|
 Oldest
Living Member
Sam McDaniel
Original 18th Artillery
Sam passed
away on 3-14-07
Sam McDaniel, a World War II Veteran, resides in
Valliant, Oklahoma. Sam joined the 18th Artillery in 1938 and went on to
see some of the more scenic parts of France and Belgium. Sam
participated in the D-Day invasion and entered France via Omaha Beach.
He traveled through France, Belgium and Germany providing artillery
support for the advancing allied troops. Sam was also there with the
18th
to secure the Rhine crossing for General Patton. Never one to sit still
Sam had much more of the world to see and so he went on to Korea and
eventually retired as a Master Sergeant at 84 Sam has slowed down a little bit
but he is still very sharp and he will be providing us with more
pictures and some interesting history of the 18th. Sam graded the
artillery units at Iron Mountain California for efficiency training
before they were sent to Europe for the D-Day invasion of WWII.
Right -Sam is standing guard in front of 104,000
German POWs.
Left - Sam is at home holding shirt that shows A
Battery 3/18 Artillery 1st Section on fire mission, December '65.
Above - Sam, and two others, with the only
barber poll in Korea. |
World
War II veteran Sam McDaniel (left) of Valliant became an honorary member
in the 3-18th Artillery Battalion Historical Society recently.
Presenting Mr. McDaniel his membership award is Charles Martin,
president of the Society. McDaniel, the oldest member of the
Society, entered the U.S. Army in 1938 and was assigned to the 3-18th
Artillery at Fort Sill. The 3-18th was the first Artillery
Battalion to enter Europe during World War II, entering the fray at
Omaha Beach, France. Sam and his fellow battalion members traveled
through France, Belgium and into Germany, providing artillery support
for the advancing troops. Martin said he was extremely please to
meet Mr. McDaniel and include the Valiant veteran in the Historical
Society, as Sam was able to provide extensive details on the 3-18th's
role in winning World War II.