Kay Summersby
Kay Summersby BEM | |
|---|---|
Summersby in 1944 | |
| Birth name | Kathleen Helen MacCarthy-Morrogh |
| Born | 23 November 1908 County Cork, Ireland |
| Died | 20 January 1975 (aged 66) Southampton, New York, U.S. |
| Allegiance | United Kingdom United States |
| Branch | Mechanised Transport Corps (UK) Women's Army Corps (US) |
| Years of service | 1939–1947 |
| Rank | Captain |
| Battles / wars | World War II |
| Awards | Bronze Star Medal Women's Army Corps Service Medal European Campaign Medal World War II Victory Medal Army of Occupation Medal British Empire Medal |
| External image | |
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| Bust portraits of Dwight D. Eisenhower and Kay Summersby Morgan |
Kathleen Helen Summersby BEM (née MacCarthy-Morrogh; 23 November 1908 – 20 January 1975), known as Kay Summersby, was a member of the British Mechanised Transport Corps during World War II, who served as a chauffeur and later as personal secretary to Dwight D. Eisenhower during his period as Supreme Commander Allied Expeditionary Force in command of the Allied forces in north west Europe.
Summersby and Eisenhower spent a significant amount of time together until World War II ended, at which time Eisenhower cut ties and returned to the United States. It is generally agreed that Summersby and Eisenhower became extremely close during the war; some writers have suggested a sexual relationship between the two, although people who knew both of them at the time have rejected that claim, as have most of Eisenhower's biographers.