Memorial: Perry Daniell 1927-1957

  Perry R. Daniell
  03/18/1927  -  05/29/1957             


    This is in loving memory of my father, Perry Rayburn Daniell, who died exactly 50 years ago this week.  I don't want people to remember his death - but to celebrate the short, wonderful life he lived. 

    He was employed by Alabama Power Company in 1943.  Later that year, his mother signed for him to join the Navy at age 16.  Not only would he make more money to help his family, he wanted to serve his country during WWII.  From 1944 to mid-1946, he served in the Navy as a Seaman First Class on the USS Pittsburgh.  This heavy cruiser passed through the Panama Canal in January, 1945 to begin her war against Japan.  In mid-February, she screened aircraft carriers during strikes on the Japanese home islands.  In the next month, she supported the invasion of Iwo Jima and additional raids on Japan. 

    Pittsburgh's next task was as a carrier escort during the extended campaign to seize Okinawa.  On June 4, 1945, the ship encountered a typhoon and her bow broke off in front of her forward eight-inch gun turret.  They were able to ride out the storm and steamed to Guam, where she received temporary repairs.  Installation of the new bow at the Puget Sound Navy Yard lasted into 1946, after which she was placed in reserve.

    Daddy earned a Navy Air Crewman medal which I still have. This is why we, his daughter, Sally Daniell McCay and my husband, Bill have had his name engraved on the Leeds Veterans' Memorial.

    Daddy came home in the latter part of 1946 and went back to work at Alabama Power.  He married my mother, "Baby Sister" (Elizabeth Collins) in 1950 and by April, 1954 he had worked his way up to a sub-foreman with the company.  He was accidentally electrocuted in May 1957.  The power company's magazine quoted the Leeds News when he died:  "The news of the tragedy stunned the community.  Perry, a popular citizen of Leeds was known throughout the town, especially for his friendly ways and willingness to help others."

    By the time he was 30, he had touched the lives of his birth family, his country, his town, his church, his wife and his children.  He is missed, but he and my mother were Christians and I have no doubt they are together with God. 

    Please help me pay homage to my Dad.  I love him - I love the thoughts of him.


                                                                                                                                                      --May 29, 2007