Dwight D. Eisenhower wanted to attend his son John’s graduation from West Point, but was unable to do so because he was “a bit too busy with work.” On graduation day – June 6, 1944 – the elder Eisenhower was overseeing the Allied invasion of Normandy.
Countdown to D-Day: how President Eisenhower’s Gettysburg home will mark the invasion’s anniversary
Inside the former Gettysburg home of President Dwight D. Eisenhower hangs a portrait of his son, John, when the younger Eisenhower was enrolled at the United States Military Academy at West Point.
“Of course, Ike was not able to be there for his son’s West Point graduation,” said Dan Vermilya, a park ranger at the Eisenhower National Historic Site. “In his letters to [his wife] Mamie in the days and weeks leading up [to the graduation], one thing he mentioned was how much he wanted to be there. But he made mention that, sadly, he was ‘a bit too busy with work’.”
That was because John Eisenhower graduated from West Point on June 6, 1944 – the same day that his father, serving as the Supreme Allied Commander for the Allied Expeditiona… Continue Reading (5 minute read)
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6 thoughts on “Dwight D. Eisenhower wanted to attend his son John’s graduation from West Point, but was unable to do so because he was “a bit too busy with work.” On graduation day – June 6, 1944 – the elder Eisenhower was overseeing the Allied invasion of Normandy.”
Miztahfrawg
JFK wanted to attend the 1962 Worlds Fair in Seattle but called out because of a cold.
We learned later that his cold was actually the Cuban Missile Crisis.
Ironically one the reasons the Germans did so poorly on D-Day is all their top commanders like Rommel got a weather report that indicated bad weather for the next couple of days and left to visit family or party in Paris.
“I asked him in all earnestness: ‘If we should meet an officer who ranks above me but below you, how do we handle this? Should I salute first and when they return my salute, do you return theirs?’
“Dad’s annoyed reaction was short. ‘John, there isn’t an officer in this theater who doesn’t rank above you and below me.’”
My Mother-in-law graduated from Columbia University on D-Day. Her husband was a lieutenant on Omar Bradley’s staff. She lost her diploma during a move a few years later. She wrote the school to inquire if she could get a replacement. By this time Eisenhower was serving as the university president (this was before he ran for POTUS). Eisenhower signed her replacement diploma, dated with her original graduation date, June 6, 1944.
JFK wanted to attend the 1962 Worlds Fair in Seattle but called out because of a cold.
We learned later that his cold was actually the Cuban Missile Crisis.
Ironically one the reasons the Germans did so poorly on D-Day is all their top commanders like Rommel got a weather report that indicated bad weather for the next couple of days and left to visit family or party in Paris.
“I asked him in all earnestness: ‘If we should meet an officer who ranks above me but below you, how do we handle this? Should I salute first and when they return my salute, do you return theirs?’
“Dad’s annoyed reaction was short. ‘John, there isn’t an officer in this theater who doesn’t rank above you and below me.’”
what a lame excuse, family first /s
My Mother-in-law graduated from Columbia University on D-Day. Her husband was a lieutenant on Omar Bradley’s staff. She lost her diploma during a move a few years later. She wrote the school to inquire if she could get a replacement. By this time Eisenhower was serving as the university president (this was before he ran for POTUS). Eisenhower signed her replacement diploma, dated with her original graduation date, June 6, 1944.
And Tom Hanks’ son graduated in the same class!