Commander Daryl O. Maxwell was born Spokane, Washington, on November 13, 1925. He attended public schools in the local area, and in 1943 elisted in the U.S. Navy. During the war years he served in a scout and raider battalion and then as a flag radioman aboard the USS Mount Olympus (AGC 8). At the close of WWII, Commander Maxwell returned to civilian status and attended Eastern Washington State College. He graduated in 1951 with a B.A. in Business Administration and received a commission through the Navy ROC program.
Commander Maxwell's first tour as a commissioned officer was aboard the USS Sussex (AK 213) as Communications Officer. He again left the service to go into partnership with his father in Almira, Washington, then returned to active duty in 1957. He reported aboard the USS Arcadia (AD 23) and assumed the position of Operations Officer. After a two-year tour, Commander Maxwell entered the Destroyer Navy by serving a tour as Gunnary Officer aboard the USS Hawkins (DD 873). From 1960 to 1961, he served as Submarine, Fleet, and ASW program officer on the staff of the Commandant, Third Naval District, New York City. Back to sea, this time as the Executive Officer of the USS John Hood (DD 655). The next change of duty came shortly to the USS Rogers (DD 876) as Executive Officer and finally as Commanding Officer.
From 1963 to 1966 the Commander held the position of Officier in Charge of the Program Evaluation Center, followed by a five month tour as a student at the Armed Forces Staff College in Norfolk, Virginia. From the Armed Forces Staff College, Commander Maxwell joined the staff of General Westmoreland in South Vietnam where he served in joint plans and finally as Executive Assistant to Ambassador Komer, Deputy for Civil Operations and Revolutionary Development to the Commander, United States Military Assistant Command, Vietnam. For this service he was awarded the Bronze Star Medal.
