He was born in a small town called Deniso in western Texas in the year 1890 (Hargrove 22). Then he and his family moved to a railroad town called Abilene in the state of Kansas. Here Dwight Eisenhower grew upwith his 13 other family members. (Hargrove 19). Dwight David Eisenhower is one of Americas greatest heroes with his military career to his two terms as President of the United States. Dwight Eisenhower had many accomplishments to and from West Point through World War One. Ike Eisenhower wanted to serve his country in any way he could.
He found the idea of being a sailor in the U. S Navy intriguing, but when he later applied for entering he found that he was too old at the age of 20. Then after studying hard Eisenhower was accepted atthe West Point Military Academy with the help of a U. S senator (Hargrove33). At college Ike showed himself as a hero on the Army Football team asan end (Hargrove 34). He also found an easier procedure for working advanced calculus (Hargrove 36). At the end of his college career in 1915,Eisenhower graduated number 61 out of a class of 164 (Hargrove 38).
Eisenhower’s military journey began during World War One. When he graduated college World War One was still raging through Europe. Instead of fighting in the infantry overseas Eisenhower was to stay home on U. Sbases (Hargrove 41). After being promoted to a Lieutenant Colonel, Eisenhower was sent to Camp Colt to train soldiers about tanks (Hargrove42). Then in the year 1933 he became one of the important advisers toGeneral Douglas MacArther (Hargrove 45). Dwight David Eisenhower worked his way up through the ranksduring World War Two and then led the Allies to victory in D-Day.
Dwightshowed his skill of organizing the movement of large numbers of troops. Hewas then promoted several times in the next few years. Then in 1941Eisenhower was promoted to Chief of Staff of the Third Army (Hargrove49). Then shortly after the promotion to “Chief of Staff”, Ike was againpromoted to the position of Brigadier General (Hargrove 50). Soon he wasput in charge of the Allied forces in Europe (Hargrove 52). He nowcontrolled the armies of the United States, Britain, and Canada (Hargrove7). Eisenhower and other Allied Generals planned the invasion of Normandy (Hargrove 12).
Eisenhower would lead the 6,483 sea vessels,about 800,000 men, and 12,000 aircraft across the English Channel toNormandy France (Benson 12). Eisenhower had hoped that the Germanswould fear an invasion at the close French city of Calais (“The Beachesof… ” 9). There were to be five beaches invaided with the code names;Omaha, Utah, Gold, Sword, and Juno (“The beaches of… ” 28). In the endDwight D. Eisenhower led the Allies to victory on June 6,1944. IfEisenhower had made a wrong choice, Hitler would have continued to rainV-1 & V-2 rockets on London (Benson 7).
Eisenhower had nowsuccessfully completed the most important invasion in history wiping out allmost 100% of German units. Luckily Allied forces only suffered 76% casualties (Barry 30). Dwight Eisenhower was one of the most popular and successfulpresidents in our country’s history. Eisenhower was elected to the office ofpresident twice. His first term with vice president Richard Nixion began in1952 (Hargrove 65). Then again in 1956 Dwight Eisenhower was reelectedto president winning by a landslide (Hargrove 76). Dwight Eisenhower solved many problems of his era. He helped to stop the Korea war withpeacetalks (Hargrove 67).
Eisenhower also enforced the desegregation ofpublic schools making way for the start of equal schooling (Hargrove 79). Dwight Eisenhower substantially helped prevent what could have been anall out war in the Middle East (Reeder 149). Eisenhower started manyimportant programs and made great advancements in the United States. “The atom, once mans’ slayer will now become his most productive servant”. This is what Eisenhower said when he pushed for the start of theInternational Atomic Agency (Reeder 145). He also organized the Army tocreate a space program, which eventually launched Explorer I (Hargrove 81).
President Eisenhower signed the two last states into the Union, Alaskaand Hawaii (Hargrove 82). He also started to build a mass network ofinterstate across the country from coast to coast (Hargrove 82). On January20, 1961 Dwight Eisenhower left the office of President and was succeededby newly-elected President John F. Kennedy (Hargrove 87). In closing I believe that Dwight David Eisenhower is one of ourgreatest American heroes. Even after his presidency Eisenhower still wasone of the most popular people and admired people through the mid to late1960’s.
He lived on a farm in Gettesyberg Pennsylvania spending much ofhis time playing golf ( Hargrove 88). Then in 1969 on March 28, Dwight Eisenhower died due to a long battle with heart problems. He was thenburied in his hometown of Abeline, Kansas. “America will be a lonely landwith out him, but America will always be a better nation-stronger, safer,more conscious of its heritage, more certain of its destiny-because Ike waswith us when America needed him,” this is what President Lyndon Johnsonsaid after Eisenhower’s death (Hargrove 89).
