Daniel B. Strickler was born in Columbia, Pennsylvania in 1897. After high school, Daniel enlisted in the National Guard and was called for active duty with the 28th Division on the Mexican border in 1916. There he rose to the rank of Sergeant. After WWI, he graduated from Cornell law school and became a representative in the Pennsylvania legislature in the 1930's. Also active in the military reserves, he rose to the rank of full colonel during this time. After the attacks on Pearl Harbor, he took a reduction in rank to lieutenant colonel in order to have a combat command. Col. Strickler fought with the 28th division in the storming of the Siegfried line, the Battle of the Hurtgen forest and the Battle of the Bulge. During this time, he was promoted to full colonel. After WWII, Col. Strickler served as Lieutenant Governor of the state of Pennsylvania. After the start of the Korean War, he resigned the office and took over the post of commanding general of the 28th Division. General Strickler was married to Caroline Bolton in 1924. He had a daughter, Nancy Strickler, and a son, Daniel B. Strickler Jr.