Dwight David Eisenhower was born October 14, 1890, at Denison, Texas, the third of seven sons of David Jacob and Ida Elizabeth Stover Eisenhower. The family returned to Abilene, Kansas, in 1892 where Eisenhower graduated from Abilene High School in 1909. After leaving school Eisenhower worked at the Belle Springs Creamery until 1911.

Eisenhower entered United States Military Academy, West Point, New York, June 14, 1911, and graduated June 12, 1915 going on to be commissioned a Second Lieutenant in September 1915.

In 1916 Eisenhower married his fiancée Mamie Geneva Doud of Denver, Colorado. Their first son, Doud Dwight, was born September 24, 1917, and died January 2, 1921. Their second son, John Sheldon Doud, was born August 3, 1922.

Eisenhower served with the Infantry from September 1915 to February 1918 in Ft. Sam Houston, Camp Wilson and Leon Springs, Texas and Ft. Oglethorpe, Georgia. He then served with the Tank Corps, February 1918 to January 1922 in Camp Meade, Maryland, Camp Colt, Pennsylvania, Camp Dix, New Jersey, Ft. Benning, Georgia, and Ft. Meade, Maryland. During this time he was promoted to First Lieutenant on July 1, 1916; Captain on May 15, 1917; Major (temporary) on June 17, 1918; and to Lieutenant Colonel (temporary) on October 14, 1918. Reverted to permanent rank of Captain on June 30, 1920 and was promoted to Major on July 2, 1920.

Eisenhower volunteered to participate as a Tank Corps observer in the First Transcontinental Motor Convoy from July 7, 1919 to September 6, 1919. He was then assigned as executive officer to General Fox Conner, Camp Gaillard, Panama Canal Zone, January 1922 to September 1924. Served in various capacities in Maryland and Colorado until August 1925.

Eisenhower entered Command and General Staff School, Ft. Leavenworth, Kansas, August 19, 1925, where he graduated first in a class of 245, June 18, 1926. He then served as battalion commander, 24th Infantry, Ft. Benning, Georgia, August 1926 to January 1927.

Next Eisenhower was assigned to American Battle Monuments Commission, directed by General John J. Pershing. January to August 1927 served in Washington, D.C. office, writing a guidebook to World War I battlefields. In charge of guidebook revision and European office, Paris, France July 1928 to September 1929.

On August 27, 1927, Eisenhower entered Army War College, Washington, D.C. and graduated June 30, 1928. Eisenhower served as executive officer to General George V. Moseley, Assistant Secretary of War, Washington, D.C., November 1929 to February 1933, then as chief military aide to General Douglas MacArthur, Army Chief of Staff, until September 1935.

September 1935 to December 1939 Eisenhower was assigned to General MacArthur as assistant military advisor to the Philippine Government. Promoted to Lieutenant Colonel, July 1, 1936.

Eisenhower was next assigned to General DeWitt Clinton, Commander, 15th Infantry, for a short term in Ft.Ord, California, and then permanently to Ft. Lewis, Washington as regimental executive, from February 1940 to November 1940. Following this Eisenhower was Chief of Staff for General Thompson, Commander, 3rd Division, Ft. Lewis until March 1941. He then served as Chief of Staff to General Kenyon Joyce, Commander 9th Army Corps, Ft. Lewis, until June 1941. Designated Chief of Staff to General Walter Kreuger, Commander 3rd Army, Ft. Sam Houston, Texas, June 1941 to December 1941. Promoted to Colonel (temporary), March 11, 1941, and to Brigadier General (temporary), September 29, 1941.

Assigned to General Staff, Washington, D.C., from December 1941 to June 1942. Eisenhower was named Deputy Chief in charge of Pacific Defenses under Chief of War Plans Division, General Leonard Gerow, December 1941. Designated as Chief of War Plans Division, February 1942. In April 1942, appointed Assistant Chief of Staff in charge of Operations Division for General George Marshall, Chief of Staff. March 27, 1942, promoted to Major General (temporary).

Eisenhower conducted a mission to increase co-operation among World War II allies, London, England, May 1942. Designated Commanding General, European Theatre, London, England, June 1942. Named Commander-in-Chief, Allied Forces, North Africa, November 1942. Promoted to Lieutenant General (temporary), July 7, 1942 and to General (4 stars) (temporary), February 11, 1943. Eisenhower was appointed Brigadier General on August 30, 1943 and was promoted to Major General on the same date.

Eisenhower was appointed Supreme Commander, Allied Expeditionary Forces, December 1943. In this role he commanded forces of Normandy invasion, June 6, 1944. December 20, 1944, promoted to General of the Army (5 stars). Shortly after the German surrender, May 8, 1945, Eisenhower was appointed Military Governor, U.S. Occupied Zone, Frankfurt, Germany. On April 11, 1946, wartime rank of General of the Army converted to permanent rank.

Eisenhower was designated as Chief of Staff, U.S. Army, November 19, 1945. He was inaugurated as President, Columbia University, New York City, June 7, 1948. He was named Supreme Allied Commander, North Atlantic Treaty Organisation, Europe, and given operational command of Treaty Organisation, Europe and given operational command of U.S. Forces, Europe, December 16, 1950. Eisenhower retired from active service, May 31, 1952 and resigned his commission July 1952.

Eisenhower announced his candidacy for the Republican Party nomination for President on June 4, 1952 in Abilene. He was nominated at the Republican convention and elected on November 4, 1952.

Eisenhower served two terms as President of the United States, January 20, 1953 to January 20, 1961. He saw the end of the Korean War, promoted Atoms for Peace, and dealt with crises in Lebanon, Suez, Berlin, and Hungary in foreign affairs. Eisenhower saw Alaska and Hawaii become states. He was concerned with civil rights issues and the interstate highway system in domestic affairs.

In March 1961, by Public Law 87-3, signed by President John F. Kennedy, Eisenhower returned to active list of regular Army with rank of General of the Army from December 1944. He maintained office at Gettysburg College and residence at his farm near Gettysburg, PA, January 1961-March 1969.

General Dwight D. Eisenhower died on March 28, 1969 at Walter Reed Army Hospital in Washington, D.C. He was buried in the Place of Meditation at the Eisenhower Centre, Abilene, Kansas on April 2, 1969.