John C. Daniel

He graduated from the United States Naval Academy in 1924.^[2]

During World War II he served on destroyers seeing action during the Battle of the Coral Sea where he participated in the rescue of survivors from the USS Lexington,^[3] and in the Battle of Midway.^[2]

On 20 March 1943 he took command of the destroyer USS Ammen on its commissioning. He commanded Ammen during the landings on Attu and subsequent operations in the Aleutian Islands.^[4]

In mid-May 1943 he was appointed commander of the newly formed Operational Naval Demolition Unit and Naval Combat Demolition Unit No. 1 at the Amphibious Training Base, Solomons, Maryland. On 14 May 1943 six officers and 18 enlisted men reported for training from the Seabee training camp at Camp Peary, Virginia. After a four-week course they were sent to participate in Operation Husky, the Allied invasion of Sicily.^[5]

He was aboard USS Missouri when the Japanese surrender was signed.^[2]

On 14 May 1949 he took command of the cruiser USS Salem on its commissioning.^[6]

On 22 June 1952 Daniel joined the United Nations Command ceasefire delegation at Panmunjom replacing Admiral Ruthven E. Libby.^[7]: 272 On 12 December 1952 he assumed command of COMSTSWESTPACAREA, succeeding Rear Admiral W.F. Paterson.^[8] On 6 April 1953 he led the negotiations for the exchange of sick and wounded prisoners that culminated in Operation Little Switch which took place from 20 April to 3 May 1953.^{[7]: 414–9} He continued to be involved in the ceasefire negotiations leading the signing of the Korean Armistice Agreement on 27 July 1953.^[7]: 423

He served as commandant of the 6th Naval District from 28 February 1958 until 30 September 1959.^[9]

He retired from the Navy in 1960.^[2]

After moving to Fort Lauderdale, Florida after his military retirement, he died on 23 November 1992 at North Beach Hospital there from pneumonia and heart problems.^[2] He was buried at Arlington National Cemetery on 30 November 1992.^[1]