Jake C. Daniels

John C. Daniels, 100, known by his family as "Jake", died Wednesday morning December 7, 2016 at his home in Pine Bluff. Born August 24, 1916 he was the oldest son of Oscar and Nellie Burdine Daniels. He served in WWII in the First Armored Division, 13th Armored Regiment, H Company as a half-track driver for the towed artillery squad. He crossed the Atlantic on the HMS Queen Mary. He was onboard the HMS Tasajera, a Venezuelan tanker converter to one of the first tanker landing ships (LTSs) when it was torpedoed off the coast of Algeria. On February 2, 1943 he was wounded while participating in the initial attack on a rail station in the town of Sidi Bou Zid, Tunisia. A Stuka ju-87 "Junker" dive bomber released its bomb directly above the half-track killing 7 of the 9 soldiers instantly. He received the Silver Star for attempting to rescue a wounded soldier while wounded himself and while still under heavy fire. After recovering in a hospital in Oran, he would later participate in the Italian campaign and be witness to the bombing of the Abbey of Monte Cassino, the breakout at Anzio and the liberation of Rome. He was member of the Plumbers and Pipe Fitters Local 706 before his retirement and was an avid gardener. He was preceded in death by wife, Geneva Taylor Daniels; daughter, Geneva Johnnetta; three brothers, Horace ,Ferman, Henry; sister Pauline Daniels Taylor. He is survived by his son, David Allen Daniels (Shirley); two grandsons, David G. Daniels (Barbara) Dallas, Texas, John A. Daniels (Barbara) Rowlett, Texas; one great-grandson and three great-granddaughters. Visitation will be Friday December 9, 2016 at Ralph Robinson and Son Funeral Home from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. Graveside services will be Saturday December 10, 2016 at Arlington Cemetery in Eldorado, Arkansas at 11 a.m. Online registry at www.ralphrobinsonandson.com.