The real Ike  Posted: Sunday, June 23, 2002  We all remember
Dwight Eisenhower was the hero of World War II, guiding an
unlikely group of allies to victory over the Nazis in Europe and
masterminding the audacious D-Day landing on Normandy beaches.
If only it had been that easy.   Title: Eisenhower: The Making
of a Commander  Author: Carlo D'Este  Publisher: Henry Holt
Price: ($35)  Behind Ike's blinding smile lay a man with a
fierce temper - a heavy-smoking lover of Western pulp novels,
bridge games and hominy grits - and a large helping of
uncertainty and inexperience. And why not? Eisenhower had come
from an undistinguished military background to the eve of World
War II confident in his continuing obscurity as a lieutenant
colonel in the Army. His fondest wish? A command position under
his longtime friend Gen. George S. Patton.  Then, in the space
of little more than 16 months, Eisenhower was catapulted from
the ranks to a four-star general "with the awesome
responsibility of winning (or losing) the war in