James Allison O'Daniel

James Allison O'Daniel was born in Newark Delaware, the son of James and Nora Wilson O'Daniel. At the time of his birth, his parents lived at 315 E. Main Street with Mr. and Mrs. James Alexander Wilson, his maternal grandparents. Much of Allison's early childhood was spent in Chester County, Pennsylvania. After his mother's death in 1910, he returned to Newark to reside with his aunts, the Misses Nell and Etta Wilson.

In 1914, he entered Delaware College, now the University of Delaware, and in July of 1914 he enlisted in Company E, First Delaware Infantry National Guard, U.S.A. He served on the Mexican Border for seven months during 1916-1917 as part of the Mexican Punitive Expedition.

O'Daniel was a member of the Delaware College Class of 1918 having volunteered for service before graduating. He enlisted in the Delaware National Guard from which the 59th Pioneer Infantry Regiment was formed. He was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant in the 59th Pioneers. Assigned to Camp McClellan, Texas, he attended the School of Military Aeronautics, graduating and reporting overseas in July 1917. In Europe he attended two additional flying schools, and was promoted to the rank of First Lieutenant, Signal Corps. After August 1, 1918, 1LT O'Daniel was scheduled to go to an active combat air unit.

1LT O'Daniel was attached to the 2nd Aviation Instruction Center. He was a cameraman and observer on a reconnaissance flight. He died on July 27, 1918, when his plane went down over France before the battle of Chateau Thiery. James Allison O'Daniel was the first Delawarean to be killed in action in World War I.

1LT O'Daniel was buried first at Camp Coetquidan in Morbihan, France and later reburied at Oise-Aisne American Cemetery, Fere-en-Tardenois, Aisne, France on September 13, 1922.

Graves of Amos, Nora, and Anna O'Daniel with Cenotaph for James Allison O'Daniel

 Oxford Cemetery, Oxford, Pennsylvania

1LT James Allison O'Daniel's name is engraved on a bronze plaque in the center hall of the University of Delaware's Memorial Hall, and his name is inscribed in the Book of the Dead, which has the names of those who died in WWI from Delaware. This book is in a glass-covered case in the middle of the hall and currently members of the ROTC ceremoniously turn a page every day to display another name of one who died in that war.

He was the younger brother of Lieutenant General John Wilson "Iron Mike" O'Daniel. Lieutenant General Wilson's son, Private John Wilson O'Daniel, Jr., served with the 82nd Airborne Division during World War II. He died on September 20, 1944, during Operation Market Garden.

VFW Post 475 and American Legion Post 10 are named after Lt. J. Allison O'Daniel.

Since his mother and grandmother were deceased, his stepmother, Anna, made the Gold Star Pilgrimage for War Mothers and Widows in 1931 to visit his grave. She traveled to France on the SS President Roosevelt and returned home on the SS Washington. This pilgrimage was made possible by an act of Congress of March 2, 1929.

Lt. James Allison O'Daniel

Oise-Aisne American Cemetery, France

(Block C, Row 16, Grave 17)