Hugh Spencer Daniel was the son of Leon Spencer (Lee) Daniel and Cecilia Tyler Embrey.
PFC Daniel was Buried at Sea, and he is remembered on the Tablets of the Missing, Manila American Cemetery, Philippines.
His Mother: Mrs. Cecilia E. Daniel Of Central Avenue, Chattanooga, Tennessee.
The President of the United States of America takes pride in presenting the Navy Cross Posthumously to Private First Class Hugh Spencer Daniel MCSN 313612, United States Marine Corps Reserve, for extraordinary heroism and devotion to duty while serving as a member of the Marine Guard Detachment aboard the U.S.S. Hornet CV-8, in action against the enemy Japanese forces during the operations of the U.S. Naval Forces north of the Santa Cruz, Islands, on 26 October 1942. While manning a machine gun on the flight deck of the carrier, Private First Class Daniel was severely wounded by shrapnel from a heavy demolitions bomb which exploded near his station. With utter disregard for his own condition, he replaced an injured gun captain for the period of an hour, valiantly carrying on until the other members of the crew, upon discovery of his wounds, overrode his protests and removed him to a dressing station, where he died two days later. His courageous perseverance, maintained above and beyond the call of duty, was in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service. He gallantly gave up his life in the defense of his country. Signed April 23, 1943
The Chattanooga Times, January 13, 1943
Hugh Spencer Daniel, private first class, 18-year-old son of Mrs. Cecelia E.Daniel, of 823½ Central Avenue, died of wounds sustained in action aboard the aircraft carrier Hornet during her last fight, according to word received here yesterday. Mrs. Daniel, a chemistry instructor at Chattanooga High School for many years, told of her sons’s heroic part in the fight when the Hornet was attacked by the first wave of 70 Japanese planes. “His gun captain fell, and then het ook over,” Mrs. Daniel related. “He stayed at the gun for nearly half an hou rafter he was wounded and his shipmates finally had to pull him away from the gun.” Mrs. Daniel said the young marine was transferred to a destroyer, and then later to the cruiser Northampton. He was found dead in hsi bunk the following morning. She said he apparently was in a state of shock and failed to realize he was bleeding internally from an undiscovered shrapnel wound in the stomach.
- Rank: Private First Class
- Date of birth: 26 December 1923
- Date of death: 28 October 1942
- County: Hamilton
- Hometown: Chattanooga
- Service Branch: Marine Corps
- Division/Assignment: USS Hornet (CV-8)
- Theater: Pacific
- Conflict: World War II
- Awards: Navy Cross, Purple Heart
- Burial/Memorial Location: Manila American Cemetery, Fort Bonifacio, Manila, Philippines
- Location In Memorial: Pillar X, Bottom Panel
- Contact us to sponsor Hugh S. Daniel
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