How Strong is Your U.S. Army History Knowledge?
Written by Beth Meberg
Last updated · 9 min play time
Test your knowledge on U.S. Army History with this quiz!
The United States Army is the largest and most prestigious branch of the U.S. Armed Forces. It has played a vital role in the ground-based offense and defense of the United States of America throughout the country’s history. Enjoy exploring the rich history of the oldest U.S. military branch with this quiz!
Quiz written by
Beth MebergU.S. Army History Quiz Questions
30 Questions · 3.1K Plays · No comments
Question 1
What is the most distinguished medal an Army soldier can earn?
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ADistinguished Service Medal
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BPurple Heart
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CMedal of Honor
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DSoldier’s Medal
Medal of Honor
A Medal of Honor is the most prestigious medal awarded in the United States armed forces and recognizes acts of valor. The first Medals of Honor were awarded on March 25, 1863, to six Union Army volunteers in the Civil War.
Question 2
Where is the largest Army base in the United States in terms of population?
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AFort Benning
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BFort Bragg
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CJoint Base Lewis-McChord
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DFort Hood
Fort Bragg
Fort Bragg in North Carolina is the largest military base in the world. It covers 332 square miles and is home to more than 50,000 active duty personnel.
Question 3
When was the United States Army founded?
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AJuly 14, 1770
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BJuly 4, 1776
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CJune 14, 1775
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DJune 3, 1784
June 14, 1775
The Continental Army officially formed on June 14, 1775, to fight in the Revolutionary War. Then in 1784, the Continental Army was renamed to the United States Army.
Question 4
Who was the first general to be promoted to the five-star rank in the U.S. Army?
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AHenry H. Arnold
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BDwight D. Eisenhower
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COmar Bradley
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DGeorge Marshall
George Marshall
George Marshall was promoted to General of the Army on December 16, 1944. His leadership in Europe and the Pacific was pivotal to the Allied forces success in World War II.
Question 5
How many of the men that have been President of the United States have served in either the U.S. Army or Army Reserve?
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A15
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B10
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C22
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D29
15
Fifteen of the men that have been President of the United States served in either the United States Army or Army Reserve.
Question 6
Where is the United States Military Academy located?
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AAnnapolis, Maryland
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BNew London, Connecticut
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CWest Point, New York
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DKings Point, New York
West Point, New York
The United States Military Academy is located in West Point, New York and was established in 1802. The beautiful historic campus also features the oldest museum in the United States Army.
Question 7
Who is the only woman in history to be awarded the Medal of Honor?
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AFrances Calalin
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BMary Todd Lincoln
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CMary Edwards Walker
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DDorothea Dix
Mary Edwards Walker
Mary Edwards Walker is the only woman ever to have received the Medal of Honor. Walker was also the first female U.S. Army surgeon and was awarded the medal for her heroic efforts during the Civil War.
Question 8
What is the official song of the United States Army?
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A“A Soldier’s Song”
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B“The Field Artillery Song”
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C“The Army Goes Rolling Along”
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D“Caisson Song”
“The Army Goes Rolling Along”
The official song of the U.S. Army was first written in 1908 and titled the “Caisson Song.” In 1917, it was rewritten into a march called “The Field Artillery Song.” However, when the U.S. Army adopted it in 1956 as the official song, it was renamed “The Army Goes Rolling Along.”
Question 9
Which military branch originated in the U.S. Army?
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AUnited States Marines
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BUnited States Coast Guard
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CUnited States Air Force
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DUnited States Navy
United States Air Force
The Army Air Forces were a part of the U.S. Army until two years after World War II ended. Then, the National Security Act of 1947 officially made the United States Air Force a separate branch on September 18, 1947.
Question 10
What is the oldest continuously operating division in the United States Army?
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A276th Engineer Battalion
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B1st Infantry Division
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C5th Field Artillery Regiment
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D1st Battalion
1st Infantry Division
The 1st Infantry Division is the oldest continuously serving unit in the United States Army. It was founded in 1917 and is currently based at Fort Riley, Kansas.
Question 11
What is the motto of the U.S. Army?
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AAlways Ready, Always There
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BThis We’ll Defend
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CSemper Fidelis
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DBy Force and Valor
This We’ll Defend
The official motto of the U.S. Army is “This We’ll Defend.” This phrase dates back to the Revolutionary War and signals a defense of liberty rather than a fight for sovereignty from the British.
Question 12
Approximately how many people serve in the United States Army?
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AOver 2,000,000
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BUnder 750,000
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COver 1,000,000
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DUnder 500,000
Over 1,000,000
As of 2017, there is approximately 1,018,000 total uniformed personnel in the United States Army. The Army is the most prestigious branch in the United States military and is the primary ground-based force.
Question 13
This famous U.S. Army expression typically means “Yes Sir!”
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AWOOO!
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BOKAY!
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CHOOAH!
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DHUZZAH!
HOOAH!
“Hooah!” is a well-known battle cry in the U.S. Army. It has roots tracing back to the Second Seminole War in 1841 and gained wide popularity following World War II. General meanings include “anything and everything except ‘no’” and “heard, understood and acknowledged.”
Question 14
Where is the largest United States overseas military base?
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AUS Army Garrison Baumholder
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BUS Army Garrison Italy
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CCamp Zama
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DCamp Humphreys
Camp Humphreys
Camp Humphreys in South Korea is the largest United States overseas military base. The location has been active since 1950 and is located about 60 miles away from the Demilitarized Zone dividing North and South Korea.
Question 15
The iconic U.S. Army Jeep was replaced by which vehicle in the early 1980s?
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ACharger
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BBumblebee
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CHumvee
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DCheetah
Humvee
The High Mobility Multipurpose Wheeled Vehicle, or Humvee, started replacing the U.S. Army Jeeps in 1984. The process took several years, and the Humvee first saw widespread use during the Gulf War in 1991.
Question 16
Which battle had the bloodiest day of combat in U.S. Army history?
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ABattle of Antietam
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BBattle of the Bulge
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CBattle of Cold Harbor
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DInvasion of Normandy
Battle of Antietam
The Battle of Antietam remains to this day the bloodiest single day of battle in U.S. history. The battle took place on September 17, 1862, and resulted in a total of 22,717 dead, wounded, or missing soldiers on both sides.
Question 17
What year were women fully integrated into the United States Army?
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A1976
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B1967
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C1978
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D1947
1978
The Women’s Army Corps was first established during World War II. It was officially disbanded in 1978, and the WAC units were integrated with the male Army units. However, women were not allowed to serve in combat missions until 2013.
Question 18
How many five-star generals have there been in the United States Army?
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A12
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B3
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C5
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D8
5
Only five individuals were awarded the rank of five-star general in the Army. It was created in 1944 and retired in 1981 when Omar Bradley, the last surviving five-star general, passed away.
Question 19
What year did racial segregation end in the United States Army?
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A1948
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B1945
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C1960
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D1942
1948
Executive Order 9981 officially ended segregation in the U.S. Armed Forces in 1948. Up until then, soldiers of different races, and especially African-Americans, served in separate segregated units.
Question 20
Who was the first female four-star general in the United States Army?
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ARebecca Marier
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BAnn Dunwoody
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CElizabeth Hoisington
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DAnna Mae Hays
Ann Dunwoody
General Ann Dunwoody is the first woman in Army history to earn a four-star rank. Dunwoody was also a vocal advocate for decreasing sexual assault in the U.S. Army.
Question 21
Who commanded the United States Army during the Revolutionary War?
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AJohn Adams
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BGeorge Washington
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CJames Monroe
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DAlexander Hamilton
George Washington
George Washington led the Continental Army during the Revolutionary War. Washington was also the first President of the United States and was posthumously appointed to General of the Armies in 1976, so he would rank first among all Army officers, past and present.
Question 22
This four-star general played a key role in developing the U.S. Army’s armored warfare doctrine.
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AGeorge Patton
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BOmar Bradley
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CJacob Devers
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DDwight D. Eisenhower
George Patton
General George Patton was an effective and aggressive military leader during World War I and II. He was a leading advocate of armored warfare and had a lasting impact on the U.S. Army.
Question 23
How long is Basic Combat Training in the United States Army?
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A10 weeks
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B15 weeks
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C6 weeks
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D8 weeks
10 weeks
U.S. Army basic training is a ten-week program for most recruits. The longest-running Basic Combat Training locations are the Armor School and the Infantry School at Fort Benning, Georgia.
Question 24
Which firearm is the most common weapon in the U.S. Army?
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ABeretta M9 Pistol
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BMK16 Scar
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CM777 Howitzer
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DM4 Carbine
M4 Carbine
The M4 carbine is the assault rifle largely used across the United States Armed Forces. It is both shorter and lighter compared to the M16 rifle and is also able to mount M203 and M320 grenade launchers
Question 25
What is one of the elite special operations forces within the U.S. Army?
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ASEALs
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BEagles
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CRaiders
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DRangers
Rangers
The Rangers, Green Berets and Delta Force all make up the Army’s Special Operations Forces. They specialize in unconventional warfare and also support conventional operations as needed.
Question 26
This sergeant captured 132 German soldiers during World War I.
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ASgt. Henry Johnson
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BSgt. Audie Murphy
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CSgt. John Lincoln Clem
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DSgt. Alvin York
Sgt. Alvin York
Sergeant Alvin York received the Medal of Honor for his valor displayed during World War I. He led an attack on the Germans killing at least 25 soldiers and capturing 132 with just a rifle and a pistol during the Meuse-Argonne Offensive.
Question 27
This man is known as one of the fathers of the Continental Army during the Revolutionary War.
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AAlexander Hamilton
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BBaron von Steuben
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CThomas Jefferson
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DNathanael Greene
Baron von Steuben
Baron von Steuben was a Prussian man who helped train the Continental Army during the Revolutionary War. His military drills, tactics and disciplines remained the standard training procedures until the War of 1812.
Question 28
Which U.S. President was a five-star general during World War II?
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AFranklin D. Roosevelt
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BJohn F. Kennedy
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CHarry Truman
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DDwight D. Eisenhower
Dwight D. Eisenhower
Dwight D. Eisenhower was the 34th President of the United States as well as a successful commander and five-star general in the United States Army. He is well-known for his successful operations including Operation Torch and the invasion of France and Germany in 1944-45.
Question 29
What are the colors of the United States Army?
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AGreen and silver
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BBlack, gold and white
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CBlack, silver and green
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DNavy and gold
Black, gold and white
Black, gold and white are the official colors of the United States Army. Black and gold have specific meanings symbolizing knowledge and jurisprudence as well as achievement and honor, respectively.
Question 30
This pivotal moment in World War II was the largest seaborne invasion in history.
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AVE-Day
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BBattle of the Bulge
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CAttack on Pearl Harbor
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DD-Day
D-Day
Operation Overlord, commonly referred to as D-Day, was a decisive turning point for the Allied forces during World War II despite significant casualties. The operation started the liberation of France and laid the groundwork for the Allied victory in Europe.
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