VIPs: Iron Mike O'Daniel

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John W. O'Daniel

John Wilson "Iron Mike" O'Daniel (1893-1975) was commisioned in the U.S. Army in 1917. His nickname came from a wound that passed through his face during WWI where he served under Mark Clark during the Meusse-Argonne offensive and at St. Mihiel.

In WWII he led the 168th Regiment of the U.S. 34th Infantry Division when it secured Algiers in 1942. O'Daniel then served as Deputy Chief of Staff of the U.S. Third Infantry Division in North Africa, Sicily and Italy. He assumed command of the Third Division at Anzio in February 1944 and led the division until the end of the European conflict through France, Germany and into Austria.

Iron Mike was never far from the front as he led the Third Division into battle. During the brief periods the Third was off the front lines, he addressed his regiments and closed by telling his men "... sharpen your bayonets. I'll meet you on the objective." He lost a son, John W. O'Daniel Jr. in the initial paratroop drops during the Normandy landings.

O'Daniel headed the U.S. Army Infantry School from 1945-1948. He served as military attache to Moscow from 1948-1950 and commanded I Corps from 1951-1952 in Korea.

O'Daniel served as the Commander in Chief U.S. Army Forces Pacific from 1952-1954 and then took command of the U.S. Military Assistance Advisory Group, Viet Nam (MAAG) on February 12, 1954 where he was involved in heading the "advisers" to South Viet Nam President Diem prior to America's full-scale military response there.

O'Daniel retired as a lieutenant general in 1956.

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