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Daniel J. O'Neill

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Daniel J. O'Neill
1989 black and white head and shoulders photo of Major General Daniel J. O'Neill in dress uniform and garrison cap
O'Neill as commander of the 28th Infantry Division, c. 1989
Born(1937-07-24)July 24, 1937
Pleasant Mount, Pennsylvania, US
DiedJuly 28, 2015(2015-07-28) (aged 78)
Honesdale, Pennsylvania, US
Buried
Saint Juliana's Cemetery, Rock Lake, Pennsylvania, US
ServiceUnited States Army
Years of service1959–1995
RankMajor General (National Guard)
Lieutenant General (Pennsylvania retired list)
UnitPennsylvania Army National Guard
CommandsCompany A, 1st Battalion, 109th Infantry Regiment
1st Battalion, 109th Infantry Regiment
55th Infantry Brigade
28th Infantry Division
AwardsArmy Distinguished Service Medal
Legion of Merit
Alma materUniversity of Scranton
Lehigh University
United States Army Command and General Staff College
Industrial College of the Armed Forces
United States Army War College
Spouse(s)
Alice Hauenstein
​
​
(m. 1959⁠–⁠2015)​
Children4
Other workPublic school teacher and administrator

Daniel J. O'Neill (24 July 1937 – 28 July 2015) was an American schoolteacher, school administrator, and military officer from Pennsylvania. A longtime member of the Pennsylvania Army National Guard, he served from 1959 to 1995 and attained the rank of major general as commander of the 28th Infantry Division. O'Neill was the recipient of several military awards, including the Army Distinguished Service Medal and Legion of Merit.

A native of Pleasant Mount, Pennsylvania, O'Neill was raised and educated in Pleasant Mount and was a 1955 graduate of Pleasant Mount High School. He received his bachelor's degree from the University of Scranton in 1959, and began a career as a school teacher, principal, and superintendent that culminated with appointment as superintendent of the Wayne Highlands School District. During his career as an educator, he received master's degrees from the University of Scranton (education) and Lehigh University (counseling).

O'Neill participated in the Army Reserve Officers' Training Corps while at the University of Scranton and in June 1959 he received his commission as a second lieutenant in the Military Police. He served in the United States Army for 18 months, then joined the Pennsylvania Army National Guard. He attained qualification as an Infantry officer and served primarily in 1st Battalion, 109th Infantry Regiment. In addition to staff assignments of increased rank and responsibility, O'Neill commanded a company, a battalion, and a brigade. He attained the rank of brigadier general in 1987 as assistant division commander of the 28th Infantry Division. In 1989, he was assigned to command the division, and in 1990 he was promoted to major general. He left command in 1994, and retired from the military in 1995.

O'Neill died in Honesdale, Pennsylvania on 28 July 2015. He was buried at Saint Juliana's Cemetery in Rock Lake, Pennsylvania.

Early life

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Daniel Joseph O'Neill was born in Pleasant Mount, Pennsylvania on 24 July 1937, the son of Paul L. O'Neill and Eleanor M. (Leonard) O'Neill.[1][2][3] He was raised and educated in Pleasant Mount, and graduated from Pleasant Mount High School in 1955.[1] He was known for his athletic ability and as a member of the basketball team averaged over 30 points a game during his senior year.[1] O'Neill graduated from the University of Scranton with a Bachelor of Science degree in 1959; during his college athletic career, he was a six time letter-winner in basketball and baseball.[1] He went on to earn a Master of Science in education from the University of Scranton in 1964 and a Master of Science in counseling from Lehigh University in the mid-1980s.[1]

Start of career

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After his college graduation, O'Neill taught in the Susquehanna School District, where he also coached varsity baseball and basketball.[1] In 1969, he moved to the Wayne Highlands School District, where he served as assistant principal of Honesdale High School until 1972.[1] He was then appointed as the school's principal, and he remained in this position through 1989.[1] From 1989 to 1999, he served as the Wayne Highlands School District's school superintendent.[1] His tenure was notable for his oversight of planning and construction of numerous building and sports complex projects.[1]

O'Neill completed the Army Reserve Officers' Training Corps program at the University of Scranton and received his commission as a second lieutenant of Military Police in June 1959.[1] After graduating from the Military Police Officer Basic Course, he served on active duty as a platoon leader with the 716th Military Police Battalion, which was stationed at Fort Dix, New Jersey.[1] He left the army in December 1960 and joined the Pennsylvania Army National Guard.[1]

Family

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In December 1959, O'Neill married Alice Hauenstein.[1] They were the parents of four children, Kelly, Erin, Sandra, and Michael.[1]

Military education

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Among the courses O'Neill completed were:

Continued career

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During his National Guard career, O'Neill served in staff assignments of increasing rank and responsibility.[1] As he advanced through the ranks, his command assignments included: Company A, 1st Battalion, 109th Infantry Regiment in Honesdale; 1st Battalion, 109th Infantry in Scranton; and commander of the 55th Infantry Brigade in Scranton.[1]

In 1987, O'Neill was promoted to brigadier general and assigned as assistant division commander of the 28th Infantry Division.[5] In November 1989, O'Neill was appointed to command the 28th Infantry Division, succeding Vernon E. James, and he was subsequently promoted to major general.[6][7] He continued to lead the division until 1994, when he was succeeded by Joseph F. Perugino and assigned as deputy commander of the Pennsylvania National Guard's State Area Command.[8] He retired from the military in September 1995.[9]

O'Neill was a licensed fixed-wing pilot and a longtime high school and college basketball referee.[1] A noted civic activist, a partial list of his activities included president of the Suburban Football Conference, board of directors of the Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic Association's District 12; member of the board of controllers of the Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic Association, member of the board of directors of the Wayne County Bank and Trust Company, and chairman of the board of trustees of the Wayne Memorial Hospital Authority.[1] He was also a founding member of "E-Z Construction Company," the volunteer organization that planned and oversaw construction of the Honesdale Community Pool.[1] Beginning in 2005, O'Neill spent winters in Florida while continuing to reside in Honesdale.[1] He died in Honesdale on 28 July 2015.[1] O'Neill was buried at Saint Juliana's Cemetery in Rock Lake, Pennsylvania.[1]

Dates of rank

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O'Neill's dates of rank were:

Awards

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Federal awards

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O'Neill's federal awards included:

State awards

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Among O'Neill's state awards were:

Additional recognition

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At his retirement, O'Neill was promoted to lieutenant general on the Pennsylvania National Guard's retired list.[1] In 2016, the athletic facility at Honesdale High School was dedicated as the Daniel J. O'Neill Sports Complex.[14]

References

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  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z aa ab ac ad "Obituary, Lieutenant General (Ret.) Daniel J. O'Neill". The Scranton Times-Tribune. Scranton, Pennsylvania. 31 July 2015. p. B8 – via Newspapers.com.
  2. ^ a b c d National Guard Bureau (1966). Official Army National Guard Register. Washington, DC: US Government Printing Office. p. 670. Retrieved 6 June 2025 – via Ancestry.com.
  3. ^ "Obituary, Paul L. O'Neill". The Scranton Times. Scranton, Pennsylvania. 18 February 1984. p. 12 – via Newspapers.com.
  4. ^ "Brigadier General Addresses West Pittston Guard Today". Sunday Dispatch. Pittston, Pennsylvania. 18 December 1988. p. 30 – via Newspapers.com.
  5. ^ "Man promoted to brigadier general". Centre Daily Times. State College, Pennsylvania. 17 October 1987. p. A-3 – via Newspapers.com.
  6. ^ "O'Neill takes reins of Guard unit". Scrantonian Tribune. Scranton, Pennsylvania. 6 November 1988. p. 1 – via Newspapers.com.
  7. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n "Daniel J. O'Neill wins promotion to National Guard major general". The Tribune. Scranton, Pennsylvania. 8 November 1990. pp. A-3, A-4 – via Newspapers.com.
  8. ^ "28th Division has new commander". Press Enterprise. Bloomsburg, Pennsylvania. 26 October 1994. p. 9 – via Newspapers.com.
  9. ^ "Reviewing officer named for parade". Times Leader. Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania. 5 November 1995. p. 10D – via Newspapers.com.
  10. ^ "Wayne Highlands Superintendent To Speak at St. Pat's Banquet". The Scranton Times. Scranton, Pennsylvania. 5 March 1996. p. 22 – via Newspapers.com.
  11. ^ a b "Gen. O'Neill Is Promoted". The Scranton Times. Scranton, Pennsylvania. 19 October 1987. p. 11 – via Newspapers.com.
  12. ^ Howland, Barker (21 June 1986). "Colonel salutes his Guard brigade as combat ready". The Patriot. Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. p. B1 – via Newspapers.com.
  13. ^ "109th Slates Military Mess". The Scranton Times. Scranton, Pennsylvania. 1 November 1981. p. A-9 – via Newspapers.com.
  14. ^ Edwards, Kevin (29 April 2016). "Daniel J. O'Neill Sports Complex Dedicated". The Wayne Independent. Honesdale, Pennsylvania. Archived from the original on 5 May 2016. Retrieved 6 June 2025 – via Wayback Machine.
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