Dwight David Eisenhower

When World War II began in 1939, Dwight D. Eisenhower was a little-known Lieutenant Colonel. Four years later, he became Supreme Commander of the Allied armies in Europe. He united these armies into a fighting force that smashed Nazi Germany's dream of world conquest. He subsequently served as the first military commander of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization. In 1953, Eisenhower became the first Republican President in 20 years.

Chronology of Eisenhower's Life and Career
Oct 14, 1890	Born in Denison, Texas.
1892	Moved with his family to Abilene, Kansas.
1915	Graduated from the United States Military Academy at West Point.
July 1, 1916	Married Mamie Geneva Doud.
1918	Awarded the Distinguished Service Medal for his work as commander of the tank training center at Camp Colt, in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania.
1922-1924	Executive director of Camp Caillard in the Panama Canal Zone.
1926	Graduated from the Command and General Staff School at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas.
1928	Graduated from the Army War College in Washington, D.C.
1933	Became an aide to General Douglas MacArthur.
1941	Promoted to Colonel, then to Brigadier General.
1942	Named commanding general of American forces in the European Theater of Operations.
1943	Named supreme commander of the Allied Expeditionary Force in Europe.
June 6, 1944	Led the Allied invasion of Europe.
1945	Named Army Chief of Staff.
1948	Became president of Columbia University.
1950	Named supreme commander of NATO forces in Europe.
1950	Bought a farm in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania.
1952	Elected President of the United States.
1954	The Eisenhower Museum dedicated in Abilene.
1956	Re-elected President.
1961	Retired to his farm in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania.
Mar 28, 1969	Died in a hospital in Washington, D.C.

Eisenhower was named David Dwight at birth, but his parents almost always called him Dwight; by the time he reached high school he had reversed his names.

In grade school, Dwight's older brother Edgar was nicknamed "Big Ike" and Dwight became "Little Ike." How the Eisenhower brothers' classmates came up with the "Ike" moniker is not known, but Dwight continued to be called "Ike" most of his life.