Dwight David Eisenhower was born in Denison Texas in 1890, but grew to manhood in Abilene, Kansas. Ike (a nickname from grade school) was raised with five brothers in a modest, hard working family that had traditional values including trust, responsibility, respect, accountability, caring and good citizenship. It was in this family atmosphere, with his father David and mother Ida as role models, that Ike began to develop the traits that would help to mold him as a leader.
Besides his household chores and schoolwork, Ike grew vegetables to sell for spending money, and he loved sports such as baseball, football, hunting, fishing, and camping. Ike’s parents didn’t have the money to send him to college. After he graduated from high school Ike took a job at the creamery in Abilene and made an agreement with his brother Edgar that they would help each other pay for college. While working at the creamery Ike found out from his friend, “Swede” Hazlett, that he could get a free education at a military academy.
He passed the test and won an appointment to the United States Military Academy at West Point. At West Point Ike studied, but he also played football. When he had an injury and could no longer play, he continued as a coach. He also began to take seriously the West Point motto of Duty, Honor, and Country. After graduation he reported for duty at Fort Sam Houston, Texas where he met and fell in love with Mamie Geneva Doud. They were married on July 1, 1916 and would remain married for 53 years. The United States entered World War I against Germany in 1917. Young Eisenhower hoped to serve in the war zone but in 1918 was disappointed to be assigned to Camp Colt in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania. On the fields of the famous Civil War site of Pickett’s Charge, Ike commanded a newly formed tank training corps. At war’s end he left Gettysburg for a new assignment, one of many in a career that became a 38-year tour of the world.
Before the United States entered World War II in 1941, Eisenhower believed he would probably retire from the army as a colonel. However, his superiors, including President Roosevelt, recognized his abilities. He was rapidly promoted and became a 5- star general, the highest rank a military officer can achieve. Eisenhower had good organizational abilities, leadership skills, strong character traits, and a likeable personality. These personal qualities enabled him to lead armies from different countries to victory in Europe. A few years after the war ended, Ike became President of Columbia University in New York City. As he thought about retirement, Ike fondly remembered the time he and Mamie spent at Camp Colt, and so he bought a farm near Gettysburg in 1950.
Retirement was not in the cards for Ike. In 1950, President Truman asked him to take command of the new North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) in Europe. In 1952 Ike was convinced, and reluctantly agreed, to seek an even greater position; that of President of the United States. Americans trusted Eisenhower because of his war record and they believed he was totally honest. His famous wide grin led many to proclaim “I Like Ike.” He easily won the elections of 1952 and 1956.