"The class the stars fell on" is an expression used to describe the United States Military Academy

United States Military Academy

The United States Military Academy at West Point is a four-year coeducational federal service academy located at West Point, New York. The academy sits on scenic high ground overlooking the Hudson River, north of New York City...

 class of 1915. In the U.S. Army, the insignia reserved for generals

United States Army officer rank insignia

United States Army officer rank insignia in use today.-History:The structure of U.S. ranks has its roots in British military traditions. At the start of the American Revolutionary War, uniforms, let alone insignia, were barely affordable and recognition of ranks in the field was problematic...

 is one or more stars. Of the 164 graduates that year, 59 (36%) attained the rank of general, the most of any class in the history of the United States Military Academy at West Point, New York

West Point, New York

West Point is a federal military reservation established by President of the United States Thomas Jefferson in 1802. It is a census-designated place located in Town of Highlands in Orange County, New York, United States. The population was 7,138 at the 2000 census...

, hence the expression. Two reached the rank of five-star General of the Army

General of the Army (United States)

General of the Army is a five-star general officer and is the second highest possible rank in the United States Army. A special rank of General of the Armies, which ranks above General of the Army, does exist but has only been conferred twice in the history of the Army...

, second only to General of the Armies

General of the Armies

General of the Armies of the United States, or more commonly referred to as General of the Armies, is the highest possible officer rank of the United States Army.Only two soldiers have been granted the rank of General of the Armies; John J...

. There were also two four-star generals

General (United States)

In the United States Army, United States Air Force, and United States Marine Corps, general is a four-star general officer rank, with the pay grade of O-10. General ranks above lieutenant general and below General of the Army or General of the Air Force; the Marine Corps does not have an...

, seven three-star lieutenant generals

Lieutenant General (United States)

In the United States Army, the United States Air Force and the United States Marine Corps, lieutenant general is a three-star general officer rank, with the pay grade of O-9. Lieutenant general ranks above major general and below general...

, 24 two-star major generals

Major general (United States)

In the United States Army, United States Marine Corps, and United States Air Force, major general is a two-star general-officer rank, with the pay grade of O-8. Major general ranks above brigadier general and below lieutenant general...

 and 24 one-star brigadier generals

Brigadier general (United States)

A brigadier general in the United States Army, Air Force, and Marine Corps, is a one-star general officer, with the pay grade of O-7. Brigadier general ranks above a colonel and below major general. Brigadier general is equivalent to the rank of rear admiral in the other uniformed...

. One of the five-star generals went on to become President of the United States

President of the United States

The President of the United States of America is the head of state and head of government of the United States. The president leads the executive branch of the federal government and is the commander-in-chief of the United States Armed Forces....

.

Generals of the class

Rank	Name	Rank in class	Notes	References
11	Bradley, OmarOmar N. Bradley Omar Bradley Omar Nelson Bradley was a senior U.S. Army field commander in North Africa and Europe during World War II, and a General of the Army in the United States Army...	44	Commanded 82nd Infantry Division (1942), 28th Infantry Division (1942), II Corps (1943), First Army (1944), Twelfth Army Group (1944–1945) Chief of Staff of the United States Army Chief of Staff of the United States Army The Chief of Staff of the Army is a statutory office held by a four-star general in the United States Army, and is the most senior uniformed officer assigned to serve in the Department of the Army, and as such is the principal military advisor and a deputy to the Secretary of the Army; and is in...  (1948–1949), Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff The Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff is by law the highest ranking military officer in the United States Armed Forces, and is the principal military adviser to the President of the United States, the National Security Council, the Homeland Security Council and the Secretary of Defense...  (1949–1953)
11	Eisenhower, DwightDwight D. Eisenhower Dwight D. Eisenhower Dwight David "Ike" Eisenhower was the 34th President of the United States, from 1953 until 1961. He was a five-star general in the United States Army...	61	Chief of Staff of the United States Army Chief of Staff of the United States Army The Chief of Staff of the Army is a statutory office held by a four-star general in the United States Army, and is the most senior uniformed officer assigned to serve in the Department of the Army, and as such is the principal military advisor and a deputy to the Secretary of the Army; and is in...  (1945–1948), Supreme Allied Commander Europe (1942, 1943–1945, 1949–1952), Supreme Allied Commander, North African Theater of Operations (1942–1943), President of the United States President of the United States The President of the United States of America is the head of state and head of government of the United States. The president leads the executive branch of the federal government and is the commander-in-chief of the United States Armed Forces....  (1953–1961)
10	McNarney, JosephJoseph T. McNarney Joseph T. McNarney Joseph Taggart McNarney was a United States Army Air Forces general officer who served as Military Governor of occupied Germany.-Early years:...	41	Deputy Chief of Staff, U.S. Army (1942–1944), Supreme Allied Commander, Mediterranean Theater of Operations Mediterranean Theater of Operations The Mediterranean Theater of Operations, United States Army was originally called North African Theater of Operations and is an American term for the conflict that took place between the Allies and Axis Powers in North Africa and Italy during World War II...  (1944–1945), Commanded U.S. Forces in Europe (1945–1947)
10	Van Fleet, JamesJames Van Fleet James Van Fleet James Alward Van Fleet was a U.S. Army officer during World War I, World War II and the Korean War. Van Fleet was a native of New Jersey, who was raised in Florida and graduated from the U.S. Military Academy. He served as a regimental, divisional and corps commander during World War II and as...	92	Commanded 4th Infantry Division, 90th Infantry Division, III Corps in World War II World War II World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis... ; U.S. Eighth Army U.S. Eighth Army The Eighth United States Army – often unofficially abbreviated EUSA – is the commanding formation of all US Army troops in South Korea.-World War II:...  in the Korean War Korean War The Korean War was a conventional war between South Korea, supported by the United Nations, and North Korea, supported by the People's Republic of China , with military material aid from the Soviet Union...  (1951–1953)
9	Aurand, HenryHenry Aurand Henry Aurand Henry S. Aurand was a career United States Army officer. He was a veteran of World War I, World War II and the Korean War. Aurand served in the Coastal Artillery branch. He later transferred to the Ordnance Corps.-Education:...	20	Commanded 6th Service Command Corps area A Corps area was a geographically-based organizational structure of the United States Army used to accomplish domestic administrative, training and tactical tasks from 1920 to 1942. Each corps area included divisions of the Regular Army, Organized Reserve and National Guard of the United States...  (1942–1944), Deputy Chief Ordnance Officer, European Theater of Operations European Theater of Operations The European Theater of Operations, United States Army was a United States Army formation which directed U.S. Army operations in parts of Europe from 1942 to 1945. It referred to Army Ground Forces, United States Army Air Forces, and Army Service Forces operations north of Italy and the...  (1944), Commanded Services of Supply Services of Supply The Services Of Supply or "SOS" branch of the Army of the USA was created on 28 February 1942 by Executive Order Number 9082 "Reorganizing the Army and the War Department" and War Department Circular No. 59, dated 2 March 1942. Services of Supply became one of the three autonomous components of the...  China Theater China Burma India Theater of World War II China Burma India Theater was the name used by the United States Army for its forces operating in conjunction with British and Chinese Allied air and land forces in China, Burma, and India during World War II...  (1944–1945), U.S. Army Pacific (1949)
9	Harmon, HubertHubert R. Harmon Hubert R. Harmon Lieutenant General Hubert Reilly Harmon , after a distinguished combat career in World War II, was instrumental in developing plans for the establishment of the United States Air Force Academy...	103	Commanded Sixth Air Force (1942–1943, 1946–1947), Thirteenth Air Force Thirteenth Air Force The Thirteenth Air Force is a numbered air force of the United States Air Force Pacific Air Forces . It is headquartered at Hickam Air Force Base on the island of Oahu, Hawaii. 13 AF has never been stationed in the continental United States...  (1943–1944), Superintendent of the United States Air Force Academy (1954–1956)
9	Irwin, StaffordStafford LeRoy Irwin Stafford LeRoy Irwin Stafford LeRoy Irwin was a lieutenant general of the United States Army. He came from the family with long military tradition. He was the son of Army Major General of the Artillery, George LeRoy Irwin and his grandfather was a Brigadier General of the United States Army Medical Corps, Bernard J. D...	40	Commanded 5th Infantry Division, XII Corps XII Corps (United States) The XII Corps fought from northern France to Austria in World War II. Constituted in the Organized Reserves in 1933, it was activated on 29 August 1942 at Columbia, South Carolina. XII Corps became operational in France as part of Lieutenant General George S. Patton's U.S. Third Army on 1 August... , V Corps, U.S. Forces Austria (1950–1952)
9	Larkin, ThomasThomas B. Larkin Thomas B. Larkin Lieutenant General Thomas Bernard Larkin was a military officer who served as the 32nd Quartermaster General of the United States Army.-Early life:...	21	Chief of Staff, Services of Supply, U.S. Army Forces, British Isles (1942-1943); Commanded Services of Supply, North African Theater of Operations (1943), Communications Zone, North African Theater of Operations (1943–1944), Southern Line of Communications, Communications Zone, European Theater of Operations (1944–1945), 2nd Service Command (1945); Quartermaster General Quartermaster general A Quartermaster general is the staff officer in charge of supplies for a whole army.- The United Kingdom :In the United Kingdom, the Quartermaster-General to the Forces is one of the most senior generals in the British Army...  of the U.S. Army (1946–1949), Deputy Chief of Staff for Logistics (1949–1952)
9	Leonard, JohnJohn W. Leonard John W. Leonard John William Leonard was a US Army Lieutenant General who served during World War II and the Korean War.He graduated from the US Military Academy in 1915, as part of "the class the stars fell on"...	84	Commanded 9th Armored Division (1942–1945), U.S. Army Armor School (1946–1948), V Corps and XVIII Airborne Corps (1951–1953)
9	Stratemeyer, GeorgeGeorge E. Stratemeyer George E. Stratemeyer Lieutenant General George Edward Stratemeyer was World War II chief of Air Staff and United States Air Force Far East Air Forces commander during the first year of the Korean War.-Early career:...	147	Commanded Army air Forces China-Burma-India Theater of Operations (1943–1946), Air Defense Command (1946–1948), Continental Air Command Continental Air Command Continental Air Command was a Major Command of the United States Air Force responsible primarily for administering the Air National Guard and Air Force Reserve.-Lineage:...  (1948–1949), Far East Air Forces (1949–1952)
9	Swing, JosephJoseph M. Swing Joseph M. Swing Joseph May Swing was a Lieutenant General in the United States Army, who commanded the 11th Airborne Division during the campaign to liberate the Philippines in World War II.-Biography:...	38	Commanded 11th Airborne Division (1943–1947), I Corps (1948–1949), Sixth Army (1951–1954)
8	Bragdon, John StewartJohn Stewart Bragdon John Stewart Bragdon John Stewart Bragdon , a Major General in the United States Army, was born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania and earned a B.S. from the United States Military Academy in 1915. In 1919 he graduated from the United States Engineering School and went on to earn a M.S...	5	Assistant Chief of Military Construction (1945–1949); Deputy Chief of Engineers (1950–1951)
8	Cousins, Ralph P.Ralph P. Cousins	129	Commanded Army Air Force Western Flying Training Command (1942–1946)
8	Covell, William E. R.William E. R. Covell	1	Director of Fuels and Lubricants, Office of Quartermaster General (1943–1944); Commanded Services of Supply China-Burma-India Theater (1944–1945)
8	Esteves, Luis R.Luis R. Esteves Luis R. Esteves Major General Luis R. Esteves was the first Hispanic to graduate from the United States Military Academy , on June 19, 1915, and the founder of the Puerto Rico National Guard.-Early years:...	97	Adjutant General of Puerto Rico (1939–1957)
8	Evans, VernonVernon Evans	55	Deputy Chief of Staff and Chief of Staff China-Burma-India Theater (1944–1945)
8	Hanley, Thomas J.Thomas J. Hanley Jr.	124	Commanded Air Service Command, Army Air Forces China-Burma-India Theater (1944–1945), Eleventh Air Force Eleventh Air Force The Eleventh Air Force is a numbered air force of the United States Air Force Pacific Air Forces . It is headquartered at Elmendorf Air Force Base, Alaska....  (1946–1948)
8	Hearn, Thomas G.Thomas G. Hearn	106	Chief of Staff China-Burma-India Theater (1944); Commanded Infantry Replacement Training Center (1944–1945)
8	Hobbs, Leland S.Leland S. Hobbs	46	Commanded 30th Infantry Division (1942–1945), 2nd Armored Division (1946–1947), IX Corps (1949–1950)
8	Lester, James A.James A. Lester	23	Commanded 24th Division Artillery, XIV Corps Artillery, 24th Infantry Division
8	Lyon, Edwin B.Edwin B. Lyon	48	Commanded VI Bomber Command VI Bomber Command The VI Bomber Command is an inactive United States Air Force unit. Its last assignment was with Sixth Air Force, based at Albrook Field, Canal Zone...  (1941–1943), Antilles Air Command (1943); Deputy Commander, Army Air Force Flying Training Command (1944–1945); Commanded Air Forces Mid Pacific (1945–1946)
8	Miller, Henry J. F.Henry J. F. Miller	110	Commanded Air Material Command European Theater of Operations (1943–1944). Retired as a colonel in May 1944 as a result of a security breach.
8	Mueller, Paul J.Paul J. Mueller Paul J. Mueller -External links:* Retrieved 2009-02-20* Retrieved 2009-02-20* Retrieved 2009-02-21...	45	Commanded 81st Infantry Division (1942–1946)
8	Prichard, Vernon E.Vernon E. Prichard	134	Commanded 14th Armored Division (1942–1944), 1st Armored Division 1st Armored Division (United States) The 1st Armored Division—nicknamed "Old Ironsides"—is a standing armored division of the United States Army with base of operations in Fort Bliss, Texas. It was the first armored division of the U.S...  (1944–1945)
8	Richards, George J.George J. Richards	6	War Department General Staff (1943–1947)
8	Ryder, Charles W.Charles W. Ryder	39	Commanded 34th Infantry Division (1942–1946), IX Corps (1944–1948)
8	Sayler, Henry B.	37	Chief Ordnance Officer, European Theater of Operations (1942–1945)
8	Tompkins, William F.William F. Tompkins	16	War Department General Staff (1943–1945)
8	Waldron, Albert W.Albert W. Waldron	32	Field Artillery Representative, Army Ground Forces Army Ground Forces The Army Ground Forces were one of the three autonomous components of the Army of the United States during World War II, the others being the Army Air Forces and Army Service Forces. Throughout their existence, Army Ground Forces were the largest training organization ever established in the United...  (1943–1946)
8	Walton, Leo A.Leo A. Walton	128	Air Inspector Army Air Force China Theater (1945–1946); Commanded Fourteenth Air Force Fourteenth Air Force The Fourteenth Air Force is a numbered air force of the United States Air Force Space Command . It is headquartered at Vandenberg Air Force Base, California....  (1946–1948)
8	Watson, Leroy H.Leroy H. Watson	151	Commanded 3rd Armored Division (1943–1944), 29th Infantry Division (1944–1945)
8	Weart, Douglas L.Douglas L. Weart	10	Chief of Staff, Caribbean Defense Command (1943–1944); Deputy commander China Theater (1945)
8	White, Arthur A.Arthur A. White	158	Chief of Staff, U.S. Seventh Army (1944–1945); Commanded 75th Infantry Division and 71st Infantry Division (1945–1946)
8	Wogan, John B.John B. Wogan	75	Commanded 13th Armored Division (1942–1945)
8	Woodruff, Roscoe B.Roscoe B. Woodruff Roscoe B. Woodruff Roscoe Barnett Woodruff was a career U.S. Army officer who served in World War I and as a combat division and corps commander in both European and Pacific theaters of World War II.-Education and early career:...	56	Commanded 77th Infantry Division (1942–1943), VII Corps (1943–1944), 24th Infantry Division (1944–1945), I Corps (1945–1948), XV Corps XV Corps (United States) The XV Corps of the US Army was initially constituted on 1 October 1933 as part of the Organized Reserves, and was activated on 15 February 1943 at Camp Beauregard, Louisiana. During the Second World War, XV Corps fought for 307 days in the European Theater of Operations, fighting from Normandy...  (1951–1953)
7	Bank, Carl C.Carl C. Bank	53	Artillery Officer Allied Forces Headquarters, North African Theater of Operations (1942–44); Commanded 13th Field Artillery Brigade (1944–1945)
7	Boye, Frederic W.Frederic W. Boye	150	Served in China (1944–1945)
7	Busbee, Charles M.Charles M. Busbee	31	Commanded 102nd Division Artillery (1942–1946)
7	Conklin, John F.John F. Conklin	13	Engineer with Third Army United States Army Central United States Army Central is an Army Service Component Command of the United States Army and is also dual-hatted as the "United States Third Army". It is the Army Component of U.S...  (1942–1945)
7	Davis, John F.John F. Davis	99	Chief of Staff 6th Service Command (1942–1944); Director of Information and Education, War Department (1944–1945)
7	Davis, Michael F.Michael F. Davis	96	Commanded 78th Flying Training Wing (1944–1945), Army Air Force Central Flying Training Command (1945–1946)
7	Davison, Donald A.Donald A. Davison Donald Angus Davison Donald Angus Davison was a Major General in the United States Army.-Biography:Davison was born on October 26, 1892 in San Carlos, Arizona, the second child of Lieutenant Colonel Lorenzo Paul Davison of Beaver Dam, Wisconsin and his first wife, Carolyn Lavina Shannon. He would marry Marjorie Risk,...	19	Aviation Engineers (1942–1944). Died Bangalore, India 6 May 1944. Davison Army Airfield Davison Army Airfield Davison Army Airfield or Davison AAF is a military use airport serving Fort Belvoir, in Fairfax County, Virginia, United States.The airfield is located southwest of Washington, D.C. It was named for noted World War II aviation engineer Brig. Gen. Donald Angus Davison.The airfield provided support...  is named after him.
7	Ferris, Benjamin G.Benjamin G. Ferris	104	Deputy Chief of Staff, China-Burma-India Theater (1943–1944)
7	Gilkeson, Adlai H.Adlai H. Gilkeson	137	Commanded Air Defenses, Panama Canal Zone (1942), III Fighter Command III Fighter Command The III Fighter Command is an inactive United States Air Force unit. Its last assignment was with Third Air Force stationed at MacDill Field, Florida. It was inactivated on 8 April 1946.-Lineage:...  (1944), 312th Fighter Wing 312th Fighter Wing (World War II) The 312th Fighter Wing was a United States Army Air Forces organization. It was a command and control organization of Fourteenth Air Force that fought in the China Burma India Theater of World War II.-Lineage:...  (1944–1945)
7	Hess, Walter W.Walter W. Hess, Jr.	95	Commanded 1st Antiaircraft Command (1941–1942), 45th Coast Artillery Brigade (1942), 46th Antiaircraft Artillery Brigade (1942–1944), Anti-aircraft Replacement Training Center (1944–1945)
7	Howard, Clinton W.Clinton W. Howard	30	Chief of Staff Third Air Force Third Air Force The Third Air Force is a numbered air force of the United States Air Forces in Europe . It is headquartered at Ramstein Air Base, Germany....  (1941–1942), Army Air Force Technical Training Command (1942–1943), Sacramento Air Service Command (1943–1945)
7	Howell, Reese M.Reese M. Howell	109	Commanded 4th, 17th, and 13th Field Artillery Brigades (1940–1944); Assistant Division Commander 82nd Airborne Division (1944); Commanded 9th Infantry Division Artillery (1944–1946)
7	Keliher, JohnJohn Keliher	159	Deputy Chief of Staff (G-3) U.S. Army Forces Mid Pacific (1942–1944); Deputy Chief of Staff (G-5) U.S. Army Forces Mid Pacific (1944–1945)
7	Menoher, PearsonPearson Menoher	42	Chief of Staff XV Corps and Seventh Army (1943–1945); Commanded 24th Infantry Division in the Korean War (1949–1950)
7	Miller, Lehman W.Lehman W. Miller	9	Chief of Military Mission to Brazil (1940–1942); Commanded Engineer Replacement Training Center, Fort Belvoir Fort Belvoir Fort Belvoir is a United States Army installation and a census-designated place in Fairfax County, Virginia, United States. Originally, it was the site of the Belvoir plantation. Today, Fort Belvoir is home to a number of important United States military organizations...  (1942–1944)
7	Naiden, Earl L.Earl L. Naiden	68	Chief of Staff, Ferry Command, China-Burma-India Theater of Operations (1942); Chief of Staff Tenth Air Force Tenth Air Force The Tenth Air Force is a numbered air force of the United States Air Force Reserve Command . It is headquartered at Naval Air Station Joint Reserve Base Fort Worth, Texas....  (1942)
7	Peabody, HumeHume Peabody	63	Commandant Army Air Forces School of Applied Tactics (1942–1944); Commanded III Tactical Air Command III Tactical Air Command The III Tactical Air Command is an inactive United States Air Force unit. Its last assignment was with Third Air Force stationed at Barksdale Field, Louisiana...  (1942–1944)
7	Randolph, NormanNorman Randolph	145	Chief of Staff Second Army (1942–1943); Chief of Staff 3rd Service Command (1943–1944); Commanded 3rd Service Command (1944–1945)
7	Robinson, John N.John N. Robinson	120	Commanded Fort Richardson (1943–1944); Assistant Division Commander 89th Infantry Division (1944–1945)
7	Strong, Robert W.Robert W. Strong	73	Chief of Staff, U.S. Army Forces in Africa (1942–1943); Commanded Cavalry Replacement Training Center (1943–1945); Chief of U.S. Army Mission to Peru Peru Peru , officially the Republic of Peru , is a country in western South America. It is bordered on the north by Ecuador and Colombia, on the east by Brazil, on the southeast by Bolivia, on the south by Chile, and on the west by the Pacific Ocean....  (1945–1946)
7	Taylor, Victor V.Victor V. Taylor	122	War Department General Staff (1941–1943); Munitions Assignment Board (1943–1944)
7	Tenney, Cleson H.Cleson H. Tenney	77	Harbor Defense Commander, Central Pacific Area (1942–1943); Commanded 55th Coast Artillery Regiment (1944); 70th Antiaircraft Artillery Brigade (1945)
7	Wallington, Edward C.Edward C. Wallington	82	Chemical Officer, Third Army (1942–1945); Deputy Chief Chemical Officer (1949–1951)
7	Zundel, Edwin A.Edwin A. Zundel	29	Artillery Officer, II Corps (1942), XI Corps (1943–1944), Sixth Army (1944–1945), 41st Infantry Division (1945–1946), Fourth Army (1946–1947)