DANIEL S. APPLETON, CAPT, USA
Daniel Appleton '17
Daniel Sidney Appleton was admitted to the Naval Academy from Georgia on May 2, 1913 at age 19 years 10 months.
He stood number 19 in his class following his plebe year, but 106 after 3/c year. He was "dismissed" on December 15, 1915.
Lucky Bag
"D.S. Appleton" is listed on the page titled "Lost At Sea."
Loss
Daniel "died of illness" on November 3, 1924 in Washington, D.C.
Photographs
"Fort Jay, New York. On the right is Captain Daniel Sidney Appleton, Commanding Officer of K Company 22nd Infantry, standing in front of his quarters (note sign on steps), along with his first son Daniel Sidney Appleton Jr. The unknown gentleman with the top hat is presumed to be Appleton's father but may be Captain Appleton's uncle, Major General (Retired) Daniel Appleton."
From The American Review of Reviews, Volume 71
A photo of the athletic representatives from the 1915 Lucky Bag. Left-to-right: William Hicks (’15) Robert Kennedy (’16), Edward Ericsson (’16), Daniel and John Williams (’18).
Other Information
Daniel was born in New York and entered the service from Washington, D.C. on November 30, 1916. He was immediately promoted to 1LT, to date from December 4, 1916. He became a Captain of Infantry on August 3, 1917.
From researcher Kathy Franz:
In 1905, Daniel was listed as Sidney who with his family sailed from London to New York City.
At the Naval Academy, Daniel was athletic representative for the two years that he attended.
Daniel married Caroline Dawes Appleton (of the Boston Appleton family) on December 21, 1916, in Manhattan. Their sons were Daniel, Jr. (fifth generation named Daniel) and Alanson. Alanson became a fine arts instructor at the College of San Mateo, California. Daniel graduated from the Naval Academy in 1940 and became a lieutenant commander. After he retired, he won the 1985 General Prize (Arleigh Burke) Essay Contest for his article “Endgame.”
In 1920 the family lived on Fort Jay, Governors Island, New York, where he was with the 22nd Infantry. The next few years, he was stationed in Puerto Rico with the 65th Infantry, Company I.
In February 1924, his family and mother-in-law Katherine sailed from Puerto Rico to Ellis Island. When Daniel died, he had been writing about the marine transportation of Armies. His wife was to finish the article.
Per The Evening Star, Washington, D. C., November 5, 1924: Early in the World War he was on duty at the embarkment depot at Hoboken, N. J., and went to France with replacements. He commanded a labor battalion at Glevres [ed. perhaps, Sevres] and later was assistant adjutant at Camp Pontenezen, at Brest. Since the war Capt. Appleton served successively at Governors Island, N. Y.; in Porto Rico and at the Army War College.
In January, 1925, Daniel’s wife and family sailed from Cherbourg, France, to New York City. Their residence was at the Army War College in Washington, D. C. In July, they sailed from Puerto Rico to New York City. Their residence then was at the Hotel Waldorf Astoria, New York City. In 1930, Daniel’s sons were students in Far Hills Country Day School and lived with the James Fair family in Far Hills, New Jersey.
Daniel’s father was Daniel, and his mother was Jessica Cuyler (Branham.) His sisters were Georgia, born in 1891, Mildred (Mrs. Kerrigan, book store owner, 1900-1981) and Sylvia/Mollie, born in 1901. Daniel was the great-grandson of the founder of D. Appleton & Company, New York publishers, and nephew of Major General Daniel Appleton.
He was survived by his wife and two sons, Daniel Jr. and Alanson; he is buried in Arlington National Cemetery. His place of death is listed as Washington, D.C.; Find A Grave makes mention of the Army War College.
It's unclear why he is listed first on the Class of 1917 plaque in Memorial Hall. The Register of Alumni gives his name, rank, USA, but no other information.
"The Late Captain Appleton"
The American Review of Reviews, Volume 71, has an article that begins as follows: Captain Daniel S. Appleton, of the United States Army, who contributed to the remarkably well-informed article that immediately precedes this biography, has died at the Walter Reed." The article was "upon the relation of military expenditure in South America to internal strife."
Career
On September 16, 1920, there was a large bomb detonated in New York City that killed 38 and injured over 400 others. Daniel was in command of Company K, 22nd Infantry Regiment, Fort Jay, and responded with his company to assist the police in crowd control.
He was also the officer who compiled the official history of the 22nd Infantry Regiment, from the years 1904-1922.
In 1917 he was the commanding officer of Company E, 22nd Infantry Regiment.
From March 1921 through at least September 1922 he was with the 65th Infantry in Puerto Rico; his son Alanson was born there.
Memorial Hall Error
Illness is not a criteria for inclusion in Memorial Hall.
Daniel is one of 9 members of the Class of 1917 on Virtual Memorial Hall.
The "category" links below lead to lists of related Honorees; use them to explore further the service and sacrifice of alumni in Memorial Hall.
