Well, they definitely weren’t “losers” because they all survived active duty.
26 American “suckers” Presidents who served in the active military:
George Washington
Rank: GeneralService: Virginia militia, Continental Army, United States Army
Conflict: French and Indian War and American Revolutionary War
Rank: MajorService: Continental Army
Conflict: American Revolutionary War
Andrew Jackson
Rank: Major GeneralService: United States Army
Conflict: American Revolutionary War, War of 1812, Creek War, and the First Seminole War
William Henry Harrison
Rank: Major GeneralService: United States Army
Conflict: Northwest Indian War and the War of 1812
John Tyler
Rank: CaptainService: Virginia Militia
Conflict: War of 1812
Zachary Taylor
Rank: Major GeneralService: United States Army
Conflict: War of 1812, Black Hawk War, Second Seminole War, Mexican–American War
Millard Fillmore
Rank: MajorService: New York State Militia
Conflict: American Civil War
Franklin Pierce
Service: United States Army
Rank: Brigadier General
Conflict: Mexican-American War
James Buchanan
Service: Pennsylvania State Militia
Rank: Private
Conflict: War of 1812
Abraham Lincoln
Service: Illinois State Militia
Rank: Captain
Conflict: Black Hawk War
Andrew Johnson
Service: United States Army
Rank: Brigadier General
Conflict: American Civil War
Ulysses S. Grant
Service: United States Army
Rank: General of the Army
Conflict: Mexican-American War and American Civil War
Rutherford B. Hayes
Service: United States Army
Rank: Major General
Conflict: American Civil War
James Garfield
Service: United States Army
Rank: Major General
Conflict: American Civil War
Chester A. Arthur
Service: New York State Militia
Rank: Brigadier General
Conflict: American Civil War
Benjamin Harrison
Service: United States Army
Rank: Brigadier General
Conflict: American Civil War
Theodore Roosevelt
Service: United States Army
Rank: Colonel
Conflict: Spanish-American War
Awards: Medal of Honor (Roosevelt is the only US president to have received this award)
Harry S. Truman
Service: Army Officer Reserve Corps
Rank: Colonel
Conflict: World War I
Dwight D. Eisenhower
Service: United States Army
Rank: Army General during World War I, Supreme Allied Commander in Europe during World War II
Conflict: World War I and World War II
John F. Kennedy
Service: United States Navy
Rank: Lieutenant
Conflict: World War II
Awards: Navy and Marine Corps Medal and a Purple Heart
Lyndon B. Johnson
Service: United States Naval Reserve
Rank: Commander
Conflict: World War II
Awards: Silver Star
Richard Nixon
Service: United States Naval Reserve
Rank: Commander
Conflict: World War II
Awards: Two Service Stars
Gerald Ford
Service: United States Naval Reserve
Rank: Lieutenant Commander
Conflict: World War II
Jimmy Carter
Service: United States Navy
Rank: Lieutenant
Conflict: World War II and Korea
Ronald Reagan
Service: United States Army Reserve, United States Army Air Corps
Rank: Captain
Conflict: Stateside during World War II
George H. W. Bush
Rank: Lieutenant (junior grade)Service: United States Naval Reserve
Conflict: World War II
Awards: Distinguished Flying Cross
I was raised a Pacifist. In a Pacifist church. While our “heroes” were mostly conscientious objectors, we had veterans in our community. We did NOT ridicule, disparage or insult those who DID serve.
We gave them the honor and appreciation that they all deserved.