THE SAUGUS ADVOCATE – FriDAy, FEbrUAry 3, 2023 Page 3 Walter Daniels – A Quiet Hero By Janice K. Jarosz (Editor’s Note: Wayne Riley, of Jasper, Ga., contacted The Advocate Newspapers, Inc., parent company of The Saugus Advocate, early last month after reading this 1999 two-part series written by longtime Saugus writer and lifelong town resident Janice K. Jarosz on the Internet. It was part of the research he did to find out about Walter J. Daniels, the World War II hero from Saugus, who once owned the footlocker he recently purchased in a Georgia thrift store. Mrs. Jarosz, a frequent contributor to The Saugus Advocate, gave permission for the articles she wrote – published in the now-defunct Saugus Advertiser on March 29 and April 4, 2019 – to be reprinted in this week’s paper.) I n 1993, singer David Bowie wrote a song about wanting to be a hero, “just for one day.” He sang, “We can be heroes if just for one day.” The late Walter Daniels, of Saugus, was a genuine hero for most of his life, but it was only years later that his family learned of his war record as a pilot for the famous “Flying Tigers.” A dedicated family man, community leader, and loyal friend to many, Walter’s family thought they knew all about him for a long time. They knew that he served during World War II but never shared with them the true extent of his career. That was until a chance meeting at a reunion with his war buddies when his family learned of the late Walter’s “Flying Tiger’s” war record. Walter was born at home, in the Cliftondale section of town into a large family of 11 children. There was Frank, Bill, John, Laurence, Charles, Carol, Dorothy, Gertrude, Millie, and Alice. His younger years were spent much the same as most of us; he helped in the care of his brothers and sisters, played football for Saugus High School and graduated in 1931. After school, he worked at various jobs for several years and eventually enlisted in the Army Air Force on Jan. 16, 1942. He received his wings in Texas and underwent extensive combat training in Kracki [Karachi], India. After his tour of duty, Walter was discharged from the service on Nov. 30, 1945, and returned to Saugus. The war had ended, and Walter was ready to start a new life. At approximately the same time in another part of the world, Virginia Linehan, a young and beautiful girl who was soon to be married, was concerned for her girlfriend, also named Virginia, who was going through an engagement breakup. Virginia suggested that they go out for the evening in the hopes of cheering up her heartbroken friend. Virginia took her to the Oceanview Ballroom in Revere, which is now known as Wonderland Ballroom. In the ’40s, the most popular form of entertainment and the best way to spend time was dancing, and both girls loved to dance! Even in her later years, Virginia could still feel the tap on her shoulder as she sat watching other couples dance by. It was when she turned to see who it was that she first laid eyes on her soon-to-be husband, Walter. He was handsome, a great dancer, and as Virginia often said, “he just literally swept me off my feet.” Within two years they were married and eventually settled in Saugus. Several years later, the couple purchased a home on Pleasant Street and three chilWorld War II hero Walter Daniels, of Saugus, was a decorated fighter pilot with Chennault’s Flying Tigers in the China-Burma-India Theater. (Courtesy photo to The Saugus Advocate) Saugonian Walter Daniels died on Dec. 10, 1977. But his spirit lives on in a military footlocker that a Georgia man bought and decided to ship to his family in Saugus. (Courtesy photo to The Saugus Advocate) dren, Walter, Jr., Laurence, and Susan completed the family. Sadly, a terrible tragedy struck the family in 1958 when their 4-year-old son Laurence was killed in an accident. Young Laurence was named in memory of his father’s brother, who was killed in World War II at 19 years of age. For approximately six years, Walter served as an MDC policeman. He eventually took the civil service exam for the position of building inspector for the town of Saugus, and after topping the list, Town Manager John Stinson appointed him to the position. Mr. Daniels served as building inspector for 10 years and during his tenure, the town was hit with several large fires, one being the former high school in Saugus Center. He coordinated the disaster response, was in charge of the cleanup and oversaw the renovation of the addition that was spared. All of this was accomplished without much fanfare, but the stress of the job took its toll. In 1963, Mr. Daniels suffered a heart attack and was advised to scale back some of his responsibilities. After a bit of a rest, he left his local position and became a state building inspector for a few more years until he was forced to retire due to ill health. Walter Daniels passed away DANIELS | SEE PAGE 19 425r Broadway, Saugus Located adjacent to Kohls Plaza Route 1 South in Saugus at the intersection of Walnut St. We are on MBTA Bus Route 429 781-231-1111 We are a Skating Rink with Bowling Alleys, Arcade and two TV’s where the ball games are always on! 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