Ida Elizabeth Stover Eisenhower gave birth to Dwight David Eisenhower on October 14, 1890 in Denison, Texas. Eisenhower grew up in Abilene, Kansas with his brothers Arthur, Edgar, Roy, Earl, and Milton. He came to be known as "Ike" in his school years and is still known for that nickname. Ike enjoyed English, history, and geometry in school. As well as enjoying those subjects he also enjoyed and starred in basketball and football at Abilene High School. He graduated from there in 1909. In 1911 Ike tried entering the Military Academy at West Point by taking an entrance exam. He scored very high in the test and ranked second. He graduated from West Point in 1915. After his years at West Point, he was assigned to the 19th Infantry Regiment at Fort Sam Houston, Texas. While visiting San Antonio, he met his future wife Mamie Doud. They were engaged on Valentines Day. Despite her family thinking she was to young to wed, they married on July 1, 1916. That very same day he was promoted to lieutenant. They had 2 sons. Their first son, David Eisenhower, was born in 1917 and he was only with them a short while. Eight days after Christmas their son David died
             of scarlet fever. Apparently the girl they hired to take care of Icky (David) had just recovered from scarlet fever. Later in 1967 was the first time Ike had mentioned it to the public. He expressed his feelings of his sons death as, "the greatest disappointment and disaster of my life, the one I have never been able to forget completely." His second son, John Sheldon Doud Eisenhower, was born on August 3, 1922. Ike went to the hospital and wept as he held his son. It was emotional for him. Later in life his son John also became an officer in the Army. As Eisenhower became older he was promoted to captain when World War I came into
             play. He then was promoted to major. In 1936 Eisenhower was promoted to lieutenant colonel. He lear
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