Major Danielson was the son of Marvin Arnold and Evelyn Serene (Overby) Danielson. He grew up in Kenyon, Minnesota, and was a 1961 graduate of Kenyon High School. He graduated from St. Olaf College in Northfield, Minnesota, in 1965, where he was a three-year letter winner in football and received his Air Force commission from Vice President Hubert H. Humphrey. On June 11, 1966, he married Mary Gates in Kenyon. He was trained as an Air Force pilot at Craig Air Force Base in Selma, Alabama, and received his wings in May 1968. He also earned the Commander's Trophy for Outstanding Graduate and was later awarded the Orville Wright Achievement Award from the Order of Daedalians. He was selected to fly the F-4C Phantom II in the Vietnam War as a member of 558TH TFS, 12TH TFW, 7TH, United States Air Force. On December 5, 1969, his aircraft was shot down on a combat mission over Laos. He was declared missing in action for 38 years. In 1991, his service pistol was found in a museum in Vietnam. In 2003, his dog tags and pieces of bone were recovered. A positive identification using DNA was made in 2007. His remains were returned home and he was buried in June of 2007 in the family plot, where he already had a memorial headstone. In 1990, his son, Lt. Comdr Brian Danielson, and Benjamin's widow, Mary, established a leadership award in Major Danielson's name at St. Olaf College. He was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross, the Bronze Star, the Purple Heart, the Air Medal with seven oak leaf clusters, and the Vietnam Service Medal, among other awards. He was also posthumously promoted to the rank of Major from Captain. Survivors include his wife; son, Brian (Pam); three grandchildren; his mother, Evelyn Danielson Gunderson; a sister, Marilyn Danielson-Merseth; and a brother, Dennis. He is honored on the Vietnam Veteran's Memorial Wall on Panel 15W - Line 26. (Biography written by Sue)
Major Danielson was the son of Marvin Arnold and Evelyn Serene (Overby) Danielson. He grew up in Kenyon, Minnesota, and was a 1961 graduate of Kenyon High School. He graduated from St. Olaf College in Northfield, Minnesota, in 1965, where he was a three-year letter winner in football and received his Air Force commission from Vice President Hubert H. Humphrey. On June 11, 1966, he married Mary Gates in Kenyon. He was trained as an Air Force pilot at Craig Air Force Base in Selma, Alabama, and received his wings in May 1968. He also earned the Commander's Trophy for Outstanding Graduate and was later awarded the Orville Wright Achievement Award from the Order of Daedalians. He was selected to fly the F-4C Phantom II in the Vietnam War as a member of 558TH TFS, 12TH TFW, 7TH, United States Air Force. On December 5, 1969, his aircraft was shot down on a combat mission over Laos. He was declared missing in action for 38 years. In 1991, his service pistol was found in a museum in Vietnam. In 2003, his dog tags and pieces of bone were recovered. A positive identification using DNA was made in 2007. His remains were returned home and he was buried in June of 2007 in the family plot, where he already had a memorial headstone. In 1990, his son, Lt. Comdr Brian Danielson, and Benjamin's widow, Mary, established a leadership award in Major Danielson's name at St. Olaf College. He was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross, the Bronze Star, the Purple Heart, the Air Medal with seven oak leaf clusters, and the Vietnam Service Medal, among other awards. He was also posthumously promoted to the rank of Major from Captain. Survivors include his wife; son, Brian (Pam); three grandchildren; his mother, Evelyn Danielson Gunderson; a sister, Marilyn Danielson-Merseth; and a brother, Dennis. He is honored on the Vietnam Veteran's Memorial Wall on Panel 15W - Line 26. (Biography written by Sue)
