Evening star., 1952-07-14
The Eisenhower Story
Initial Promotions Came Slowly
To Future SHAEF Commander

WAVAA q NdllCty VI lCSS SAClLlIlR
istate-side assignments, the most
significant being his organization
and command of a tank battalion.
He achieved reputation as tank
expert but who was looking for
tank experts in 1919?
After three years in Panama, 1t.
Eisenhower spent 1925 at the
Command and General Staff
School, Fort Leavenworth, and
graduated at the top of his class.
While this was distinction, it did
not Immediately put him on the
glory road. Between dull tours
in France with the American
Battle Monuments Commission, he
was later graduated from the
Army War College.
In 1888, Mai. Eisenhower was
assigned to the Office of the Chief
of Staff. Here began seven years
of service under Douglas Mac
Arthur. seven years in which he
worked, and some say, was hidden
under the shadow of his dynamic,
colorful boss.
Doubtful Legends Of Schism.
Much has been said about the
dramatic schism between Gen.
Macarthur and Gen. Eisenhower
How much of this is personal
cannot be definitely traced. Some
of the more popular legends are
doubtful. Especially the story that
Gen. Macarthur once said, "Eisen-
hover was the best clerk I ever
had" To which Gen. Eisenhower
allegedly responded, II took dra-
matte lessons under Macarthur
for seven years."
This much is definite. In 1910,
according to "Man from Abilene"
by Kevin McCann, Gen. Eisen-
hover wrote a fellow officer:
would like for those
in authority to know I have ear
nestly tried for many years to get
an assignment to troops un-
fortunately, Gen, Macarthur
would never allow those requests
to be made Of record ;"
Bonus March" Figure.
In Washington, under Gen.
Macarthur. Mai. Eisenhower man.
aged to achieve some professional
notice as q writer of brilliant
Army reports but the public never
heard of him. During the bonus
march" newspapers published
lpictures of Gen. Macarthur on
the scene. talking with IAN aide. ="
The aide was Maj. Eisenhower.
And, in his five years as Gen.
MacArthur's chief Of staff in the
Philippines, the public heard
little more Of 1t. Col. Eisenhower
In 1910. he returned to the
States. pleading. cajoling. writing
letters for an assignment to
troops" That year he wrote his
friend, Mark Clark. that he hoped
to get a regimental command un-
der George Patton.
"They will probably think me
a conceited individual" he said,
"but I see no objection to setting
your sights high"
Late in the summer Of I941, as
the pace of world history quick
ened. his career suddenly gath
cred speed. He was named chief
of staff of the Sd Army. In Loui-
siana maneuvers, featuring broom
sticks and dummy plaster-board
tanks, he won credit for q major
role in the defeat" Of the I'd
Army.
Wins Marshall's Attention.
For the first time, he got his
picture in the papers, in his own
right. A caption identified him as
LIT. Col. D. D. Ersenbeing."
The victory almost brought him
to the attention of Gen. George
c. Marshall, who summoned him
to Washington seven days after
Pearl Harbor. There, the austere
chief of staff spent 20 minutes
outlining the dire situation in
Hawaii and the Philippines, and
then abruptly asked the brand
new, temporary brigadier general:
| what should be our general
line Of action?"
Trying, as he later recalled, to
Keep a poker face, Gen. Eisen-
hover answered, "Give me a few
hours"
/ A few hours later, he returned
with his recommendation: Al
though 1t would be a long time be-
fore the Philippines could receive