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Eisenhower is a case in point. Although his ambitions and dreams were never as grandiose as his actual achievement of Supreme Allied Commander during World War II, he assiduously trained throughout his life to be the epitome of the ideal soldier. His tireless work ethic, his quick wit and intelligence, his inherent wisdom would help him form himself into the man of the hour at D-Day and V-E Day.
Carlo D'Este has produced a wonderful biography of the man who would eventually lead the Anglo-American-French alliance and finally defeat the Germans in the bloodiest war in history. This massive work of over 800 pages covers Eisenhower's life through the final days of the Second World War. It begins with his rough and tumble childhood in Abilene, Kansas, where young Ike grew up with five brothers who all competed in every aspect of life, from school and grades to who would get the last potato at the dinner table.
Eisenhower loved sports and thought football a perfect metaphor for War. This carried over into his training at West Point, and after school, he became a very successful coach for various Army units. Nevertheless, he soon tired of coaching and longed to get a post in charge of troops. Throughout his career, he would have trouble getting actual command experience. He proved to be an excellent staff officer and was in great demand by the lights of the early 20th century army, Fox Connor, Black Jack Pershing and Douglas MacArthur.
His hard work for these demanding, talented and temperamental men won him accolades, but labeled him as a perpetual staffer and planner. However, Eisenhower found the time and the ambition to train himself in the subtle arts of war. In the 1920s he struck up a friendship with George Patton. The two men would study war problems and practiced armored maneuvers even though they had only a few tanks in their units. In the end, it would be a well rounded, thoughtful man, thoroughly trained in the art of working with egotistical commanders who would be chosen for command in Europe.
Throughout this biography, D'Este vividly describes the education of a soldier. All Eisenhower's life seemed to be a preparation for the trials he would go through as Supreme Commander. Eisenhower was not a great man by birth, nor did he have greatness thrust upon him, rather D'Este paints us a picture of a man who worked assiduously as did many of the other figures of military history (Napoleon, Patton, Washington, etc.) to make himself into a man who could deliver victory in war.
As D'Este clearly illustrates, Eisenhower would not have even gotten a footnote in the history books had not a great World War broken out just when it did. Yet there always seem to be men like Eisenhower, waiting in the wings for when the dangerous moment comes. There is greatness everywhere, it is only in moments of crisis that we are allowed to see it come to the fore.
Every history book, every historical biography contains a lesson. The lesson of Eisenhower's life is that as long as we, as a nation, continue to work hard to better ourselves as individuals, there will always be a hero trained and ready for any contingency to step up and lead the way.
Carlo D'Este has written several books on World War II, including a thorough and entertaining biography of Patton. The scope of his knowledge comes shining through in this biography of Eisenhower. A great book and a fun read. ****
This book can be purchased at Amazon.com.
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