Random US President Who Saw Combat In The Military (17 items)

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  (#6) William McKinley

  • Dec. at 58 (1843-1901)

  Fought In: Civil War 
  Military Branch: Ohio Infantry/Union Army

  William McKinley left his job as a school teacher to fight during the Civil War, joining the Ohio Infantry as a private in 1861. He was at the Battle of Antietam in 1862 and promoted to second lieutenant and, by 1864, gained the rank of first lieutenant and captain. He fought at several battles in the Shenandoah Valley and was promoted to brevetted major for meritorious service in 1865. He left the military at the end of the war. 
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  (#17) George Washington

  • Dec. at 67 (1732-1799)

  Fought In: French and Indian War, Revolutionary War 
  Military Branches: Virginia Militia, Continental Army

  George Washington became a major in the Virginia militia in 1753 at the age of 21. Washington fought during the French and Indian War, but resigned the post by 1759.  This was due to a variety of inner conflicts within the army that ultimately would have ended with Washington being demoted to a lower rank. 

  With the Revolution on the horizon, Washington became a delegate to the First Continental Congress in 1774 and was elected General and Commander in Chief of the Continental Army in 1775. Over the next eight years, Washington led his troops in frontier, guerilla-style warfare, using the Fabian strategy to lead the Continental Army to victory. In 1783, Washington resigned his commission, setting an important precedent for future presidents in regards to military service. 
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  (#16) James Monroe

  • Dec. at 73 (1758-1831)

  Fought In: Revolutionary War 
  Military Branches: Third Virginia Regiment, Continental Army

  James Monroe joined the Continental Army in 1776, after his involvement in a small attack on the Governor Palace and arsenal in Virginia that year. Monroe became an officer in the Third Virginia Regiment and was wounded during the Battle of Trenton, taking a musket ball to the shoulder. His bravery earned him a promotion to captain.

  Monroe was also with George Washington at Valley Forge, PA, and fought at the Battle of Monmouth in 1778. Monroe resigned his commission, by then a major, in 1779, but became lieutenant colonel of Virginia forces soon after. He  took over temporary command of all of the state's troops as a colonel in 1780 after British troops invaded Richmond. After a break in fighting to study law with Thomas Jefferson, Monroe volunteered for the Continental Army during the Battle of Yorktown in 1781. 
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  (#7) Benjamin Harrison

  • Dec. at 68 (1833-1901)

  Fought In: Civil War 
  Military Branch: Union Army

  Benjamin Harrison joined the Union Army in 1861 at the beginning of the Civil War. He went from second lieutenant to colonel to brevet brigadier general in three years. He was with William Sherman during his Atlanta campaign in 1864 and again with him in the Carolinas as the war came to an end. After the war, Harrison returned to his home in Indiana to practice law. 
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  (#11) James Buchanan

  • Dec. at 77 (1791-1868)

  Fought In: War of 1812
  Military Branches: Pennsylvania Militia

  James Buchanan fought during the War of 1812 as a private in the Pennsylvania Militia where he defended Baltimore in 1814. He was also one of 10 men who went on a secret mission to round up horses from enemy troops. His short stint in the military meant he never became an officer, the only future US President with military service to wear that distinction. 
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  (#12) Franklin Pierce

  • Dec. at 65 (1804-1869)

  Fought In: Mexican-American War
  Military Branches: US Army

  Franklin Pierce enlisted as a private when the Mexican-American War broke out and was promoted first to colonel and then to brigadier general in 1847. After sustaining injuries at the Battle of Conteras in August 1847 (he was thrown from his horse), Pierce continued to serve until the war ended in 1848. He returned to his legal career and soon entered into politics. 

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