Dwight D. Eisenhower

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Lore & Background

Eisenhower graduated from West Point in 1915. During World War I, he commanded a unit that trained tank crews. Between the wars he served in staff positions in the US and the Philippines, reaching the rank of brigadier general shortly before the US entry into World War II. He oversaw the Allied invasions of North Africa and Sicily before serving as Supreme Commander of the Allied Expeditionary Force for the invasions of France and Germany. After the war, he served as military governor of the American-occupied zone of Germany (1945), as Army Chief of Staff (1945–1948), president of Columbia University (1948–1953), and as the first supreme commander of NATO (1951–1952). He entered the 1952 presidential race as a Republican and won that year's election and the 1956 election in landslides, both times defeating Adlai Stevenson II. His main goals were to contain the spread of communism and reduce federal deficits. He considered using nuclear weapons to end the Korean War in 1953. His New Look policy of nuclear deterrence prioritized nuclear weapons while reducing funding for Army divisions. He supported regime-changing military coups in Iran and Guatemala. During the Suez Crisis of 1956, he condemned the Israeli, British, and French invasion of Egypt and forced them to withdraw. He condemned the Soviet invasion during the Hungarian Revolution of 1956 but took no action. He deployed 15,000 soldiers during the 1958 Lebanon crisis. He approved the Bay of Pigs Invasion, which was left to John F. Kennedy to carry out. He signed the Civil Rights Act of 1957 and sent Army troops to enforce federal court orders integrating schools in Little Rock, Arkansas. His administration undertook the development and construction of the Interstate Highway System. Following the Soviet launch of Sputnik in 1957, he led the American response including the creation of NASA and the National Defense Education Act. In his farewell address, he warned about the 'military–industrial complex.'

In Their Own Story

The briefing room was quiet, save for the hum of the map projector casting shadows on the table. General Eisenhower stood before the assembled officers, his voice steady as he outlined the impending assault on the beaches of Normandy. He pointed to the sector where the player's unit would land, emphasizing that success relied not just on courage, but on the precise execution of a plan forged in secrecy and sacrifice.

Reader's Guide

Eisenhower is not a playable character but serves as a narrative anchor or briefing officer, representing the Supreme Allied Commander's strategic oversight during major operations such as the Normandy landings.

Did You Know?

• Eisenhower was born David Dwight Eisenhower in Denison, Texas, and his mother reversed his forenames to Dwight David to avoid confusion.
• He graduated from West Point in 1915, a class known as 'the class the stars fell on' because 59 members became general officers.
• Eisenhower was baptized in the Presbyterian Church in 1953.
• He suffered a torn knee while playing football at West Point, ending his playing career.
• His farewell address coined the term 'military–industrial complex.'

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