By Christopher Miskimon

“Iron Mike” O’Daniel was already an experienced soldier when he took command of the 3rd Infantry Division in World War II. His military career started in the Delaware National Guard, with service on the Mexican border in 1916. As a lieutenant, he was awarded the Distinguished Service Cross during World War I. O’Daniel was a hard-nosed leader and he reinforced this reputation in World War II, when he led the 3rd Infantry Division from the Battle of Anzio until the end of the war in Europe. The division saw heavy fighting in places such as the Colmar Pocket, Nuremburg, and Munich. He later commanded I Corps in Korea and led the Military Advisory Assistance Group in Vietnam before retiring.

This comprehensive biography of John O’Daniel does justice to its subject, who was a remarkable soldier. The books reveals O’Daniel’s leadership style, his professionalism, and his tenacity as a division commander. O’Daniel has received relatively scant attention compared to some of his peers; though he is frequently mentioned in other works, he rarely gets the recognition he deserves. This well-written and authoritative book remedies that imbalance“Iron Mike” O’Daniel was already an experienced soldier when he took command of the 3rd Infantry Division in World War II. His military career started in the Delaware National Guard, with service on the Mexican border in 1916. As a lieutenant, he was awarded the Distinguished Service Cross during World War I. O’Daniel was a hard-nosed leader and he reinforced this reputation in World War II, when he led the 3rd Infantry Division from the Battle of Anzio until the end of the war in Europe. The division saw heavy fighting in places such as the Colmar Pocket, Nuremburg, and Munich. He later commanded I Corps in Korea and led the Military Advisory Assistance Group in Vietnam before retiring.

This comprehensive biography of John O’Daniel does justice to its subject, who was a remarkable soldier. The books reveals O’Daniel’s leadership style, his professionalism, and his tenacity as a division commander. O’Daniel has received relatively scant attention compared to some of his peers; though he is frequently mentioned in other works, he rarely gets the recognition he deserves. This well-written and authoritative book remedies that imbalance.

Sharpen Your Bayonets! A Biography of Lieutenant General John Wilson “Iron Mike” O’Daniel, Commander, 3rd Infantry Division in World War II (Lt. Col., Ret., Timothy R. Stoy, Casemate Books, Havertown PA, 2022, 320 pp., maps, photographs, appendices, bibliography, index, $37.95, hardcover)