Strickler, Daniel Bursk, 1897-1992

Cornell University.

Class of 1922.

Daniel Bursk Strickler was born on 17 May 1897 in Columbia, Lancaster County, Pennsylvania. His parents, Calvin Ruby Strickler and Harriet Bursk Strickler, raised him in Columbia. Strickler married Caroline Grace Bolton on 11 October 1924. Daniel and Caroline Strickler had two children, Nancy Cupper Strickler and Daniel Bursk Strickler, Jr. Daniel Bursk Strickler, Sr. died on 21 June 1992.

Daniel Strickler enlisted in the 4th Pennsylvania Infantry of the Army National Guard under the command of General Edward C. Shannon as a private on 31 January 1916. By April, Strickler was promoted to corporal and in July was assigned to the Mexican Border Conflict as a sergeant. He soon showed his value as a soldier and leader, and in April of 1917 was elected second lieutenant of Company C of the 4th Pennsylvania Infantry of the Army National Guard. In September, Strickler was promoted once again to first lieutenant, at the same time that Company C became Company B of the 109th Machine Gun Battalion of the 28th Infantry Division of the United States Army. His company was deployed to France in September 1917 during World War I. Strickler served in five French campaigns including the Battle of Argonne Forest, which was when he received his Purple Heart. He obtained several commissions over the next eleven years including captain in 1918, major in 1922 and lieutenant colonel in 1928. Just seven years after being promoted to colonel, Strickler was sent to France for a second time. He was in command of the 28th Division, Infantry Regiment during World War II. In 1942, he started command with the 109th Unit and then the 110th Unit of the 28th Division. In June of 1944, Strickler and his men landed at Omaha Beach. Strickler commanded troops during the Battle of the Bulge in the following December. He returned to the United States after three years of fighting. Strickler was presented the honor of brigadier general in March of 1946 and on 24 December 1947, he was promoted to major general. Strickler remained in the Army and served in the Korean War from 1950 to 1953. Afterwards, he served as an advisor for the Army as a diplomat to Korea until his retirement in 1957. Strickler's final commission occurred on 8 February 1960 to lieutenant general. He had been honored many times and received military decorations for valor, heroism, and dedication including three stars.

Daniel Strickler attended Columbia area public schools until he graduated from Columbia High School in 1916. He was the captain of the track team, president of the junior and senior class, and a member of the baseball and basketball teams. Upon his return from World War I in 1918, Strickler enrolled at Cornell University Law School in Ithaca, New York. He took on many more responsibilities at this stage of his life. Not only did he receive his Bachelor of Laws (LLB) degree in 1922, but he was also a member of various organizations, clubs and teams during his three years at Cornell University. He was captain of the track team and a member of the Senior Honor Society. Strickler was also president of the following organizations: Senior Class, Student Council, Quill and Dagger Society and Alpha Kappa Chapter of the Kappa Sigma Fraternity.

Daniel Strickler was admitted to the Bar of several courts during the 1920s including Supreme Court of Pennsylvania; Courts of Lancaster County, Pennsylvania; Superior Court of Pennsylvania; United States District Court; and United States Supreme Court. He worked with several law firms after obtaining his degree and in 1930, between the births of his two children, he established his own law firm in Lancaster. His legal career was not much different from his military or educational careers. He was involved with various professional organizations such as Pennsylvania Bar Association, Lancaster Bar Association, The American Bar Association, the Blackstonian Club of Lancaster, and the Republican Club. Strickler served as Auditor for Lancaster County from 1927 to 1929 and on a Special Counsel for the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania from 1928 to 1930. In 1931, Strickler was elected to the Pennsylvania Legislature to serve in the House of Representatives, thus jump-starting his political career.

The political career of Daniel Strickler brought him several new titles including auditor, special counsel member, representative, commissioner, solicitor, committeeman, delegate and lieutenant governor. He served as a member of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives during 1931 and 1932, General and Special Sessions. In 1931, Strickler served as the delegate for Pennsylvania at the National Young Republican Conference in Washington, DC. He was the temporary president of the Young Republican State Committee (YRSC) during 1931 as well. After his temporary appointment, he became an executive committee member of YRSC until 1936 and was also appointed as treasurer from 1934 until 1936. From April to December of 1932, Strickler became the commissioner of the police department of Lancaster City as a special temporary appointment. During this time, he was in charge of cleaning up the police department and taking a stand against corruption and crime. He was a strong prohibitionist and cleaned up the city. Upon selection, he became the solicitor for Lancaster County, the York-Lancaster Inter-County Bridge Commission, and the Lancaster Municipal Airport from 1933 to 1941. He also served as the Republican County Committeeman for the 1st Precinct, 6th Ward, in Lancaster City until 1941. In 1946, Strickler was elected lieutenant governor of Pennsylvania, which he fulfilled from 1947 until 1950 when he resigned to serve in the Korean War.