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Mutt Daniels
Fictional Character
Worldwar
POD: May 30, 1942
Appearance(s): In the Balance
through
Striking the Balance (posthumous reference in Down to Earth)
Type of Appearance: Direct POV
Species: Human
Nationality: United States
Date of Birth: 1886
Date of Death: 1964
Cause of Death: Natural causes
Religion: Baptist
Occupation: Baseball player, Soldier
Relatives: Pappy Daniels (grandfather)
Military Branch: United States Army
(World War I,
Race Invasion of Tosev 3)
Sports Team: St. Louis Cardinals;
Decatur Commodores

Peter "Mutt" Daniels (1886-1964) was the manager of the Decatur Commodores. A native of Mississippi, he grew up listening to "States' War" stories from his two grandfathers, who both were veterans of the Confederate States Army. At least one of them fought at the Wilderness. He played for the St. Louis Cardinals for two seasons in the 1910s and served in France in World War I. His nickname came from a stray dog that he adopted and carried on railroad trains throughout his baseball routes.

After the Race's Conquest Fleet invaded Earth in 1942, Daniels was one of the many volunteers the United States Army accepted as the Lizards invaded the United States. He took part in the defense of Chicago as an infantryman. As a veteran, he quickly achieved an NCO position and by the end of the war had even made Lieutenant. His experience kept him alive despite his age, and Daniels did his best to lead the many inexperienced young men put on the front lines.

During the war, he was exposed to ideas and beliefs that he did not agree with, and witnessed many of the social norms he'd taken for granted unravel due to the invasion. For example, a black man known only as "Doc" held a high medical rank and saved Daniels' life on one occasion, and a brave nurse named Lucille Potter aroused Daniels' fancy but revealed herself to be a lesbian. A black civilian that brought food for Daniels and other soldiers angrily talked back to him over casually racist remarks, much to Daniel's' surprise.

As the war dragged on, Daniels found that he had to become much more tolerant. Daniels grieved greatly when Nurse Lucille was cut down by stray shrapnel. While taking refuge in the Frances Willard House, he saw a memorial plaque which made him think of her, however this became of secondary importance moments later when he witnessed the destruction of Chicago by The Fat Lady.

He survived the war, and died of old age in 1964.

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