On 5 Apr 1937, Daniel Hunter Wilson was born into the Army at Newport News, VA, to 1LT Norton B. Wilson ’31 and Marion Hunter Wilson while his father attended the Coast Artillery School in Ft. Monroe, VA. Dan was the oldest of their eight children and grew up at various Army posts: Hawaii; California; Texas; and New York. Some of his earliest memories were of Ft. Monroe, a harbor defense post on the Chesapeake Bay. From a young age, Dan knew that he wanted to go to West Point and become an Army officer. During the mid-1950s, his family was stationed at Ft. Jay on Governors Island in the harbor of New York City. Dan took a ferry and a sub­way to Xavier High School in Manhattan. In 1955, he graduated and enlisted in the Army. After his basic training, he attend­ed the West Point Preparatory School at Stewart Field, NY, and joined the Corps of Cadets in July 1956.

His four years at the academy were fairly typical, with one exception. His father was stationed at West Point (as secretary of the Association of Graduates), which provided Dan an “escape” from the normal cadet routine by visiting his family in their quar­ters near Lusk Reservoir. Dan was a member of the Catholic Chapel Choir, the Lacrosse Team, and the Howitzer Staff and enjoyed intramural sports. He also enjoyed the cadet hops that he often attended with his future wife, Anne Marie Kehoe. The one thing Dan carried with him throughout the rest of his life was to put “God and family first,” always guided by Duty, Honor, Country. He truly lived this motto.

Upon graduation, Dan chose the Armor branch. After the Armor Basic Officer Course at Ft. Knox, KY, he was assigned to the 3rd Armored Cavalry Regiment at Ft. Meade, MD. The Berlin Crisis of 1961 resulted in the transfer of a number of Army units to West Germany, and the 3rd Armored Cavalry Regiment was part of this movement. This also “moved up” his planned marriage to Anne Marie on 21 Oct 1961 at Ft. Meade. Dan served with the 3rd Cavalry in Germany until 1964. During that time their first child, Kathleen, joined the family. The family then moved on to the Armor Officer Career Course at Ft. Knox, where their second child, Suzanne, was born.

Dan continued his schooling at Georgia Tech and earned a degree in mechanical en­gineering. Stephen, the family’s third child, was born in Georgia. In 1967, Dan went to Vietnam and served in the Headquarters, XXIV Corps. He returned to CONUS at Ft. Knox for a tour on the staff and faculty of the Armor School. Daniel Jr., their fourth child, was born at Ft. Knox in 1969.

It was back to Vietnam for a second tour with the XXIV Corps in 1970. In 1971, Dan was assigned to the 82nd Airborne Division at Ft. Bragg as executive officer, 1st Squadron, 17th Cavalry, and execu­tive officer, 307th Engineer Battalion. In 1980, Dan and Anne Marie were divorced. Dan’s last assignment was with the Foreign Science and Technology Center (FSTC). He served for four years at their Frankfort, West Germany, office and the last three at FSTC Headquarters in Charlottesville, VA, start­ing in 1979. While at the Virginia office, he met and married LoryJean Erickson on 11 Sep 1981 and retired from the Army in 1981.

Dan and LoryJean moved to San Jose, CA, where Dan worked for the defense industry company FMC as a research and development analyst. His department be­came United Defense FMC/BMY Co., with Dan as their senior analyst in opera­tions research. Dan worked on the Bradley fighting vehicle used in Desert Storm and the new Marine Corps personnel carrier. Dan’s priority in vehicle design was al­ways the soldier’s safety, ensuring that the equipment was user-friendly, served a pur­pose, and did more than look good. Dan became UD FMCBMY’s expert on trans­portability for all their equipment on land, sea, and air.

He retired from UD FMC/BMY in 1998. He and LoryJean then moved to a Del Webb Community in Roseville, CA. During his post-retirement life, he enjoyed working with the Old Timers Club to help local school children in track and field events and the Special Olympics. As a Catholic, he was very active in the St. Vincent De Paul Society. Dan enjoyed reading, sightseeing, and playing racquetball. Most of all, he en­joyed visiting his greatest accomplishment: his five children (including one step-daugh­ter), 12 grandchildren, and two great-grandchildren. The Army was a strong influence in Dan’s life. In particular, he loved West Point, the alma mater he shared with his father, a brother, a brother-in-law, an uncle, and a cousin.

In January of 2009, Dan and LoryJean moved back to Charlottesville, VA, to be close to family, and there Dan spent his last days. On 2 Oct 2009, Dan died of lung cancer in his home at the age of 72. He is survived by his wife; his five children: Kathleen Tubridy, Suzanne Fenzel, LTC Stephen Wilson, USMC, Betty Dickenson and Daniel Wilson, Jr.; 12 grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren. He also is survived by his mother, Marion Hunter Wilson (age 98), his sister, three brothers, and many nephews and nieces. Family get-togethers were always enliv­ened and improved by his presence. His humor and enthusiasm long will be remembered by all who knew him.

This article is dedicated to my husband, whose life will always remain an example for me and our children. We love you.

—LoryJean E. Wilson