Editing Dwight D. Eisenhower (section)

== Early life and education ==
[[File:Eisenhower House 1.jpg|thumb|upright=1.15|The Eisenhower family home in Abilene, Kansas]]
Eisenhower was born David Dwight Eisenhower in Denison, Texas, on October 14, 1890, the third of seven sons born to Ida and David.<ref>{{cite book|last=D'Este|first=Carlo|title=Eisenhower: A Soldier's Life|year=2003|publisher=Macmillan|isbn=0805056874|pages=21–22|url={{GBurl|id=RCeteK7LEiYC|p=21}}|access-date=September 13, 2016}}</ref> His mother soon reversed his two forenames after his birth to avoid the confusion of having two Davids in the family.<ref name="A18">{{harvnb|Ambrose|1983|p=18}}</ref> He was named Dwight after the evangelist [[Dwight L. Moody]].<ref>[https://ww2gravestone.com/people/eisenhower-dwight-david-ike/ Eisenhower, Dwight David "Ike".], biography on World War II graves website</ref> All of the boys were nicknamed "Ike", such as "Big Ike" ([[Edgar N. Eisenhower|Edgar]]) and "Little Ike" (Dwight); the nickname was intended as an abbreviation of their last name.<ref>{{harvnb|Ambrose|1983|p=22}}</ref> By World War II, only Dwight was still called "Ike".{{r|barnett19421109}}

In 1892, the family moved to [[Abilene, Kansas]], which Eisenhower considered his hometown.{{r|barnett19421109}} As a child, he was involved in an accident that cost his younger brother [[Earl D. Eisenhower|Earl]] an eye, for which he was remorseful for the remainder of his life.<ref>{{cite book|last=D'Este|first=Carlo|title=Eisenhower: A Soldier's Life|year=2003|publisher=Macmillan|isbn=0805056874|page=31|url={{GBurl|id=RCeteK7LEiYC|p=21}}|access-date=June 12, 2020}}</ref> Eisenhower developed a keen and enduring interest in exploring the outdoors. He learned about hunting and fishing, cooking, and card playing from a man named Bob Davis who camped on the [[Smoky Hill River]].<ref name=ease /><ref>D'Este, Carlo (2002). ''Eisenhower: A Soldier's Life'', p. 25.</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://home.nps.gov/eise/forteachers/classrooms/upload/webed-Molding-of-a-Leader-Lesson-3-Materials.pdf |title=Getting on the Right TRRACC |work=Lesson Plans: The Molding of a Leader |publisher=Eisenhower National Historic Site |access-date=April 27, 2013 |quote=...&nbsp;Ike spent his weekends at Davis's camp on the Smoky Hill River. |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140326175456/http://home.nps.gov/eise/forteachers/classrooms/upload/webed-Molding-of-a-Leader-Lesson-3-Materials.pdf |archive-date=March 26, 2014 |url-status=live }}</ref> While his mother was against war, it was her collection of history books that first sparked Eisenhower's interest in military history; he became a voracious reader on the subject. Other favorite subjects early in his education were arithmetic and spelling.<ref>{{harvnb|Ambrose|1983|p=32}}</ref>

Eisenhower's parents set aside specific times at breakfast and at dinner for daily family Bible reading. Chores were regularly assigned and rotated among all the children, and misbehavior was met with unequivocal discipline, usually from David.<ref>{{harvnb|Ambrose|1983|p=25}}</ref> His mother, previously a member (with David) of the [[River Brethren]] ([[Brethren in Christ Church]]) sect of the [[Mennonite]]s,<ref name="Time"/> joined the [[International Bible Students|International Bible Students Association]], later known as [[Jehovah's Witnesses]]. The Eisenhower home served as the local meeting hall from 1896 to 1915, though Dwight never joined.<ref>Bergman, Jerry. "Steeped in Religion: President Eisenhower and the Influence of the Jehovah's Witnesses", ''Kansas History'' (Autumn 1998).</ref> His later decision to attend West Point saddened his mother, who felt that warfare was "rather wicked", but she did not overrule his decision.<ref>D'Este, Carlo (2002). ''Eisenhower: A Soldier's Life'', p. 58.</ref> Speaking of himself in 1948, Eisenhower said he was "one of the most deeply religious men I know" though unattached to any "sect or organization". He was baptized in the [[Presbyterian Church in the United States of America |Presbyterian Church]] in 1953.<ref name="Time">[http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,889614,00.html "Faith Staked Down"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100820072103/http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,889614,00.html |date=August 20, 2010 }}, ''Time'', February 9, 1953.</ref> 

Eisenhower attended [[Abilene High School (Abilene, Kansas)|Abilene High School]] and graduated in 1909.<ref name="gradyear">{{Cite news |title=Public School Products |date=September 14, 1959 |magazine=[[Time (magazine)|Time]]}}</ref> As a freshman, he injured his knee and developed a leg infection that extended into his groin, which his doctor diagnosed as life-threatening. The doctor insisted that the leg be amputated but Dwight refused to allow it, and surprisingly recovered, though he had to repeat his freshman year.<ref>{{harvnb|Ambrose|1983|p=36}}</ref> He and brother [[Edgar N. Eisenhower|Edgar]] both wanted to attend college, though they lacked the funds. They made a pact to take alternate years at college while the other worked to earn the tuitions.<ref>{{harvnb|Ambrose|1983|p=37}}</ref>

Edgar took the first turn at school, and Dwight was employed as a night supervisor at the Belle Springs Creamery.<ref>{{Cite news|access-date=May 23, 2008|url=http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,839998-3,00.html|title=Eisenhower: Soldier of Peace|magazine=[[Time (magazine)|Time]]|date=April 4, 1969|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080524105356/http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,839998-3,00.html|archive-date=May 24, 2008|url-status=dead}}</ref> When Edgar asked for a second year, Dwight consented. At that time a friend, [[Edward Hazlett|Edward "Swede" Hazlett]], was applying to the [[United States Naval Academy|Naval Academy]] and urged Dwight to apply, since no tuition was required. Eisenhower requested consideration for either Annapolis or West Point with his Senator, [[Joseph L. Bristow]]. Though Eisenhower was among the winners of the entrance-exam competition, he was beyond the age limit for the Naval Academy.<ref name="Education">{{cite web|access-date=May 23, 2008 |url=http://www.dwightdeisenhower.com/biodde.html |title=Biography: Dwight David Eisenhower |publisher=[[Eisenhower Foundation]] |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080523224747/http://www.dwightdeisenhower.com/biodde.html |archive-date=May 23, 2008 }}</ref> He accepted an appointment to West Point in 1911.<ref name="Education" />

At West Point, Eisenhower relished the emphasis on traditions and on sports, but was less enthusiastic about the hazing, though he willingly accepted it as a plebe. He was also a regular violator of the more detailed regulations and finished school with a less than stellar discipline rating. Academically, Eisenhower's best subject by far was English. Otherwise, his performance was average, though he thoroughly enjoyed the typical emphasis of engineering on science and mathematics.<ref>{{harvnb|Ambrose|1983|pp=44–48}}</ref>

In athletics, Eisenhower later said that "not making the baseball team at West Point was one of the greatest disappointments of my life, maybe my greatest".<ref name="rayaip">{{cite web|access-date=May 23, 2008|url=http://www.baseball-almanac.com/prz_qde.shtml|title=President Dwight D. Eisenhower Baseball Related Quotations|publisher=Baseball Almanac|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080521164214/http://www.baseball-almanac.com/prz_qde.shtml|archive-date=May 21, 2008|url-status=live}}</ref> He made the [[Army Black Knights football|varsity football team]]<ref name="ameddregiment.amedd.army.mil">{{cite web|title=Eisenhower BOQ 1915 |url=http://ameddregiment.amedd.army.mil/fshmuse/tour8.htm |access-date=August 23, 2012 |publisher=[[Fort Sam Houston]]|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070717161130/http://ameddregiment.amedd.army.mil/fshmuse/tour8.htm |archive-date= July 17, 2007}}</ref><ref name="ameddregiment.amedd.army.mil 2">{{cite web|url=http://ameddregiment.amedd.army.mil/fshmuse/eisen_football.htm |title=Lt Eisenhower and Football Team |access-date=August 23, 2012 |publisher=[[Fort Sam Houston]]|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070717161130/http://ameddregiment.amedd.army.mil/fshmuse/eisen_football.htm |archive-date= July 17, 2007}}</ref> and was a starter at [[Halfback (American football)|halfback]] in 1912, when he tried to tackle the legendary [[Jim Thorpe]] of the [[Carlisle Indians football|Carlisle Indians]].<ref>{{Cite news |access-date=May 23, 2008 |url=http://www.cnn.com/2004/WORLD/europe/07/09/jim.thorpe/ |title=Roller-coaster life of Indian icon, sports' first star |publisher=CNN |date=July 15, 1912 |author=Botelho, Greg |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071114200705/http://www.cnn.com/2004/WORLD/europe/07/09/jim.thorpe/ |archive-date=November 14, 2007 |url-status=live }}</ref> Eisenhower suffered a torn knee while being tackled in the next game, which was the last he played; he reinjured his knee on horseback and in the boxing ring,{{r|barnett19421109}}<ref name=ease>Eisenhower, Dwight D. (1967). ''At Ease: Stories I Tell to Friends'', Garden City, New York, Doubleday & Company, Inc.</ref><ref>{{cite web|access-date=May 23, 2008 |url=http://www.eisenhowermemorial.org/stories/Ike-and-team.htm |title=Ike and the Team |publisher=[[Dwight D. Eisenhower Memorial]] |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080725054759/http://www.eisenhowermemorial.org/stories/Ike-and-team.htm |archive-date=July 25, 2008 }}</ref> so he turned to fencing and gymnastics.{{r|barnett19421109}}

[[File:Yearbook portrait of Dwight David Eisenhower (1890–1969) at West Point in 1915.png|thumb|right|upright|West Point yearbook photo, 1915]]

Eisenhower later served as junior varsity football coach and cheerleader, which caught the attention of General [[Frederick Funston]].<ref name="Team America">{{Cite book |last=O'Connell |first=Robert L. |title=Team America |publisher=[[HarperCollins]] |year=2022 |isbn=9780062883322 |edition=1st |pages=117–119}}</ref> He graduated from West Point in the middle of the class of 1915,<ref>{{cite web|access-date=May 23, 2008|url=http://www.ipl.org/div/potus/ddeisenhower.html|title=Dwight David Eisenhower|publisher=[[Internet Public Library]]|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080511153206/http://www.ipl.org/div/potus/ddeisenhower.html|archive-date=May 11, 2008|url-status=dead}}</ref> which became known as "[[the class the stars fell on]]", because 59 members eventually became [[general officer]]s. After graduation in 1915, Second Lieutenant Eisenhower requested an assignment in the Philippines, which was denied; because of the ongoing [[Mexican Revolution]], he was posted to [[Fort Sam Houston]] in [[San Antonio]], Texas, under the command of General Funston. In 1916, while stationed at Fort Sam Houston, Funston convinced him to become the football coach for [[Peacock Military Academy]];<ref name="Team America"/> he later became the coach at St. Louis College, now [[St. Mary's University, Texas|St. Mary's University]],<ref>{{harvnb|Ambrose|1983|p=56}}</ref> and was an honorary member of the Sigma Beta Chi fraternity there.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://sigmabetachi.celect.org/we-remember |title=We Remember |website=Sigma Beta Chi |access-date=March 20, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180320110037/http://sigmabetachi.celect.org/we-remember |archive-date=March 20, 2018 |url-status=live }}</ref>