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Danny joined the VFW in 1989. He was able to see the current structure as it was being built, as the original members gathered in a trailer and the "Hole in the Wall.” Danny truly enjoyed the comradery he shared with other veterans, which encouraged him to sign up as a Life Member in 1994.
Danny also got involved with DJing music at the post, as PJ Campbell—known as "PJ the DJ”—was looking for another person to provide entertainment to the members. Additionally, he volunteered by calling bingo for seven years, helping with the Christmas tree sales, and running the PA system for the Fourth of July celebration. Today, he serves as a Third-Year Trustee for Post 1503 and continues to volunteer at bingo.
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Born in Maribel, North Carolina, Danny was the oldest of seven siblings: three boys and four girls. After his parents separated when he was a baby, he spent his early childhood years moving all around the Philadelphia area with his aunts and cousins.
When he was twelve years old, he returned to North Carolina, as his family saw that he was "moving too fast” and felt it would be better if he returned to the South. However, Danny found the transition between the busy city of Philadelphia and the country landscape of Maribel to be quite jarring. He describes it as a "culture shock,” especially as students made fun of the way he spoke in school.
He knew he wanted to work and tried out several jobs before he found a place in the schools for maintenance, janitorial services, painting, and even driving the school bus. He enjoyed getting a regular paycheck and worked until graduation. After graduating, he worked on carpentry for a boat company for a year, but Danny knew it wasn’t really wanted to do with his life.
Danny and a buddy from high school met up with an Army recruiter who told them they would be able to sign up together under the "buddy plan,” which would guarantee that they could train and start at their first duty station together. So, on March 27, 1973, they swore in together in Raleigh, North Carolina.
After officially joining the Army, they headed to the heat in Fort Jackson, South Carolina, for six weeks of basic training. Danny describes this as something he needed, as it provided him with discipline and the ability to follow orders. He also recalls that this training inspires you to "be the best at what you do.” Afterward, they completed Advanced Individual Training (AIT) in field artillery in Fort Sills, Oklahoma. They worked with 105-mm. and 155-mm. armored tanks. He came out of this training as a PFC (E-3) for maxing out his score qualifications.
From there, Danny and his buddy volunteered to go to Panama as part of the 193rd Infantry in the Fort Kobbe Panama Canal Zone. In the humidity and rain for seven months in the field, Danny said he got a real experience of this jungle environment. During this time, he completed jungle training, jump school, the Primary Non-Commissioned Officer Course (PNOC), and learned how to become a "gun bunny,” or a gunnery sergeant. He remained in Panama for a year and a half.
In 1975, he headed to Fort Riley, Kansas. The team also headed to Germany for three months for the annual Exercise Campaign Reforger in Grafenwoehr, which demonstrated that NATO forces could gather quickly in case of a military need. Although it rained the majority of the time, making this a muddy experience, he enjoyed the training.
The following year, Danny went to Uijeongbu in South Korea, close to the Korean Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) with the 1st Battalion, 15th Field Artillery, Regiment, A Company. Their motto was "First to Fire, Last to Run.” It was here that he had his first experience of conflict and combat. On August 18, 1976, two Army officers had been sent to trim a poplar tree in the DMZ. What happened next almost set off a war between the two countries, as Captain Arthur Bonifas and First Lieutenant Mark Barrett were killed with their own axes by members of the North Korean army. Although the men in Danny’s group could hear the attack, they were forbidden from going due to the immediate danger. For the next 72 hours, they were placed on a fire mission, waiting to see what would happen and ready for an attack at the 38th Parallel. Finally, they were told they could stand down. The infamous incident had a profound impact on Danny, as he realized that these conflicts were "no joke.” He made up his mind to "get established” and prepare for his final duty station.
He received orders for Fort Belvoir in 1978. Additionally, Danny was still shaken by what he had experienced in Korea and decided that he wanted to try something different. He switched his Military Occupational Specialty (MOS) from 82C to 76Y, the unit supply specialist for the motorpool.
During this time, he met Joyce at the NCO Club at Fort Belvoir and the two started dating. He was drawn to her loving nature, seeing that she treated everyone around her well. He was also amazed by how well she knew him and made sure he was making good decisions in his life. He recalls, "She believed in me, and I believed in her.” Danny also loved how she provided a sense of balance to his life. He declares, "I’d do it all again… and I wouldn’t want anyone else to do it all with!” They married in a small wedding at the town hall in Dumfries and celebrated with a reception full of music and many friends.
As Danny had extended his time in the military, he was promoted to Staff Sergeant (E-6). Although he also was given the opportunity to go the NCO Academy, he decided he was ready to move on to the next chapter of his life. In December of 1980, Danny completed his enlistment.
As Danny and Joyce were established in the local area, they decided to stay. Joyce worked as a manager at Kmart and opened the store in Dale City in October of 1980. Danny took a position at the post office in Arlington at the North Station. He managed this post office for five years before transferring to the Woodbridge. He worked at the post office for the next twenty years before retiring. They were also able to purchase a few investment properties in the local area.
Danny and Joyce raised four children together, two girls and two boys. Today, they have five grandchildren and six great-grandchildren. Danny is truly in love with her and wishes that he could "have done more for her” because of how giving she has been throughout their partnership. They look forward to traveling, enjoying time with their family, and being part of the supportive membership of Post 1503.
- In 1972, Danny got his first car from his mom: a 1960 Chevy. Although this older car was "a beast,” he was happy to have the transportation as he was getting out of high school.
- Just as Danny decided that building boats wasn’t the career he wanted forever, his buddy from high school also decided that he wanted to do more than cutting people’s hair. Therefore, they both decided to check out the Army for more opportunities in their lives.
- During his time in Panama, Danny could hear all sorts of wildlife during the jungle training, from the hoots of the monkeys to the low growls of the panthers. One night, something bumped up against his feet in the dark. Fearing an attack, he sounded the alarm. They discovered that a caiman, an animal in the same family as an alligator, was right next to him. From that time on, he slept on the truck rather than on a cot on the ground.
- As is an unfortunate reality with many types of field training, Danny had to go 1-2 months at a time without a proper shower or bath during his Panama jungle training.
- Since the buddy program only guarantees one duty station together, Danny didn’t see his childhood friend again until after they were both out of the Army.
- Joyce had already heard about Danny even before they met, as he was a regular at the NCO Club at Fort Belvoir. However, Danny almost missed out on seeing Joyce again after their first meeting. After talking and dancing, he encouraged her to come back the following week to see him. However, he was unexpectedly sent to an advanced training course in Kentucky and missed their date. Thankfully, she returned the week afterward and they started dating.
- Although Danny really enjoyed his time working at the post office in Arlington, he was happy to be able to transfer to Woodbridge, as the traffic increased substantially from the ’80s to the ’90s.
- Danny has great respect for John Dodge, as John was instrumental in securing the deal with Mr. Staples that made the land for Post 1503 possible. Although the membership was small at the start, Danny remembers John reassuring him that the membership would grow—and he was right. He was also amazed at how John made sure the money was being spent appropriately and that no one was able to abuse their position at the post. Danny remembers telling John, "I wanna be like you when I grow up.” Danny promised John that someday he would help manage some of these elements at the post, which he does today as a Third-Year Trustee.
- Some advice that Danny shares with others is that you should never mix family with business unless they are already in the business. This helps him maintain positive relationships with all his siblings.
- Danny and Joyce’s house is full of over 300 elephant figurines! Joyce has always loved the animals and collects them.
