John Rupert McDaniel

John Rupert McDaniel’s Personal Narrative was derived from information found in public records, military personnel files, and local/state historical association materials. Please note that the Robb Centre never fully closes the book on our servicemembers; as new information becomes available, narratives will be updated to appropriately represent the life story of each veteran.

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Military Honor(s):

Distinguished Service Cross

Citation: The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress, July 9, 1918, takes pleasure in presenting the Distinguished Service Cross to Corporal John R. McDaniel (ASN: 2809107), United States Army, for extraordinary heroism in action while serving with Company M, 358th Infantry Regiment, 90th Division, A.E.F., near Vilcey, France, 12 September 1918. When his group had been halted by fire from enemy snipers, Corporal McDaniel, voluntarily exposed himself by standing in the open under fire, shot down three of the snipers from one tree and two from another.

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Life & Service

  • Birth: 25 March 1895, Nowata, OK, United States
  • Place of Residence:
  • Race/Ethnicity: Native American
  • Death: 23 April 1960 Wichita, KS, United States
  • Branch: Army
  • Military Rank: Corporal
  • Company: [M]
  • Infantry Regiment: 358th
  • Division: 90th
Personal Narrative
Early Life (Pre-War): Includes general parent information, sibling information, education Toggle Accordion

John Rupert McDaniel was born to John Willard McDaniel (1855-?) and Mary Jean Bird (1874-1938) on 25 March 1895 in Nowata, Oklahoma. McDaniel was the second of three children to Mr. and Mrs. McDaniel- Minnie Maude (1892-1967) and Mamie (1899-1910)- and one half-sibling, Jean Faye Cromer (1910-1973) from his mother’s marriage to David Benjamin Cromer (1872-1945). McDaniel and his parents were listed as members of the Cherokee Nation. The family lived on North Eland Street in Nowata into the 1910.

Service: Includes a summary of transfers, rank change(s), training, enlistment, and discharge locations Toggle Accordion

McDaniel served in the Oklahoma National Guard starting in 1916; he was mobilized into federal service for duty on the Mexican Border, and mustered out in early March of 1917. McDaniel re-enlisted, and as a Private, was sent to Camp Travis, Texas for assignment with the 358th Infantry Regiment, 90th Division. Promoted to Corporal, McDaniel and Company M, 358th Inf., 90th Div., left the United States aboard the U.S. Army Transport Ship Walmer Castle on 20 July 1918. Corporal McDaniel received the Distinguished Service Cross for his actions on 12 September 1918 near Vilcey, France;

“The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress, July 9, 1918, takes pleasure in presenting the Distinguished Service Cross to Corporal John R. McDaniel (ASN: 2809107), United States Army, for extraordinary heroism in action while serving with Company M, 358th Infantry Regiment, 90th Division, A.E.F., near Vilcey, France, 12 September 1918. When his group had been halted by fire from enemy snipers, Corporal McDaniel, voluntarily exposed himself by standing in the open under fire, shot down three of the snipers from one tree and two from another.”

Cpl McDaniel returned to the United States on an unnamed date, and was Honorably Discharged on 8 July 1919.

Later Life (Post-War): Includes post-war education, occupation, marriage(s) and/or children, location and date of death Toggle Accordion

McDaniel lived with his mother and stepfather in Longton, Kansas, where he met Effie Belle Woodman (1889-1971), a divorcee and widower- the couple married on 11 March 1920 in Wichita. McDaniel became stepfather to Roberta (1910-1975) and Justus Frank (1912-1971) Foster, from Mrs. McDaniel’s first marriage to James Franklin Foster (1882-?) (she had no children by her second marriage). The family continued to live in Longton, where McDaniel worked as a laborer into the 1930s; in the 1940s, he was employed by the Boeing Aircraft Company in Wichita, Kansas; finally, in the 1950s, he worked for the Wichita Terminal Association and Beech Aircraft Corporation.

McDaniel died at the Veterans Administration Hospital in Wichita (now the Robert J. Dole VA Medical Center) on 23 April 1960. He is buried in Longton Cemetery, Longton, Kansas.