Daniel Edward Cunningham was born on December 18, 1924, in Duluth, Minnesota, one of five children of Michael and Regina Cunningham. While growing up in Duluth, Cunningham attended St. John’s, a boys’ Catholic school, played golf, and served as a caddy to earn money. In 1943, the family moved from Duluth to Gramercy Avenue in Torrance, where his father was employed at the Coast Insulating plant and as an engineer boiler inspector at the Johns Manville Company.

Daniel Cunningham worked as a laborer before entering military service on May 21, 1943. Research and available sources reveal that he was assigned to the U.S. Army’s 7th Cavalry, “G” Troop. He served in the Southwest Pacific area, including Australia and New Guinea, where he was shot and killed in action on March 12, 1944, while trying to destroy an enemy machine gun nest. Private Cunningham’s parents were notified of his death the following month. He was initially buried in the Southwest Pacific, and his remains were later exhumed and reinterred at Jefferson Barracks National Cemetery in St. Louis County, Missouri.

Two of his brothers also served during World War II. Patrick Cunningham was awarded the Bronze Star Medal for heroic achievement for opening direct pistol fire on a hostile machine gun nest in Germany in March 1945, despite being injured. Kenneth Cunningham served in the Army Air Forces, while their sister Kathleen worked at the National Supply Company in Torrance. Their father passed away in 1947. Their mother, Regina, moved to Sartori Avenue and was a member of the Gold Star Mothers, Inc., Torrance Chapter. She died in 1982.