John S.D. Eisenhower General USA
Dec 22, 2013 21:40:49 #
John S.D. Eisenhower, historian and presidents son, dies at 91
By Martin Weil and Emily Langer, Published: December 21
John S.D. Eisenhower, a soldier, diplomat and acclaimed historian who was the only surviving son of President Dwight D. Eisenhower, died Dec. 21 at his home in Trappe, on Marylands Eastern Shore. He was 91.
His daughter Susan Eisenhower confirmed the death, but no cause was immediately known.
A graduate of West Point like his father and the holder of the rank of brigadier general, John Eisenhower was ambassador to Belgium and was a prolific author of history and biography books.
He published books on World War II, World War I, the Civil War and the Mexican War.
Praise came his way early for The Bitter Woods, which focused on World War IIs Battle of the Bulge.
He had just completed a book on William T. Sherman, a Union general in the Civil War.
He had an extraordinary writing career, his daughter said.
The material upon which he drew included his personal glimpses over the years of many of those who shaped the world in the past half-century. One of his subjects was his father. It was called General Ike: A Personal Reminiscence.
I thought they had an extraordinary relationship, Susan Eisenhower said Saturday of her father and grandfather, noting that John Eisenhower was with the president at some of the most important moments of her grandfathers career.
A discussion in American History magazine of John Eisenhowers biographical memoir of his father called it a highly readable account of his fathers rise to commander and then to statesman that never fails to fascinate.
It offers close and personal glimpses of the relationship between his father and such major figures of world history as Winston Churchill and Charles de Gaulle.
As a historian, John Eisenhower immersed himself in the politics and culture of the periods of which he wrote. But he provided a personal touch that humanized the dry tale told by the records.
He used to say, Im a storyteller,  his daughter recalled.
John Sheldon Doud Eisenhower was born Aug. 3, 1922 in Denver, where his mother, Mamie Eisenhower, lived. A son born to his parents in 1917 had died three years later.
A soldiers son, John Eisenhower had a peripatetic childhood that took him to Panama, Fort Leavenworth, Kan., and Fort Benning, Ga. Upon his graduation from the Districts Adams Elementary School, he and his mother joined his father in the Philippine Islands.
A member of an accelerated wartime program at West Point, he graduated on June 6, 1944 by coincidence, the date of the allied invasion of Normandy presided over by his father. Part of the new lieutenants graduation leave was spent in Europe as an aide to his father.
The next month, he went to infantry school at Fort Benning and in October was assigned to the 71st Infantry Division, which was later sent to Europe.
After service in postwar Europe, he was assigned to teach English at West Point and received a masters degree from Columbia University.
As a major, he saw combat with the Third Infantry Division during the Korean conflict in 1952 and 1953. He received the Combat Infantrymans Badge and the Bronze Star.
He and his father had agreed that he should not leave his troops to attend his fathers inauguration, but President Harry S. Truman ordered him home for it. Afterward, he returned to Korea.
After holding a variety of Army posts, John Eisenhower went to the White House as assistant to one of his fathers top aides, Gen. Andrew J. Goodpaster.
After his fathers term ended, he took leave from the Army to help his father write three books. He left Army active duty in 1963.
His father, he said, had done so well in the military that he thought it best to try another profession.
John Eisenhower t***sferred to the Army Reserve, and ultimately was elevated to the rank of brigadier general.
After work as a book editor and foundation executive, he began in 1965 to research The Bitter Woods, which appeared in 1969. Its success, he told a reporter, reinforced his decision to become a historian.
His efforts to become known as more than his fathers son were sometimes termed a struggle, but reviewers of his books accepted him as sk**led historian with a reputation all his own.
During the 2008 p**********l campaign, he wrote an opinion article in the New York Times saying that the child of serving president should not serve in combat.
He and his father had agreed that he could serve, he said, but could not be taken prisoner lest it tie the presidents hands.
I would take my life before being captured, he wrote. But even that severe stricture, he later concluded, placed his personal interests over the nations.
His first marriage to Barbara Jean Thompson ended in divorce. Survivors include his second wife, Joanne; and four children from his first marriage, David, Anne, Susan and Mary.
I wonder if the regime will lower F**gs at Half Mask for this Gentleman .......as it did for Whitney Houston and Mandela?
By Martin Weil and Emily Langer, Published: December 21
John S.D. Eisenhower, a soldier, diplomat and acclaimed historian who was the only surviving son of President Dwight D. Eisenhower, died Dec. 21 at his home in Trappe, on Marylands Eastern Shore. He was 91.
His daughter Susan Eisenhower confirmed the death, but no cause was immediately known.
A graduate of West Point like his father and the holder of the rank of brigadier general, John Eisenhower was ambassador to Belgium and was a prolific author of history and biography books.
He published books on World War II, World War I, the Civil War and the Mexican War.
Praise came his way early for The Bitter Woods, which focused on World War IIs Battle of the Bulge.
He had just completed a book on William T. Sherman, a Union general in the Civil War.
He had an extraordinary writing career, his daughter said.
The material upon which he drew included his personal glimpses over the years of many of those who shaped the world in the past half-century. One of his subjects was his father. It was called General Ike: A Personal Reminiscence.
I thought they had an extraordinary relationship, Susan Eisenhower said Saturday of her father and grandfather, noting that John Eisenhower was with the president at some of the most important moments of her grandfathers career.
A discussion in American History magazine of John Eisenhowers biographical memoir of his father called it a highly readable account of his fathers rise to commander and then to statesman that never fails to fascinate.
It offers close and personal glimpses of the relationship between his father and such major figures of world history as Winston Churchill and Charles de Gaulle.
As a historian, John Eisenhower immersed himself in the politics and culture of the periods of which he wrote. But he provided a personal touch that humanized the dry tale told by the records.
He used to say, Im a storyteller,  his daughter recalled.
John Sheldon Doud Eisenhower was born Aug. 3, 1922 in Denver, where his mother, Mamie Eisenhower, lived. A son born to his parents in 1917 had died three years later.
A soldiers son, John Eisenhower had a peripatetic childhood that took him to Panama, Fort Leavenworth, Kan., and Fort Benning, Ga. Upon his graduation from the Districts Adams Elementary School, he and his mother joined his father in the Philippine Islands.
A member of an accelerated wartime program at West Point, he graduated on June 6, 1944 by coincidence, the date of the allied invasion of Normandy presided over by his father. Part of the new lieutenants graduation leave was spent in Europe as an aide to his father.
The next month, he went to infantry school at Fort Benning and in October was assigned to the 71st Infantry Division, which was later sent to Europe.
After service in postwar Europe, he was assigned to teach English at West Point and received a masters degree from Columbia University.
As a major, he saw combat with the Third Infantry Division during the Korean conflict in 1952 and 1953. He received the Combat Infantrymans Badge and the Bronze Star.
He and his father had agreed that he should not leave his troops to attend his fathers inauguration, but President Harry S. Truman ordered him home for it. Afterward, he returned to Korea.
After holding a variety of Army posts, John Eisenhower went to the White House as assistant to one of his fathers top aides, Gen. Andrew J. Goodpaster.
After his fathers term ended, he took leave from the Army to help his father write three books. He left Army active duty in 1963.
His father, he said, had done so well in the military that he thought it best to try another profession.
John Eisenhower t***sferred to the Army Reserve, and ultimately was elevated to the rank of brigadier general.
After work as a book editor and foundation executive, he began in 1965 to research The Bitter Woods, which appeared in 1969. Its success, he told a reporter, reinforced his decision to become a historian.
His efforts to become known as more than his fathers son were sometimes termed a struggle, but reviewers of his books accepted him as sk**led historian with a reputation all his own.
During the 2008 p**********l campaign, he wrote an opinion article in the New York Times saying that the child of serving president should not serve in combat.
He and his father had agreed that he could serve, he said, but could not be taken prisoner lest it tie the presidents hands.
I would take my life before being captured, he wrote. But even that severe stricture, he later concluded, placed his personal interests over the nations.
His first marriage to Barbara Jean Thompson ended in divorce. Survivors include his second wife, Joanne; and four children from his first marriage, David, Anne, Susan and Mary.
I wonder if the regime will lower F**gs at Half Mask for this Gentleman .......as it did for Whitney Houston and Mandela?
Dec 23, 2013 22:39:04 #
ldsuttonjr wrote:
John S.D. Eisenhower, historian and presidents so... (show quote)
Good post good last question.
Dec 24, 2013 02:42:24 #
angery american
Loc: Georgia
Good post. We are slowly losing the great generation that made America the greatest country on earth and the envy of the rest of the world. Their wisdom, bravery and patriotism will be missed. LOCK AND LOAD
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