Lieutenant General O’Daniel was known, according to MG (Ret) Anthony A. Cucolo III, as a “hard-
bitten, non-nonsense, grizzled combat General…one of the quintessential American warrior leaders of
the first half of the 20th century.” During WWII, O’Daniel commanded the 3rd Infantry Division, (3ID)
a unit of action ranging in size from 15,000 to 21,000 soldiers, known as the Rock of the Marne and
the home of the Dogface Soldier, which holds the record for the most consecutive days in combat and
the most recipients of Medals of Honor.
bitten, non-nonsense, grizzled combat General…one of the quintessential American warrior leaders of
the first half of the 20th century.” During WWII, O’Daniel commanded the 3rd Infantry Division, (3ID)
a unit of action ranging in size from 15,000 to 21,000 soldiers, known as the Rock of the Marne and
the home of the Dogface Soldier, which holds the record for the most consecutive days in combat and
the most recipients of Medals of Honor.
John Wilson “Iron Mike” O’Daniel began his military career with the Delaware Militia in 1914, served
on the Mexican border in 1916, and received a Distinguished Service Cross in World War I. In World
War II, he commanded the storied 3ID from the Battle of Anzio to the surrender of Germany. He led
troops in Korea and closed out his 38-year military career as an advisor in the early days of the
Vietnam War. O’Daniel became an anti-Communist crusader after his duty in Moscow as the Cold
War intensified and as chairman of the American Friends of Vietnam.
About the author: Timothy R. Stoy is a 1981 graduate of the U.S. Military Academy at West Point
and served 31 years in the Infantry and as a Foreign Area officer. He served six and half years with the
3ID. He is the past president of the Society of the 3rd Infantry Division and was its historian. He is also
president and historian of the 15th Infantry Regimental Association. Stoy and his wife, Capt. (Ret) C.
Monika Stoy, and her mother Mrs. Haesook Choi, conduct historical seminars in the U.S., France, and
the Republic of Korea.
This candid conversation with Tim Stoy and MG (Ret) Doug Crissman highlights Iron Mike’s atypical
career path as an “unlikely general,” the legacy of his unique training programs that prepared new
recruits for combat in short order, and the high and low points of his career that spanned the Mexican-
American War, WWI, WWII, Korea, and Vietnam. His loyalty to his troops was returned in their
selfless performance that meant success in the liberation of Nuremberg, Augsburg, Munich, and
Hitler’s Berghof and Eagles’ Nest in the Obersalzberg.
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