Printer friendly PDF
	E-Mail link to a friend

Ike Chooses Mamie Instead of Money

After graduation from the United States Military Academy in 1915, twenty-five year old Second Lieutenant Dwight D. Eisenhower was posted to an Infantry division at Fort Sam Houston outside of San Antonio, Texas. Second Lieutenants, the lowest ranking commissioned officers in the Army, received $141.67 per month, but after deduction for meals, laundry services, and incidentals, the take home pay was on the wrong side of $100. In addition to the deductions, officers were required to buy their own uniforms. Ike had to borrow the uniform money and payments on that debt further reduced his income. Ike gave this some thought

Ike and Mamie on their wedding day in 1916

In those days flying military aircraft was considered hazardous service and acceptance to the Aviation Section of the Army Signal Corps would immediately increase Ike’s monthly income by an additional $70.85. Ike had never been up in an airplane, but the prospect of increasing his salary by 50% was attractive indeed so he applied for transfer to the Aviation Section in September 1916. He knew it would be several months before he would receive an answer to his application.

Not long after submitting his application to the Signal Corps Ike was Officer of the Day, a typical chore for junior officers. He was on his way to inspect the guard posts when Mrs. Lulu Harris, the wife of a senior officer, stopped him to introduce the Doud family who were visiting for the weekend. The wealthy family’s home was in Denver, but they routinely spent the winters in San Antonio. Lieutenant Eisenhower had eyes only for their daughter, nineteen year-old Mamie Geneva Doud. After a brief conversation Ike had to resume his guard post inspection and asked Mamie to accompany him. She agreed and they walked the route together.

As you can understand, the courtship was not characterized by much spending on Ike’s part. The couple frequently went out to dinner at a San Antonio restaurant where a meal for two could be bought for $1.25, including tip, and they occasionally went to the Orpheus Theater for a vaudeville show which cost a quarter each. By Valentine’s Day Ike proposed marriage and sealed Mamie’s agreement by giving her his class ring. The next step was for Lieutenant Eisenhower to ask Mamie’s father for permission to marry his daughter. Mr. Doud was reluctant because he thought she was too young. But he agreed to the wedding if the couple would wait until November when Mamie would be twenty.

A month later, Ike received notice from the Army that his application to the Air Service had been accepted. He was overjoyed. Now he could promise his bride-to-be that he would be better prepared to provide for her.

He rushed to the Doud’s San Antonio house with the good news and found the family at home. Eisenhower proudly announced his acceptance letter and the fact that his income would increase significantly. Instead of the warm reception he expected, the room remained silent. There seemed to be a chill in the air. Finally, Mr. Doud announced that if Lieutenant Eisenhower was so irresponsible as to take up flying airplanes that he should consider Mr. Doud’s consent to Ike’s marrying Mamie as withdrawn.

Ike excused himself and walked the two miles back to his quarters at Fort Sam Houston. He had regarded the Aviation Service as just another branch of the Army, such as the Cavalry, Artillery, or Infantry. He thought it through and concluded that he had no particular fire in the belly about flying, but had applied for predominately financial reasons. Most importantly, his love for Mamie outweighed all other considerations. That evening he returned to the Doud’s home an announced that he would give up aviation. Writing about this episode fifty-one years later Eisenhower said, “…it had brought me face to face with myself and caused me to make a decision that I have never recanted nor regretted.”

Epilogue
In 1935 while serving in the Philippines Major Eisenhower took up flying lessons and earned his private pilots license at age 46. He enjoyed flying, but he didn’t become captivated by it. After he left the Philippines in 1939, he never piloted an airplane again. In 1947, as Army Chief of Staff, he was helpful in bringing about the establishment of the U. S. Air Force as an independent branch of the American armed forces.