Eisenhower National Historic Site ⓘ

On May 8, 1945, Victory in Europe was celebrated across the world, as millions rejoiced in the defeat of Nazi Germany. Several months later, in August 1945, Japan surrendered to the Allies as well, leading to VJ Day on September 2, 1945. Perhaps no event in history has reshaped the world in the manner and scale of the Second World War. Virtually every corner of the world was impacted by the conflict, and its consequences are still felt generations later. In light of the 75 year anniversary of the end of World War II in 2020, the staff of Eisenhower National Historic Site and Gettysburg National Military Park wanted to take a moment to recognize the connections we all share to the “greatest generation” of World War II veterans. Below is a list compiled by the staff and volunteers of Eisenhower National Historic Site and Gettysburg National Military Park, a list of our fathers, grandfathers, great-uncles, loved ones, and friends who served in the Second World War. You will find that some of them have photos or brief stories included about them as well. Whether all we have is a name, or a photo, or a story, it is enough to remember them and their service. It is important to remember that this World War II generation was composed of ordinary individuals who worked together to accomplish extraordinary things in the name of a common goal. Dwight Eisenhower himself noted, in his VE Day message, “As we celebrate Victory in Europe, let us remind ourselves that our common problems of the immediate and distant future can best be solved in the same conceptions of cooperation and devotion to the cause of human freedom as have made this Expeditionary Force such a mighty engine of righteous destruction.” In this spirit, let us remember our friends and loved ones who served our country in World War II, and never forget their example.

Sergeant, HQ Company, 2nd Battalion, 8th Infantry Regiment, 4th Infantry Division, ETO Dennis E. Keener survived the war and lived in York County, PA afterwards, making numerous visits to Gettysburg with his wife and children, instilling a love of Gettysburg in them. Father of Annette Keener-Farley.

Private First Class, Company E, 30th Infantry, 3rd Infantry Division, ETO Nicholas turned 18 in 1945, enlisted, and arrived in Europe right after VE Day. After being discharged that December, he immediately reenlisted and served until April 1947. Grandfather of John Hoptak.

Tech Sgt., HQ Squadron, 89th Cavalry, 9th Armored Division, European Theater of Operations (ETO) Father of Bill DeGeorge.

Company K, 25th Marines, 4th Marine Division, Pacific Theater of Operations, PTO Charles was seriously wounded during the first wave landings on Saipan in 1944, and was evacuated to Australia, and then on to the San Diego Naval Hospital in California. He survived his wounds and mustered out of service in 1945. Father of Ken Weiler.

Private First Class, HQ Company, 770th Railroad Operating Battalion, PTO Grandfather of Mike Florer.

Private First Class, HQ 9th Army Air Corps, ETO, Bronze Star, Good Conduct Medal, EAME Ribbon w/ 1 Silver Star Paul C. Martz, Jr. served in numerous campaigns during the war including Normandy, Northern France, the Ardennes, the Rhineland, and Central Europe. He spent 14 months as a rifleman, and 18 months as an auto equipment operator. During his time as an auto operator, he had the opportunity to drive Bob Hope to a USO show. Grandfather of Jason Martz.

Signalman 2nd Class, USN Signalman Louie Barnett, who before the war took a job as a projectionist at the local movie-house in St. Augustine, Florida. It was he, as a 16-year old kid, on the afternoon of December 7, 1941, who shut off the Sunday matinee mid-picture, then ran down the aisle to announce the bombing of Pearl Harbor to a hushed audience, and told all of the sailors present to return to their posts in Jacksonville, as all leaves had been immediately cancelled. Father of Bert Barnett.

Lt. Commander, U.S. Coast Guard, Stateside Service Ottar served 32 years in the USCG stateside, from 1926 to 1958. An immigrant from Norway, Ottar served in numerous postings across the United States during his decades of service. Grandfather of Erik Kreush.

Private, 74th Platoon, 6th Marine Regiment, 2nd Marine Division, U.S. Marine Corps, PTO Grandfather of Steve Sims.

Tech/5, Company A, 282nd Combat Battalion, 540th Combat Engineers, ETO Juventino immigrated from Crucias, Nuevo Leon, Mexico to Kingsville, Texas in 1920, and enlisted in the U.S. Army in November 1942. He gained his citizenship while serving his country. His regiment, the 540th Combat Engineers, saw service in numerous campaigns throughout the war, including fighting in North Africa, Sicily, Italy, France, and Germany. Grandfather of Ahna Wilson.

T/5, 36th Armored Infantry Regiment, 3rd Armored Division, U.S. Army, ETO Father of John Tuskan, Jr.

Private, 325th Glider Infantry Regiment, 82nd Airborne Division, ETO, KIA on June 6, 1944. Uncle of Sandy Tuskan.

Radio Operator, HQ Battery, 26th Field Artillery, 9th Infantry Division Father of Carol Detweiler.

TSgt; Army Air Forces; 8th AF, 445th Bomb Group, 700th Bomb Squadron; ETO Friend of Pete Lindquist.

SSgt; Army Air Forces; 7th AF, 30th Bomb Group, 38th Bomb Squadron; PTO Friend of Pete Lindquist.

Private First Class, 9th Infantry Division, ETO, KIA at the Battle of the Bulge Father of Bob Gunther

Corporal, 310th Field Artillery Battalion, 7th Infantry Division, U.S. Army, PTO, Recipient of the Purple Heart, KIA June 25, 1944 Brother-in-law of Betty Howard

Private First Class, Co HQ, 410th Regiment, 103rd Division, U.S. Army, ETO, Bronze Star and Combat Infantry Badge recipient Smith’s platoon was one of the first to reach Hitler’s Eagle’s Nest at Berchesgaden. Father of Doug Smith.

Staff Sergeant, Service Company, 395th Infantry Regiment, 99th Infantry Division, ETO, participated in the Battle of the Bulge, the Ruhr Pocket, and the Occupation of Germany, recipient of the Bronze Star. In the opening days of the Battle of the Bulge, Robert’s regiment was on the front lines in the Losheim Gap. He was a motor mechanic, and worked to keep the regiment’s vehicles working as the men fell back and fought against the German advance. Grandfather of Philip Brown.

Corporal, Service Company, 304th Combat Engineer Battalion, 79th Infantry Division, participated in the Normandy Campaign, KIA July 7, 1944, recipient of the Purple Heart, brother of Robert A. Green (pictured above). Robert and Maurice Green were born in South Carolina, and grew up together in North Carolina. Robert was drafted in September 1942, and Maurice joined the following month. Maurice was the first of the brothers to arrive in the ETO, coming ashore on Utah Beach several days after D-Day. He was killed during an artillery bombardment outside of St. Lo, France, on July 7, 1944. The Green family was notified of Maurice’s death on July 25, 1944, the day which Robert left town from his final furlough to head overseas. Great Uncle of Philip Brown.

For decades John and Delores Moaney were there, through it all alongside Dwight and Mamie Eisenhower From 1942 until Dwight Eisenhower’s death in 1969—from the battlefields of World War II to the White House, and from their home in Gettysburg and beyond—John Moaney served as Ike’s personal valet and near constant companion, while for nearly thirty years his wife, Delores Moaney, served as the Eisenhowers’ cook and housekeeper and later as Mamie’s personal maid. But to Dwight, Mamie, and the entire Eisenhower family, however, John and Delores Moaney were much more than just valet and housekeeper; they were close friends, indeed, they were considered part of the family.

John Alton Moaney was born on June 7, 1914, in Easton, Talbot County on Maryland’s Eastern Shore, a son of John W. Moaney (1886-1956) and Mary Ethel Drake Moaney (1889-1976). The Moaney family long had ties to that part of the Eastern Shore. Indeed, according to one source, John’s great-grandfather was reportedly enslaved on a large plantation along the Wye River near Easton. [1] After attending local schools for a few years, young Moaney found employment working as a landscaper, gardener, and as a farm laborer. In October 1941, two months before the attack on Pearl Harbor, Moaney, at age 27, was drafted into the United States Army. Following America’s entry into the global conflict, Moaney was sent to London where he joined the 751st Quartermaster Company. He remained with this unit throughout the spring and summer of 1942, largely performing vehicle maintenance and upkeep. Then, in the summer of 1942, his life changed forever.

Promoted to Sergeant, Moaney accompanied General Eisenhower to Africa during Operation Torch, and remained with him daily during this campaign. After D-Day in June 1944, Moaney remained in London for only “about a week or so” before he traveled to France to join up once again with Eisenhower. He remained with the Supreme Allied Commander for the duration of the conflict, as the General moved from place to place across western Europe. Whenever Ike traveled, it was Moaney who helped pack everything up—the footlockers, the gear, equipment, and the General’s uniforms and clothing. He also accompanied Eisenhower whenever Ike visited with his top lieutenants. Following the end of the war, most of Eisenhower’s staff were eligible for discharge and most elected to return to civilian life. But not John Moaney. Moaney chose to continue working for Dwight Eisenhower, who was now the Army Chief of Staff. As a five-star general, Eisenhower was entitled to retain a personal staff and Ike was glad Sgt. Moaney elected to stay. [5]

Returning stateside in 1946, John Moaney married Delores Butler, who also was originally from the Eastern Shore. Born on November 14, 1916, Delores had grown up within a few miles of Moaney and their families were well acquainted. [6] Delores later said that she knew John during their childhoods, though he was a couple years older. After their nuptials, John and Delores Moaney lived for a time in a home at Ft. Meyer, Virginia, and they also maintained an apartment in Washington, D.C. John continued to work for General Eisenhower, who at this time was working on his book Crusade in Europe . In 1948, however, Eisenhower accepted the position of President of Columbia University and the Moaneys traveled to New York City with Dwight and Mamie. It was there that Delores Moaney began working for the Eisenhowers, helping prepare meals for the family and assisting with day-to-day chores. John Moaney later recalled that while Dwight served as President of Columbia, their house “was all full of help—they had all kinds of help there: aids and cooks. That was before Delores started cooking. She stayed there—she wasn’t cooking in the beginning; she was just taking care of Mrs. Eisenhower, or Mrs. John Eisenhower,” who was Barbara Eisenhower, Dwight and Mamie’s daughter-in-law. Moaney also joked that this was also the first time he had ever seen Dwight Eisenhower in civilian clothing. “He didn’t have but three good suits,” Moaney later remembered. “He’d wear one one day and one the next day—then he’d start back over again.” [7] It was while serving as president of Columbia that Eisenhower took up painting, a hobby he honed for the rest of his life, and John Moaney was there the day Ike first put brush to canvas. According to Eisenhower, he was watching an artist work on a portrait of Mamie. One day when he finished painting, the artist and Mamie toured their New York city residence to find a proper place to hang the portrait once it was finished. Now alone with an easel, paints, and an unfinished portrait of Mamie in front of him, Dwight Eisenhower decided that he wanted to “make use of the paints remaining on [the artist’s] palette to try poking away on my own.” But there was nothing upon which to paint. Just then, John Moaney walked into the room, and Ike had an idea. He told Moaney to go into his room and find a little wooden box he knew to be in there, knock out the sides, then “take any kind of white cloth you can find, and stretch it on the board by tacking the edges.” Within just a few minutes, Moaney returned with the box sans the sides and with a clean dust cloth fastened onto it. It was John Moaney who thus provided Dwight Eisenhower with his very first canvas. [8]

Found at http://blog.americanheritage1.com/blog/bid/57074/DWIGHT-EISENHOWER-OIL-PAINTING-TELEGRAPH-COTTAGE-WORLD-WAR-11

John Moaney remembered that Eisenhower “would paint every chance he had,” and this was especially true in Ike’s later days, post-presidency. Apparently, however, Eisenhower was not fond of most of his artwork and threw most of his paintings away. He later discovered that Sgt. Moaney would rescue Ike’s discarded art from the trash. From then on, Eisenhower painted a large red “X” over the paintings he threw away, but this did not deter Moaney from rescuing these ones, too. But not all of John Moaney’s Eisenhower artwork was gathered from the refuse pile. In what was a very heartfelt gift, Eisenhower, in 1949, presented Moaney with a painting he did of Telegraph Cottage, the place where the two of the met and first got to know one another back in 1942. [9]

In 1950, Dwight Eisenhower took an extended leave-of-absence from Columbia to accept the position as Supreme Commander of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) and to assume command of all NATO forces in Europe. Breaking the news to Moaney, Eisenhower said, “Well, I guess this is the end of the line for us. You’ll have to stay here with your young wife,” while he traveled to Paris to begin his new duties. According to Eisenhower’s son John, Moaney insisted on going with Eisenhower, telling Ike in jest that he had known him much longer than he had known Delores. [10] So, while Delores remained at home in New York with her two daughters who were still in school, John Moaney accompanied Dwight and Mamie Eisenhower to Europe. After two years overseas and after much convincing, Dwight Eisenhower decided to return to the United States and enter the political arena, running for the presidency of the United States. This decision meant that Eisenhower would have to resign from the military, which he did, during the summer of 1952. This also meant he would lose his personal military staff, including the service of Sgt. John Moaney. Eisenhower told this to Moaney and that the two of them would now be separated since he would no longer be entitled to Moaney’s service. As Ike later remembered the moment, Moaney “quietly replied that if I left the Army, he was going to do the same. He did not hesitate a second in casting his lot with me in my new undertaking.” Eisenhower warned that if he was elected president, Moaney would be reinstated in the Army at his old grade, and that if he lost the campaign then they both would be out of work. “I shall never forget his smiling answer,” recorded Eisenhower. “‘Don’t worry, General,’ he said, ‘I think you and I can always make a living.’” [11] Of course, the enormously popular Dwight Eisenhower did not lose the campaign; in fact, he won by a landslide, carrying 442 Electoral Votes compared to just 89 for his Democratic Party challenger, Adlai Stevenson. He triumphed over Stevenson again in 1956, this time carrying 457 Electoral Votes. In both elections, Eisenhower also trounced Stevenson in the popular vote. On January 20, 1953, Dwight David Eisenhower took the Oath of Office to become the 34th President of the United States. And when he and Mamie once again relocated to yet another residence—this time the White House—John and Delores Moaney went along with them.

In terms of duties for John and Delores Moaney, the White House years were little different from those previous, except for the change in venue. As in years past, the Moaneys attended to Dwight and Mamie’s personal needs. Officially, John Moaney was Ike’s valet, while Delores was sometimes identified as one of Mamie’s maids and a cook. Each day, John was responsible for waking up the president and reminding him of the day’s schedule, but only very seldomly did President Eisenhower oversleep. Typically, when John would enter the president’s bedroom at the appointed time between 645-7:00 a.m. every morning, Ike was already awake. Moaney would sometimes bring Ike his breakfast and the morning newspapers. He would also set out the clothing Eisenhower was to wear—his socks, shoes, pants, shirt, jacket, even his underwear—and helped him get dressed. Moaney also packed luggage for the many trips Eisenhower took as president. And even though the White House chef and large kitchen staff prepared most of the meals, occasionally John and especially Delores Moaney cooked for the Eisenhowers as well, especially since Delores knew exactly what Ike and Mamie liked, and how they liked it prepared. She became known in the press as “the expert in the White House kitchen." [12] In one tale, oft told, Dwight Eisenhower authorized John Moaney to shoot and kill the squirrels that were roughing up the putting green that the American Public Golfing Association had installed on the South Lawn of the White House. Apparently, Eisenhower’s predecessor, Harry Truman, liked to feed the White House wildlife and the squirrels had become quite tame. Ike cared less for squirrels than did Truman, and once told Moaney: “The next time you see one of those squirrels go near my putting green, take a gun and shoot it!” Moaney did not like the idea of discharging firearms on the White House grounds and so, working with Secret Service, they trapped the pesky animals and removed them to other locations. [13]

Since Ike was an avid golfer, Moaney spent a lot of his time shagging Eisenhower’s golf balls, whether on the South Lawn of White House or at Augusta National or at Camp David or wherever Ike chose to play his preferred game. According to one report, Moaney was able to “judge his boss’ distance so well that he places himself so the ball stops almost at his feet. When the president shifts clubs, Moaney changes his distance accordingly.” In addition to golf outings, Moaney accompanied Eisenhower on his various fishing trips. Several times, it was just the two of them in a rowboat on a lake casting their lines. [14] As is the case with all modern Presidents, Eisenhower as Chief Executive and Head of State traveled often, all over the country, and to a good part of the world. In almost every case, whether stateside or to distant countries, he was accompanied by the ever-present John Moaney. And when Mamie traveled with Ike, Delores Moaney traveled with them as well. This was true whether the purpose of Ike’s trips was official business or simply for pleasure. The Moaneys traveled with the Eisenhowers on their vacations, whether it was to Palm Springs, California, Augusta, Georgia, or elsewhere. Of course, in many places in the 1950s, segregated facilities were commonplace. According to Delores Moaney, Ike and Mamie would oftentimes threaten to leave a place and patronize another business if the Moaneys were not allowed to accompany them. As Delores once recalled, “The President would tell them that if they couldn’t accept us, then they couldn’t accept him." [15]

It was tough for the Press to find out much about John and Delores Moaney, and this was by design. Throughout his years as President Eisenhower’s valet, John Moaney had “one hard, firm rule,” said one of his friends; “He won’t talk to reporters.” While he was always ready with a pleasant greeting and warm smile, Moaney very seldom, if ever, talked to the press. [16]

Perhaps the proudest day in John Moaney’s long career serving Dwight Eisenhower came on June 11, 1957, when the President and First Lady welcomed Moaney’s family and friends from Moaney’s hometown church, the African Methodist Episcopal Church in Copperville, near Easton, Maryland, to the White House. John’s mother, Mary, was there, as were about 40 members of the church. President Eisenhower welcomed the group inside the Oval Office then they all stepped onto the patio for a photograph. “Moaney, a shy man of 43, edged to the back row and had to be urged by the cameraman to move down alongside the President, who cheerfully made room for him,” reported the Associated Press of the event. At that point, Mamie Eisenhower called for Delores Moaney to also report “front and center” for the photograph, at which Ike said, “My goodness we have to have Delores in this.” Said the report, John Moaney “beamed with pride” that day. [17]

While serving the President and First Lady, John and Delores Moaney sometimes resided in the White House’s Third Floor Servants’ Quarters. Most of the time, they resided in the apartment they rented in Washington, D.C., but they also spent a good amount of time at the Eisenhowers’ home in Gettysburg. In 1950, two years prior to Dwight’s first run at the White House, the Eisenhowers purchased a home and farm in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania; it was the first—and, as it turned out, only—home they ever owned. Because of extensive renovations, however, it was not until 1955 that they “moved in.” By then, of course, Dwight was President of the United States. John and Delores Moaney were provided with a room of their own on the first floor of the Eisenhowers’ Gettysburg home and whenever the Eisenhowers traveled to Gettysburg, the Moaneys traveled there with them. In many cases, John and Delores were sent ahead to prepare the house for Dwight and Mamie’s arrival. While there, John and Delores Moaney did just about anything and everything for the First Family. Among other things, John would lay out Ike’s clothing each morning, set up the grill at the tea house, serve formal meals, tend to the vegetable garden, and continue to shag Eisenhower’s golf balls. Delores would be housekeeper and cook, and together they would wash the dishes and prepare for any and all visits from government or military officials. While the White House remained their primary residence during the remainder of Dwight’s Presidency, the Eisenhowers used their home as a retreat, a getaway, a refuge. They would oftentimes spend weekends at the farm and some Holidays there as well. In all, it is believed that between 1955 and 1961, the Eisenhowers spent a total of 365 days at their home in Gettysburg.

They would spend much more time there, of course, following Ike’s presidency. After eight years, Dwight Eisenhower’s presidency ended on January 20, 1961 and he looked ahead to a quiet and peaceful retirement at his Gettysburg farm. His successor, John F. Kennedy, almost immediately reinstated Eisenhower’s five-star general’s rank that he had resigned when he first ran for president in 1952. The reinstatement of rank meant that Eisenhower was again able to retain a personal staff and this included Sergeant John Moaney, who was then 47 years of age. After having served Ike so well and so faithfully in World War II and through the White House years, now John Moaney—along with his wife Delores—would serve the general and his family in this next chapter of his life: retirement.

During all their years together, Dwight Eisenhower never called John Moaney, “John;” instead, he was either “Sergeant” or just “Moaney.” [19] But he always spoke fondly of him. In his 1963 book, Mandate for Change Ike wrote that Moaney had always been “immensely valuable,” indeed, “almost indispensable, to me,” while in his popular 1967 publication At Ease: Stories I Tell My Friends , an aged Eisenhower wrote: "Of Sergeant John Moaney, I have only this to say: He and I have been inseparable for almost a quarter of a century; in my daily life, he is just about the irreplaceable man." [20] And after nearly 27 years of continual service, through all the trials and the triumphs, John Moaney, Ike’s “irreplaceable man,” was with the Eisenhower family at Walter Reed when, on March 28, 1969, Dwight David Eisenhower passed away. Delores Moaney was there, too, and both, remembered grandson David, shed many tears. [21] Before he died, Eisenhower saw to it that John Moaney be promoted to the rank of Master Sergeant, and in his will bequeathed to his faithful valet and good friend his Yellow Gold Rolex watch along with other personal items along with a cash sum in the amount of $5,000. A higher and greater honor came when Master Sergeant John Moaney was named as one of Eisenhower’s ten Honorary Pall Bearers during his State Funeral. Later in 1969 and in recognition of his many years of service to Eisenhower, John Moaney also received the Legion of Merit medal, one of the army’s highest awards. [22]

Dwight Eisenhower was at Walter Reed for the final ten months of his life, and John Moaney had visited him frequently during the general’s long, final illness, sometimes bringing him vegetables from his garden at the Gettysburg farm. “Every time I’d go down and see him,” recalled Moaney several years later, “he’d just look at me and smile, and he’d say, ‘Moaney, is you going or coming?’ And he wanted me to go back to the farm. Every time I’d go over Monday morning and see him, he’d say, ‘You going back to the farm now?’ . . .So I spent most of the time up here [at Gettysburg]." [23] For John Moaney, the Eisenhowers’ Gettysburg farm was the most pleasant place he had ever lived. Delores enjoyed life on the farm as well, especially when compared to the White House. “I couldn’t wait to get away from the White House,” said Delores. “It just wasn’t a place to, you know, attract my attention." [24]

Following the death of Dwight Eisenhower, John Moaney retired from the army. But instead of heading out now on their own, he and Delores remained with Mamie, fulfilling a promise that they would continue to care for her following Ike’s death. Splitting time between their home in Washington, D.C. and at Gettysburg, they would often spend time with the now widowed former First Lady at the farm, having dinner with her, watching television, and celebrating birthdays and Holidays. This helped alleviate some of the loneliness Mamie felt with the loss of her husband. They would also help decorate for the Holidays, including Christmas, which was Mamie’s favorite time of the year. And, of course, they would continue to tend to Mamie’s needs. John continued to perform various chores around the house, while Delores prepared fresh cooked meals and took personal care of Mamie. The Moaneys also continued to travel with Mamie. In the Fall of 1969, the three of them—along with Secret Service agents—undertook an automobile trip to Boone, Iowa, to visit one of Mamie’s uncles. Along the way, they stopped in at the Truman Memorial Library and paid a visit to Ike’s grave in Abilene. [25] Finally, in April 1977 and after so many years of service, John and Delores Moaney retired. After bidding an emotional goodbye to Mamie, the Moaneys returned to their home in Washington, D.C. Sadly, however, John Moaney would not live to enjoy a long retirement.

On February 20, 1978, Master Sergeant John Alton Moaney, the man who had quite literally traveled the world with Dwight Eisenhower as his valet, orderly, friend, and near constant companion from the trying days of World War II to the White House and to the Eisenhower’s humble home in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, passed away at Walter Reed Medical Center, succumbing to cancer just a few months shy of his 64th birthday. He was survived by his widow, Delores, his two stepdaughters, Sarah and Anne, four grandchildren, as well as five brothers and three sisters. Funeral services for John Moaney were held on Friday, February 24, at the Asbury United Methodist Church in Easton, Maryland. 81-year-old Mamie Eisenhower, who at that point in her life rarely left her home, made the long journey from Gettysburg to Easton with her son, John, and his wife, Barbara, to attend the funeral. Following the service, the remains of Sergeant Moaney were buried with full military honors at the nearby Deshields Church Cemetery in Copperville. News of John Moaney’s death was printed in newspapers across the country. Delores Moaney suffered another great personal loss just twenty months after she lost her husband, when her friend, Former First Lady Mamie Eisenhower died on November 1, 1979. Along with Mamie’s son John, his wife Barbara, and several other family members, a tearful Delores Moaney accompanied the remains of Mamie Eisenhower on the plane ride from Washington, D.C, to Abilene, Kansas, where they were interred alongside those of Dwight and the Eisenhowers’ first-born child, Doud, who died at age in 1921. In her will, Mamie bequeathed to Delores Moaney $5,000. Following the death of Mamie Eisenhower, Delores Moaney returned to her home in Washington, D.C. In the mid-1980s, she returned to work for a time for another Eisenhower: Dwight and Mamie’s granddaughter, Susan Eisenhower. Delores sometimes cradled Susan as an infant in the White House; now, more than three decades later, she helped care for Susan’s children. [26]

When you visit the Eisenhower National Historic Site, you are walking in the footsteps of many famous world and national leaders. During his presidency as well as his retirement years after his presidency, Dwight Eisenhower—and his wife, Mamie—welcomed many famous visitors to their Gettysburg home and farm. While president, Eisenhower used these visits from foreign leaders as part of his own personal style of diplomacy. At the farm, Eisenhower and his guests engaged in informal discussions that were off the record and used to get “the measure of the man,” said Eisenhower, a way for him to learn more about each leader individually, as a person and not just as a politician. Most of the visits were short, averaging just two hours or less. Only one famous visitor—Prime Minister Nehru of India—stayed overnight. And most of these visits to the Eisenhower Farm were in addition to more formal discussions and meetings that occurred in the Oval Office or at nearby Camp David. Oftentimes, visits to the farm included lunch, informal chats in the sunporch, meet-and-greets with members of the Eisenhower family including his grandchildren, and tours of Eisenhower’s Angus cattle barn and operation. On at least two occasions, Eisenhower personally led his distinguished guests on tours of the adjacent Gettysburg battlefield. While most of their famous visitors were heads of state, statesmen, and politicians, Dwight and Mamie Eisenhower also welcomed other well-known individuals to their Gettysburg home, including, among others, spiritual leader Reverend Billy Graham, entertainer Bob Hope, golfer Arnold Palmer, and famed American artist Andrew Wyeth. Three future presidents also visited with Ike and Mamie at their Gettysburg farm: Richard Nixon, who served as Eisenhower’s Vice President, visited on several occasions; Gerald Ford, who as House Minority Leader visited in 1961 and whose children received a personal two-hour-long battlefield tour from Dwight Eisenhower; and Ronald Reagan, who visited on June 15, 1966, when he was then a candidate for the governorship of California. Some of the famous world and foreign leaders who visited the Eisenhowers’ Gettysburg home and farm included Sir Winston Churchill, Prime Minister of Great Britain, who visited in May 1959; Soviet Premier Nikita Khrushchev, also in 1959; French President Charles De Gaulle (1960); Jawaharlal Nehru, First Prime Minister of India (1956); British Prime Minster Harold MacMillan (1957); British Field Marshal Bernard Montgomery (1957); Konrad Adenauer, Chancellor of West Germany (1957); Adolfo Lopez Mateos, President of Mexico (1960); Alberto Lleraas Camargo, President of Columbia (1960); and King Mohammad Zahir Shah and Queen Homeira Begum, the last King and Queen of Afghanistan, who visited in September 1963. The following is a gallery of images of some of the famous world leaders who visited Dwight and Mamie at their Gettysburg Farm.

Gettysburg played an important role in the lives of Dwight and Mamie Eisenhower. They lived here in 1918 when a then Captain Eisenhower commanded Camp Colt during his formative years as a young army officer, and returned here many years later after the Second World War. Their Gettysburg farm was the only home they ever owned. They used their farm as a retreat and diplomatic getaway during Eisenhower's presidency, and ultimately retired here after leaving the White House. Explore the Eisenhower's legacy and their connections to Gettysburg through these stories and collections.

Explore the stories of World War II soldiers, sailors, marines, and airmen who were buried in the Gettysburg National Cemetery. From Pearl Harbor to Okinawa, and North Africa to the Battle of the Bulge, these stories show the scale of sacrifice and courage that was necessary to win the Second World War.

Learn more about the significance of the D-Day invasion of Normandy on June 6, 1944 by exploring the leadership of General Eisenhower and stories of the men of D-Day.

The staff of the Eisenhower NHS and Gettysburg NMP honors our relatives who were part of the Greatest Generation .

Explore the stories of individuals who lived, worked, and visited the Eisenhower property in Gettysburg

President Eisenhower welcomed many famous visitors and foreign dignitaries to his personal home during his time in office, including Winston Churchill, Charles DeGaulle, Jawaharlal Nehru, and Nikita Khrushchev. Explore their stories here.

Discover the stories of John and Delores Moaney, two of the Eisenhower farm's most important figures. John and Delores spent several decades with the Eisenhowers. Not only were they important to the functioning of the Eisenhower home--they were like family to Ike and Mamie.

Explore images of artifacts in the Eisenhower National Historic Site Museum collection.

Over 100 bird species occur in the park during some time of the year. Bird species commonly seen include red-tailed hawks, barred owls, eastern bluebirds, and barn swallows. The occasional bald eagle is sometimes seen passing through. The park is part of the Freedom Township Grasslands and it has been designated an Important Bird Area by the state of Pennsylvania and the National Audubon Society due to its habitat for loggerhead shrikes, short-eared owls, and upland sandpipers.

Related Information: Birds of Pennsylvania Climate Change Birds are useful indicators of ecological change because they are highly mobile and generally conspicuous. As climate in a particular place changes, suitability may worsen for some species and improve for others. These changes in climate may create the potential for local extirpation or new colonization. Climate change is expected to alter the bird community at the Eisenhower National Historic Site. More information about the impact of climate change on birds at Eisenhower National Historic Site More information about the impact of climate change on birds across U.S. National Parks

Cattle President Eisenhower maintained a show herd of black Angus cattle on his Gettysburg farm. The President entered cattle in livestock shows across the country, winning grand championships at the Pennsylvania State Farm Show, blue ribbons at the International Live stock Competition in Chicago, and numerous other awards. While President, his cattle were entered under the names of his partners so as not to afford them any undue advantage in competition.

By the 1960s, the Eisenhower herd numbered 100 cows with calves. Today, a herd of 40 to 50 Angus still graze the pastures of the President's farm and the cattle ribbons are displayed on the walls of the show barn.

Wildlife President Eisenhower was concerned that adequate habitat remained available on his farm to atttact wildlife, particularly game birds. He ensured habitat requirements were met by providing ground cover throughout the farm property.

As you tour the farm, be on the lookout for red-tailed hawks on the fence posts, black vultures circling overhead, and a great blue heron wading in the creek. A migrating bald eagle typically roosts in the trees along the southern edge of the farm every fall. Red fox and racoons are prevalent, and much to the farmers' dismay, there is an abundance of white tail deer and groundhogs. The Eisenhower Farm is also home to state endangered and threatened species including the loggerhead shrike and the least shrew.