Dwight D. Eisenhower

Dwight D. Eisenhower (http://media-2.web.britannica.com/eb-media/72/79872-004-9D12F065.jpg)

Dwight David “Ike” Eisenhower was one The United States' biggest heroes in more than one way. Dwight, a native of Denison, Texas, was the third of seven sons to David Jacob Eisenhower and Ida Elizabeth Stover, whose roots were German, English, and Swiss. He would become not only the thirty-fourth president, but also the first president to be born in the state of Texas.

After completing high school, Dwight worked for two years to support his brother Edgar's college education. Dwight then wanted to apply for the Naval Academy, and passed the entrance exam, but stopped short when they told him he was older than the age restriction to join. Kansas Senator Joseph L. Bristow recommended Dwight to the Military Academy in 1911, which he joined. Eisenhower graduated in the upper half of the class of 1915. This class was one of the most memorable classes in history as 59 members went on to become general officers.

Dwight served with the infantry until 1918 in different camps in Texas and Georgia. During World War I, Eisenhower rose to Brevet Lieutenant Colonel in the National Army. Later, he served in the Panama Canal Zone, where he served as executive officer to General Fox Conner until 1924. From the time of 1925 to 1927 he attended the Command and General Staff College at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas, and then served as a battalion commander at Fort Benning, Georgia. In 1936, he was promoted to Lieutenant Colonel in a non Brevet position. It wasn't until 1941, that he was promoted again to Brigadier General. In the next years Dwight would move around to such positions as Commanding General of European Theater of Operations (ETOUSA), Supreme Commander Allied (Expeditionary) Force of the North African Theater of Operations (NATOUSA), and Supreme Allied Commander of the Allied Expeditionary Force (SHAEF).

In 1953, at 62 years of age, Eisenhower would become the thirty-fourth president of The United States of America. He was re-elected for a second term in 1956 as well. With a strong military background, and influence, Eisenhower's biggest accomplishments were the Interstate Highway System, and the Eisenhower Doctrine, which basically stated that the US Armed Forces in the Middle East would be "prepared to use armed force to counter aggression from any country controlled by international communism."

In 1961, Eisenhower became the first U.S. president to be "constitutionally forced" from office, meaning that he had served the maximum of two terms served as president according the the 22nd Ammendment to the US Constitution. Eisenhower died of a heart failure on March 28, 1969, but was still remembered as one of the greatest presidents. He was a war hero, and swayed the nation with his firm judgment as president. Richard Nixon spoke of Eisenhower's death, "Some men are considered great because they lead great armies or they lead powerful nations. For eight years now, Dwight Eisenhower has neither commanded an army nor led a nation; and yet he remained through his final days the world's most admired and respected man, truly the first citizen of the world."

To honor Dwight D. Eisenhower you could take a moment of silence to remember him, read his biography, or play some baseball, as when he was a child, he wanted to become a Major League Baseball player.