Private First Class McDaniel was a member of the 27th Infantry Regiment, 25th Infantry Division. He was seriously wounded by the enemy in South Korea on 11 August 1950 and returned to duty on 18 September 1950. He was Killed in Action while fighting the enemy in South Korea on 16 January 1951.

McDaniel was awarded the Purple Heart with Oak Leaf Cluster, the Combat Infantryman's Badge, the Korean Service Medal, the United Nations Service Medal, the National Defense Service Medal, the Korean Presidential Unit Citation and the Republic of Korea War Service Medal.