Edmund L. Daley

Edmund L. Daley (November 1, 1883 – December 19, 1968) was a career officer in the United States Army. A veteran of the Moro Rebellion, Pancho Villa Expedition, World War I and World War II, he was a recipient of the Army Distinguished Service Medal, Silver Star, French Order of Agricultural Merit (Officer), and Greek Order of the Redeemer (Gold Cross). Daley was assigned to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, and his command postings included the 55th Engineer Regiment, 6th Engineer Regiment, Pittsburgh Engineer District, Upper Mississippi Valley Engineer Division, North Atlantic Engineer Division, First Coast Artillery District, Puerto Rican Department, and V Corps.

A native of Worcester, Massachusetts, Daley graduated from high school in 1901 and obtained an appointment to the United States Military Academy (West Point) as a member of the class of 1906. His high graduation rank (fifth of 78) enabled him to obtain the assignment to the Corps of Engineers, and his early postings included Fort Mason, California and duty in the Philippines. As he continued to advance through the ranks, he served on the West Point faculty and attended the Army Service Schools (now the United States Army Command and General Staff College). During the First World War, he commanded the 6th Engineer Regiment, which he led during several offensives. Post-war assignments included the Harbord Commission in Turkey and Armenia, the Allied High Mission to Armenia, executive with the American Relief Administration that took part in relieving the Russian famine of 1921–1922, and deputy commissioner in Greece for the American Red Cross mission that implemented the Treaty of Lausanne to end the Greco-Turkish War of 1919 to 1922.

Daley was promoted to brigadier general after his graduation from the United States Army War College, and his senior assignments included command of Puerto Rican Department and V Corps. He was a major general when he was named to command United States Army Forces in Northern Ireland at the start of World War II, but the posting was subsequently withdrawn, and Daley opted to retire as a brigadier general. After retiring from the army, he resided in Albany, New York, where he served as New York State Deputy Director of Civil Defense and New York State Deputy Director of Veterans Affairs until retiring permanently in the mid-1950s. Daley died in Albany on December 19, 1968 and was buried at West Point Cemetery.

Early life Edmund Leo Daley was born in Worcester, Massachusetts on November 1, 1883, the son of John J. Daley and Katherine Elizabeth (Martin) Daley. He was raised and educated in Worcester, and was a 1901 graduate of Worcester's Classical High School.

After his high school graduation, Daley competed for a congressional appointment to the United States Military Academy at West Point. Among his classmates who also became general officers were Jonathan M. Wainwright, Adna R. Chaffee Jr., Frank Maxwell Andrews, and Cortlandt Parker. He received his commission as a second lieutenant of Engineers and was posted to Fort Mason, California. He then resumed command of Company D, which he led at Fort William McKinley, Philippines until January 1909. From August to October 1919, he served with the Harbord Commission in Turkey and Armenia. He received promotion to lieutenant colonel in November 1929. From March to April 1941, he commanded of the 2nd Infantry Division, but with the army expanding after U.S. entry into World War II, he was quickly reassigned to command U.S. V Corps. He led the corps during organization and training at Camp Beauregard, Louisiana until September 1942, and was promoted to major general in May 1942. Daley then requested retirement, and he left the army with the retired rank of brigadier general in September 1942. His U.S. awards included the Army Distinguished Service Medal and Silver Star.

Slver Star citation "In the Bois de Fays, from Oct. 14 to Oct. 26, 1918, Colonel Daley, under continuous harassing fire during which losses were considerable, by his example of endurance, cheerfulness and high courage, was a constant source of inspiration for both officers and men of his command."

Service: Army Rank: Colonel Division: 3rd Division General Orders: 3rd Division (1919)