Daniel “Danny” Koll was born on September 4, 1921, in Philadelphia, Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania.

He served in the Headquarters and Service Company, 3rd Marine Regiment, 3rd Marine Division as a Platoon Sergeant during World War II. Koll was acting as a messenger half an hour after the initial landing on Bougainville, in the South Pacific, shot and killed two Japanese with whom he was suddenly confronted and then, despite other hazards, delivered his message. He was Killed in Action on July 22, 1944, during the Battle for Guam.

Navy Cross Citation:
The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Navy Cross to Private First Class Daniel Koll (MCSN: 325749), United States Marine Corps, for extraordinary heroism and conspicuous devotion to duty as a Scout of the Regimental Intelligence Section of the Third Marines, THIRD Marine Division (Reinforced), in action against enemy Japanese forces during the landing operations at Empress Augusta Bay, Bougainville Island, on 1 November 1943. Assigned the mission of carrying vital intelligence information from the Regimental Command Post to the Sector Command Post at Cape Torokina, Private First Class Koll made his extremely hazardous way along four thousand yards of beach exposed to rifle and machine-gun fire. Passing through a gap in the lines, he was suddenly fired upon by entrenched Japanese and, leaping into the trench, immediately killed the enemy. As he regained his balance, he found himself confronted by three other Japanese in the same trench who were swinging their weapons toward him, but before they could attack he shot and bayoneted all three, and then continued on to the successful accomplishment of his mission. Private First Class Koll's brilliant initiative, expert marksmanship and valiant conduct against serious odds reflect great credit upon himself and the United States Naval Service.

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