In September 1949 a group of 20 local veterans met at Dickerson School answering a call from veteran Mansfield Daniel to form an American Legion post. By the next month a temporary charter for Post 247 was issued and these founding officers were elected: Commander Mansfield Daniel, Vice Commander Charles H Jamison, Adjutant Charles E Orme, Serv. Officer Gorman Lee Butler, Historian Wellstood White Tipton, Chaplain Herbert T Dixon, Sgt. at Arms Robert Day, Senior Color Bearer John Moore, Junior Color Bearer Harry C Ward, Junior Color Bearer Charles H Jamison.
The Daniel-Jeffers American Legion Post 247, chartered in October 1949, was named in honor of two local members of the WWII military: Flight Officer Harold Benton Jeffers and Lieutenant William Aglionby Daniel Jr.
Flight Officer Harold Benton Jeffers was born in Allegheny County near West Virginia and moved with his parents to the Barnesville area before he was a year old. He attended public schools in Barnesville and graduated from Poolesville High School in 1940. He completed one year pre-law at the University of Maryland before enlisting in the Army Air Corps in August 1941, prior to the declaration of war. At the time of his enlistment, he was single and listed his occupation as actor.
He received his basic military training at Fort George G. Meade and successfully completed air training instruction in Texas at Arledge, Sheppard, Kelly and Curtis Fields before completing his schooling at Lubbock Field and winning his Army Air Force wings in October 1942 at Lubbock Field, Texas. He was appointed Flight Officer at Randolph Field, Texas in November 1942.
He served at the Air Force Bombardier School in Midland, Texas. While acting as co-pilot on a routine flight, FO Jeffers was one of three officers who died in the line-of duty when their training plane crashed on takeoff near Waco, Texas at 7 p.m. on the night of December 21, 1942. FO Harold Benton Jeffers was 23 years old. He is buried at Arlington National Cemetery
Harold Jeffers was the eldest brother of Legion Post founding member Paul Maxwell Jeffers.
Lieutenant William Aglionby Daniel Jr. was born in Charlestown, WVA on March 8, 1917. He lived in Dickerson with his parents until he entered the service. He was educated in the area and a 1933 graduate of Poolesville High School. In 1938, he received his LLB (Bachelor of Laws degree) from Georgetown University and established his law practice in Rockville.
After entering the service, he was assigned to the finance department at Maxwell Field, Alabama. At his request, he was transferred to the Army Air Corps at the same field where he received his preflight training. He continued training at Camden and Walnut Ridge, Arkansas. Lt. Daniel married Bonnie Sue Anton at Camden, Ouachita, Arkansas on March 27, 1943.
He received his pilot’s wings and commission as a Second Lt. at Craig Field near Selma, Alabama on May 28, 1943. Lt. Daniel was a member of the 441st Fighter Squadron, 338th Fighter Group. The squadron was activated as part of the 338th Fighter Group at Dale Mabry Field, Florida in February 1943, when the 338th Group expanded from three to four squadrons. In June 1943, the 441st and 312th Fighter Squadrons moved to Perry Army Air Field, Florida.
The squadron’s mission was to act as a Replacement Training Unit (RTU). RTUs were oversized units that trained individual pilots or aircrews following their graduation from flight school. The 338th Fighter Group flew single engine aircraft including the Curtiss P-40 Warhawk, Republic P-47 Thunderbolt, and North American P-51 Mustang.
On August 20, 1943, four training planes were lost in a storm on a routine flight in Florida. Three of the planes made it back, but Lt. Daniel and his plane remained lost. His body was found in his plane six days later. He was 26 years of age. Lt. Daniel is buried at Monocacy Cemetery, Beallsville.
William Daniel’s brother, Mansfield White Daniel, was one of the founding members of the Poolesville Legion Chapter.
Remember to honor these and other local veterans by attending the Daniel-Jeffers American Legion Post 247 Veterans Day ceremony on November 11th at 11 a.m. in Whalen Commons.
Be sure to register for Poolesville Seniors virtual event celebrating Veterans Day at 7:00 p.m. on November 10th and learn about the storied career of Vice Admiral Samuel Lee Gravely Jr.