In September 1958, I had the good fortune to room for nine months with Daniel Louis O’Leary and Joe Bobula, two of the most laid back and likable cadets in our class. Dan had two years of college prior to entering West Point and, being naturally very smart, had floated along academically. After the first week or so, we found that we were chatting about the days activities almost until “lights out.” We three liked to play bridge and decided that we could play three-handed bridge for 30 minutes and finish our chatting. Then we hit the books. Dan always had time to explain various academic mysteries to Joe and me.
Dan was also generous with his time and assistance to others in our company. He exhibited solid leadership in his stern but compassionate demands and instructions to the Plebes. He was an enthusiastic member on our intramural teams and twice led our basketball team to a brigade championship.
Dan was born to Daniel William O’Leary and Irene Marie Hamele O’Leary in Portage, WI. He attended Catholic school and then entered Portage High School and graduated in 1954. He played varsity basketball all four years and participated in other sports as well. Enrolled at the University of Wisconsin, he completed two years of study as a Badger before receiving a congressional appointment to West Point and entering on 2 Jul 1956.
His quiet, mature competence and social skills were immediately evident to all of us D-1 plebes, and we elected him our representative to the class committee for all four years. Although not an “Army brat,” he fit right in with cadet life.
Upon graduation, Dan selected Infantry as his branch. He completed the basic course, airborne and Ranger training, at Ft. Benning and reported to the 22nd Infantry Battle Group at Ft. Lewis, WA, in January 1961.
A few months later, Dan was at the Ft. Lewis Officers Club at a “Stars and Bars” party when he met a cute young lady. According to Janice Ruth de Rusha, who would become his wife, she switched her date to her girlfriend and invited Dan to go clam digging with them next morning. In 16 months they were married at the Ft. Lewis Army Chapel.
In the fall of 1961, Dan was deployed with his battle group to Germany as a show of force with other units. After participating in training exercises in West Germany, his group went to Berlin for two weeks before returning to Ft. Lewis. In 1962, Dan was loaned to Military Intelligence and received orders to Korea by way of Military Counter Intelligence School at Ft. Holabird, MD. Very unhappy with this new direction in his career, he protested to Infantry branch and volunteered to go to Vietnam as an infantry officer. After completing the training, he was transferred to Ft. Carson, CO, for a Military Intelligence assignment.
His son, Daniel K. O’Leary, was born at Ft. Carson in 1963, and three months later Dan resigned from the Army. Dan went to work for IBM and moved with his wife and son to Anchorage, AK, to work as a systems engineer.
Life as a civilian in Alaska turned out to be as exciting and eventful for the O’Learys as Army life. On Good Friday 1964, they survived the Alaskan 9.8 earthquake. While attempting to evacuate their home, they got stuck in snow near the beach during a tsunami alert. Jan feared for their lives, but Dan remained calm, got the car moving, and reached high ground. Once the shock effects passed, they could not return home, as they had no heat, water, or power. They were taken in by classmate Joe Wiley and his family.
In 1965, they moved to Juneau with IBM, and the following year their daughter Meagan was born. In 1967, Dan resigned from IBM and took a position as director of data processing for the state of Alaska. He briefly returned to Anchorage in 1968 to form a company that automated the production of blueprints for architects and engineers. In late 1968, deciding that his family needed a warmer climate, Dan moved to San Mateo, CA, and joined URS Systems, selling computer systems. In 1969, Dan was listed in Who’s Who in America in data processing. URS Systems relocated Dan to Washington, DC, and the family lived in Vienna, VA, until 1974, when he and Jan ended their marriage.
Dan continued working in Virginia for COMNET Communications with responsibilities for acquisitions and development. In 1980, Dan’s life changed again. On a trip back home to Portage, WI, he ran into his high school sweetheart. He first met Nancy Grunke in the fourth grade, and in the ninth grade they began dating through college but lost touch when he left for West Point. In 1980, Nancy was executive director of the Portage Chamber of Commerce, divorced, and the mother of two daughters. After they reconnected, it did not take long before they were married in 1981. She and daughters Michelle and Susan went off to Virginia with Dan.
Life in the computer business for Dan required moving similar to Army life. From Virginia they moved to New Hampshire, back to Virginia, and then to Michigan. In 1987, Dan followed daughter Michelle and his two grandchildren to Eustis, FL, bought two Gold Crown Hallmark retail stores, and started a family business. His wife Nancy managed the store in Eustis and Nancy’s daughter, Susan Kinney, managed the store in Ocala, FL, until her death in 2001. Dan was in charge of purchasing and administration and used the charm, competence, and friendliness that he displayed during those years at West Point to make this last business endeavor successful and the most satisfying of his long and distinguished career.
Well done, Dan.