John Sheldon Doud

John Sheldon Doud was a career officer in the United States Army who attained the rank of brigadier general. His military service spanned both World War I and World War II, primarily within the Field Artillery. He is most widely recognized as the father of First Lady Mamie Eisenhower and the father-in-law of President Dwight D. Eisenhower.

Early life and education

John Sheldon Doud was born on October 2, 1885, in Chicago, Illinois, to John Doud and Ella Sheldon. The family later relocated to Boone, Iowa, where he spent much of his youth. He received his early education in the local public schools before his family moved to Colorado Springs, Colorado. Doud pursued higher education at Iowa State University, where he was a member of the Delta Tau Delta fraternity. He graduated in 1908 with a degree in animal husbandry, though he soon shifted his ambitions toward a military career.

Military career

Doud was commissioned as a second lieutenant in the United States Army in 1908. He initially served with the 18th Infantry Regiment before transferring to the Field Artillery. His early assignments included posts at Fort Riley in Kansas and Fort Sill in Oklahoma, a primary center for artillery training. During World War I, Doud served with the American Expeditionary Forces in France, though he did not see combat at the front. In the interwar period, he held various staff and command positions, including instructor roles at the United States Army Field Artillery School at Fort Sill. His service during World War II was stateside, where he commanded artillery units and served in training and logistical capacities, contributing to the war effort from posts such as Fort Sam Houston in Texas. He retired from active duty in 1946 after 38 years of service and was advanced to the rank of brigadier general on the retired list.

Post-military life and family

Following his retirement, Doud settled in Denver, Colorado. He had married Elivera M. "Eleanor" Carlson in 1914, and the couple had four daughters: Eleanor, Mamie, Eda, and Mabel. The family was well-established in Denver society, spending winters in San Antonio, Texas, where his daughter Mamie met a young United States Military Academy graduate, Dwight D. Eisenhower, in 1915. Doud approved of the match, and the couple married in 1916 at the Doud home in Denver. Doud maintained a close relationship with his son-in-law throughout Eisenhower's rise to Supreme Allied Commander in Europe and later to the Presidency. He was a frequent visitor to the White House and the Eisenhower farm in Gettysburg. After the death of his wife in 1960, Doud continued to live in Denver until his own death.

Legacy and honors

John Sheldon Doud's legacy is intrinsically tied to the Eisenhower family and his support of their public service. His military career, though not marked by high command in combat, exemplified dedicated service across two world wars. In recognition of his long service, he was awarded the World War I Victory Medal and the American Defense Service Medal. His most enduring public honor is likely the Brigadier General John S. Doud Memorial Bridge, a structure in Denver named in his memory. Furthermore, his personal papers and effects are preserved within the collections of the Eisenhower Presidential Library in Abilene, Kansas, contributing to the historical record of the Eisenhower administration. Through his daughter Mamie, he is the grandfather of John Eisenhower, a noted military historian and former United States Ambassador to Belgium.

Category:1885 births Category:1977 deaths Category:United States Army brigadier generals Category:American military personnel of World War I Category:American military personnel of World War II Category:People from Chicago Category:People from Denver Category:Iowa State University alumni Category:Eisenhower family