Military record of the defeated major party presidential nominees

[MASHED POTATOES. VOTE!]

William Jennings Bryan (Democrat, 1896, 1900, 1908)

Colonel, Nebraska Militia, during the American-Spanish War. Never saw combat because falling ill before deployment to Cuba.

Alton B. Parker (Democrat, 1904)

Never served.

Charles Evans Hughes (Republican, 1916)

Never served.

James M. Cox (Democrat, 1920)

Never served.

John W. Davis (Democrat, 1924)

Never served.

Al Smith (Democrat, 1928)

Never served.

Alf Landon (Republican, 1936)

First Lieutenant, U.S. Army, during the World War I. Served in chemical warfare.

Wendell Willkie (Republican, 1940)

First Lieutenant, U.S. Army, during the World War I. Did not complete his artilery training until war ended so, as a lawyer, he was assigned to the American headquarters in Paris to assist in military trials.

Thomas E. Dewey (Republican, 1944, 1948)

Never served.

Adlai Stevenson (Democrat, 1952, 1956)

Seaman Apprentice, U.S. Navy, during the World War I. Did not complete his training in time to see combat.

Barry Goldwater (Republican, 1964)

Lieutenant Colonel, U.S. Army Air Forces, during the World War II.
Colonel, Arizona Air National Guard.
Major General, U.S. Air Force Reserve.

Flew a number of missions on various types of aircrafts. After WWII organized and commander Arizona Air National Guard.

Hubert Humphrey (Democrat, 1968)

Never served despite attempts to enlist during the World War II.

George McGovern (Democrat, 1972)

First Lieutenant, U.S. Army Air Forces, during the World War II. Flew a number of missions on B‑24 bomber over enemy territory in Europe. Awarded with the Distinguished Flying Cross and three Air Medals.

Walter Mondale (Democrat, 1984)

Corporal, U.S. Army 1951-1952. Stationed at Fort Knox.

Michael Dukakis (Democrat, 1988)

U.S. Army 1955–1957. Stationed in Korea during peacetime.

Bob Dole (Republican, 1996)

First Lieutenant, United States Army during the World War II. Wounded during combat in Italy. Awarded with Bronze Star with Valor and two Purple Hearts.

Al Gore (Democrat, 2000)

Private, U.S. Army. Served in Vietnam as an occupational specialist.

John Kerry (Democrat, 2004)

Lieutenant, U.S. Navy. Served during the Vietnam War, first as a surface warfare officer, then commanding a swift boat. Awarded with Silver Star, Bronze Star and three Purple Hearts.

John McCain (Republican, 2008)

Captain, U.S. Navy. A career officer. Served during the Vietnam War as navy aviator, being shot down and held as POW. Awarded with Silver Star, Legion of Merit, Distinguished Flying Cross, Bronze Star, Purple Heart and others.

[MASHED POTATOES. VOTE!]

Charles Cotesworth Pinckney (Federalist, 1804, 1808)

Major General, Continental Army. Served during the American Revolutionary War.

DeWitt Clinton (Federalist, 1812)

Never served.

Rufus King (Federalist, 1816)

Major, Continental Army. Served as an aide to General Sullivan.

Henry Clay (National Republican 1832, Whig 1844)

Never served.

Lewis Cass (Democrat, 1848)

Brigadier General, United States Army. Served during the War of 1812.

Winfield Scott (Whig, 1852)

Brevet Lieutenant General, United States Army. It's too self-exploratory to post all wars he participated in or all commands he held.

John C. Frémont (Republican, 1856)

Major General, United States Army. Served various conflicts and commands before and after his presidential run.

Stephen A. Douglas (Democrat, 1860)

Never served.

John C. Breckinridge (Southern Democrat, 1860)

Major, United States Army, during the Mexican War, but saw no action.

Later Major General, Confederate Army, commanding in a number of battles.

John B. McClellan (Democrat, 1864)

Major General, United States Army. Engineering officer during the Mexican War, where he saw combat. His later role during the Civil War is too well known to summarize here.

Horatio Seymour (Democrat, 1868)

Never served.

Horace Greeley (Liberal Republican/Democrat, 1872)

Never served.

Samuel Tilden (Democrat, 1876)

Never served.

Winfield S. Hancock (Democrat, 1880)

Major General, United States Army. Served during the Mexican War. His later role during the Civil War is too well known to summarize here.

James G. Blaine (Republican, 1884)

Never served.

[MASHED POTATOES. VOTE!]

Also, notable third party candidates

Eugene V. Debs (Socialist, 1900, 1904, 1908, 1912, 1920)

Never served.

Robert M. La Follette, Sr. (Progressive, 1924)

Never served.

Strom Thurmond (Dixiecrat, 1948)

Lieutenant Colonel, U.S. Army. Saw combat during the World War II. Decorated with Legion of Merit, Bronze Star with Valor and Purple Heart amond others.

Later Major General in the Army Reserve.

Henry A. Wallace (Progressive, 1948)

Never served.

Harry F. Byrd, Sr. (Independent, 1960)

Never served.

George Wallace (American Independent, 1968)

Staff Sergeant, U.S. Army Air Corps. Served during the World War II and saw combat as a bomber pilot in the East.

John Schmitz (American Independent, 1972)

Lieutenant Colonel, U.S. Marine Corps. Jet and helicopter pilot. Served during peacetime.

John Hospers (Libertarian, 1972)

Never served.

John B. Anderson (Independent, 1980)

Staff Sergeant, U.S. Army. Saw combat during World War II.

Ed Clark (Libertarian, 1980)

Never served.

H. Ross Perot (Independent 1992, Reform 1996)

Lieutenant, Jr. Grade, U.S. Navy. Never saw combat.

Ralph Nader (Green 1996, 2000, Independent 2004, 2008)

United States Army, 1959.