Challenge: Using 'six degrees of Ike,' how are you connected to Gen. Dwight D. Eisenhower?

CH (MAJ) William Beaver — Sun, 14 Jun 2015 22:32:30 -0400

You've heard of the 'six degrees of Kevin Bacon' - where someone can connect nearly every celebrity to actor Kevin Bacon using just six associations in a chain of relationships. Or maybe you haven't.

Here's a challenge for you. Using just six associations in a chain of relationships, can you demonstrate how you are connected to General Dwight D. Eisenhower, through work or family?

For example, Ike was in the same Army you were in. That's a broad connection, but it's a start.

Response by LTC Bink Romanick made Jun 14 at 2015 10:40 PM

LTC Bink Romanick — Sun, 14 Jun 2015 22:40:06 -0400

Two uncles fought in ETO

Response by SSG Roger Ayscue made Jun 14 at 2015 11:15 PM

SSG Roger Ayscue — Sun, 14 Jun 2015 23:15:32 -0400

I am three degrees from Ike
Ike commanded Brigadier General SLA Marshall (Very Famous Author and Historian)
Mr SLA Marshall III (BG Marshall's Grandson is a good friend of mine)
SO.....Ike to SLA Marshall to SLA Marshall III to ME.

Response by SPC Jan Allbright, M.Sc., R.S. made Jun 14 at 2015 11:21 PM

SPC Jan Allbright, M.Sc., R.S. — Sun, 14 Jun 2015 23:21:41 -0400

He was stationed at Ft Sam - Check!
He was stationed at Ft Benning - Check!
He was stationed at Ft. Lewis - Check!
He talked to Paratroopers - Check!
He has the NDSM - Check!
He went to France - Check!

How did I do? :)

Response by PO1 John Miller made Jun 14 at 2015 11:56 PM

PO1 John Miller — Sun, 14 Jun 2015 23:56:03 -0400

I'm about 3 degrees from Ike.

My first ship was the USS Halsey, named after Fleet Admiral William H. Halsey.

Halsey served in WWII with Ike.

FADM and GEN Eisenhower stood next to each other on the Fo'c'stle of the USS Missouri when the Japanese signed the WWII Surrender Treaty.

Response by LTC David S. Chang, ChFC®, CLU® made Jun 15 at 2015 2:16 AM

LTC David S. Chang, ChFC®, CLU® — Mon, 15 Jun 2015 02:16:25 -0400

I graduated from West Point were I met old grads who served with him! Some of my classmates were 2 or 3 gen West Pointers who had family that knew Ike

Response by CAPT Kevin B. made Jun 15 at 2015 2:18 AM

CAPT Kevin B. — Mon, 15 Jun 2015 02:18:47 -0400

Crap, my number is "1" which means I'm getting old. I was 14 in 1967 staying with my Grandmother who had an apartment (later condo conversion) on Cathedral NW. She was big on being in the Green Book which was (is?) the social roster of the DC elitists. Grandma took me to the National Presbyterian Church for a dedication of some sort and made sure I was introduced to Ike and Mamie. It was a blur for me. I just remember feeling really small, especially with the cheek pinch from Mamie. I found out later they were members of the church.

Grandma was the long time head of the DC Red Cross and worked with Mamie on occasion so it makes sense she'd be allowed access with me to the receiving line. Grandma was in her element.

Funny story. I would run the area around American University and up to the National Presbyterian Church. One weekday I was admiring the organ pipes in there and this long haired guy in a tie-died T-shirt asked if I wanted to see the organ. Sure enough he had keys and I was amazed to see multiple keyboards, rows of foot pedals, and stops. What the hippie type did next was epic. He threw the switches and the pumps came to life. He then played the best rendition of In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida I ever heard in my life.