporary measure for European Theater of Operations, but was approved for select branches in 1945 then for the entire Army in 1948.