Dwight D Eisenhower

Dwight’s Early Life

Dwight D. Eisenhower was the third son of David and Ida Stover Eisenhower. He was born in 1890 in Denison, Texas, and named David Dwight Eisenhower, although he was known as Dwight David by many. In 1891, the family moved to Abilene, Kansas, where Eisenhower was brought up. He was the third of seven sons. He and his older brothers were all called “Ike” by their family, Eisenhower was known as “Little Ike”. In his high school years, he was known to excel in sports due to his active nature. After he graduated, Eisenhower wanted to attend college, but his family could not afford the tuition. Dwight and his brother planned to switch off between work and college every year in order to pay for each other’s tuition and allow them to both complete their education. In 1910, Eisenhower found that he could get a free college education at United States Military Academy at West Point, New York. The prerequisite for obtaining such involved passing a difficult exam. While Eisenhower had no original plans to be a soldier, he still prepared well for the competitive West Point entrance exam and won an appointment to the school in 1911.

The Coming of a Commander in Chief

Unknown to him at the time, Eisenhower would later lead many military forces though the course of both world wars, winning decisive victories and helping push America forward even before his own presidency. When the United States entered World War I in 1917, Eisenhower was promoted in the army and assigned to training duty for new cadets. He desperately wanted to see action during the war, and applied for an overseas assignment. His own skill would prevent him from participating in battle during that war. Higher officers saw the ability that he had as an organizer and trainer, and put him in command of Camp Colt at Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, instead of granting his overseas request. One of the army’s first tank corps was being formed there, and Eisenhower trained the fighting unit. In the October of 1918 he finally got orders to take his units overseas, to France, but the war ended before he could leave America. Although disappointed at having missed combat, Eisenhower was recognized by his superiors for his efforts during the war. He was awarded the Distinguished Service Medal following the submission of German forces.

After gaining much respect in the military field for his accompli...

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...ho was true to his country, as there were few times in his life where he was not actively serving The United States. Helping our nation though two harsh wars as a trainer and commander, and attempting to tackle issues of great proportions during his presidency showed the strength, determination, and the great efforts put forth by this man to help shape the U.S. into the country that it is today.

1. Joann P. Krieg. Dwight D. Eisenhower Soldier, President, Statesman. Greenwood Press. Westport, Conn. 1987.

2. Clarefield, Gerard. Security with Solvency: Dwight D. Eisenhower and the Shaping of the American Military Establishment. Westport, CT, Praeger, 1999.

3. Divine, Robert A. Eisenhower and the Cold War. New York, Oxford University Press, 1981.

4. Broadwater, Jeff. Eisenhower and the Anti-Communist Crusade. Chapel Hill, University of North Carolina Press, 1992.

5. (Document) Beasley, Charles A. Grant and Eisenhower: A Comparative Study of the Soldier Turned Political Leader. Carlisle Barracks, PA, Army War College, March 1991.

6. (Periodical) Barclay, C. N. Dwight David Eisenhower 1890-1969: A Tribute to the Supreme Allied Commander, 1942-45. Army Quarterly 98