Defense Secretary Staff Damaged Historic World War II Eisenhower Globe During Pentagon Relocation
Staff members working for Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth damaged a historic World War II-era globe used by General Dwight D. Eisenhower after attempting to move the artifact into his office without professional assistance. The incident occurred in February after Hegseth expressed a desire to have the wooden-framed globe displayed inside his office space.
The artifact is cataloged and preserved by the U.S. Army Center of Military History and had previously been kept in a senior Army office located within the Pentagon. Rather than coordinating the transfer with trained Army historians or Center of Military History staff, several members of Hegseth’s office attempted to transport the heavy item themselves. During the unauthorized move, the staffers dropped the globe, punching a hole in its lower section and sustaining additional damage to another area.
The historic piece is distinguished by green pen or marker notations made by Eisenhower to track regions in Europe during the war. Military officials confirmed that the Pentagon houses at least two globes used by the general during his command.
A Pentagon official acknowledged the mishap following inquiries but disputed the authenticity of the item, describing it as a replica. A Pentagon spokesperson stated that an accident took place while staff members were transporting a replica of the Eisenhower globe during a relocation, adding that accidents happen, no one was harmed, and the globe is currently undergoing repairs. However, verification from three U.S. officials and photographic evidence confirmed that the damaged item was indeed the original artifact used by Eisenhower, rather than a reproduction.
Eisenhower served as the supreme commander of the Allied Expeditionary Forces throughout World War II, bearing ultimate responsibility for pivotal military decisions including the June 6, 1944, Normandy landings. That operation, designated Operation Overlord, ultimately facilitated the liberation of Western Europe. Following his military career, Eisenhower was elected as the 34th president of the United States in November 1952 and assumed office in January 1953.
Transporting such artifacts requires specialized handling. Professional moving companies previously contracted by the Center of Military History to relocate a similar Eisenhower globe in Alabama outlined the extensive measures required for safe transport. That globe stood four feet tall with a diameter of approximately 40 inches, requiring precise engineering, packaging, and crating designs to ensure the fragile historical object remained undamaged during transit.
