 Pershing received the rank in 1919 and was allowed to choose his own insignia; he chose to use four gold stars.While a conjectural design for the rank of general of the armies was proposed using six silver stars when the promotion of Douglas MacArthur to the rank was considered in 1945, no design was ever officially authorized.In 1976, Congressman Mario Biaggi of New York submitted a house resolution granting Washington the promotion.