Howard McCrum Snyder Major General Howard McCrum Snyder ( February 7 , 1881 - September 22 , 1970 ) was a member of the United States Army Medical Corps , and personal physician to President Dwight D . Eisenhower . Early life . General Snyder was born in Cheyenne , Wyoming . After receiving his M . D . degree from Jefferson Medical College in Philadelphia in 1905 he became a contract surgeon at Fort Douglas , Utah . His experience with military service was so favorable that he decided upon a military - medical career . He graduated from the U . S . Army Medical School in Washington , D . C . In June 1908 with high honors and was simultaneously commissioned a first lieutenant in the United States Army Medical Corps . Career . General Snyder ’ s first military assignment took him to the Philippines in 1909 where he served with the Research Board of Tropical Medicine . In 1911 he returned to the United States and , in the next twenty - five years , his varied command and instructional assignments took him to numerous posts in the United States and one in Puerto Rico . From 1936 to 1940 General Snyder was medical adviser to the National Guard Bureau in Washington , D . C . From December 1940 until June 1945 General Snyder was Assistant to the Inspector General of the War Department , a job which required him to travel to all theaters of operations during World War II . Toward the end of the war Snyder became closely acquainted with Dwight D . Eisenhower and , although technically retired because of his age in March 1945 , remained on active duty in Europe as General Eisenhower ’ s personal physician until after the surrender of Germany . General Snyder continued his association with the Eisenhower family after the war , treating Mamie Eisenhower for pneumonia in November 1945 and , after retiring from military service , remaining close to Dwight D . Eisenhower while he was president of Columbia University . Dr . Snyder became senior adviser to the Conservation of Human Resources Project and Manpower Council , a project instituted by Eisenhower in 1950 to find ways of correcting the manpower wastage identified during World War II . In January 1951 General Snyder was again called to active duty and was assigned to Supreme Headquarters , Allied Powers , Europe ( SHAPE ) where he soon became a special adviser to General Eisenhower . After being retired from military service once again , Snyder rode Eisenhower ’ s campaign train in September 1952 during Eisenhower ’ s successful bid for the presidency . After Eisenhower ’ s inauguration as President in January 1953 , Snyder was appointed to the White House staff and remained the President ’ s personal physician throughout the administration . General Snyder ’ s duties in the White House involved providing close personal attention to the medical needs of President Eisenhower and his family , as well as the White House staff . This personal attention included accompanying the president on his travels — overseas trips and those within the United States , vacations , and golf outings . He administered medications , took temperatures , gave the president daily medical advice and recorded observations on the president ’ s activities , disposition , and physical condition . General Snyder rendered initial treatment to Dwight Eisenhower when the president suffered a heart attack in September 1955 and was at the President ’ s side during his ileitis operation in June 1956 .