Berton E. Daniel was born at Mer Rouge, Morehouse County, Louisiana, [165 miles east of Baton Rouge] on September 10, 1888. He apprenticed as a pharmacist at Mer Rouge until enrolling in the New Orleans college of Pharmacy, Loyola University from which he graduated in 1912. Daniel enlisted in the U.S. Army at Jackson Barracks, New Orleans, Louisiana on June 9, 1917. He served in the medical department at Jackson Barracks until July 9, 1917 when he was transferred to the Medical Detachment of the 6th Infantry Battalion, 5th Division, at Fort Saint Phillip, Louisiana [below New Orleans]. He was promoted to sergeant on September 24, 1917. His battalion was transferred to Fort Oglethorpe, Georgia, on November 11, 1918. His battalion departed Fort Oglethorpe and left for New Jersey on April 5, 1918, and embarked the transport S.S. Covington on April 9th. The Covington landed at Brest, France on April 22. While in France he participated in action in the Aunould Sector, St. Dieu Sector (Frappe Engagement), St. Mihiel Battle, Artonne Meuse Offensive. He returned to the United States on July 22, 1919 and discharged August 4, 1919 at Camp Shelby, Mississippi. The diary in the collection is a transcription of what is assumed to be the original notes he kept during the war. There are obvious additions of information that he most likely gleaned from encyclopedic sources. The war diary is forty-five, 5" X 9", pages are three hole punched. The notebook also contains two photographs of Berton Daniel in uniform. Other sections of the notebook contain items of interest to him and notes about pharmaceutical matters.