World War II & Later Life
In March 1941, Past National Commander D’Olier joined National Commander Milo J. Warner, National Commander’s Aide Joseph Deutschle, and Maj. Gen. Frank Parker on a mission to survey the damage caused by the German blitz in England and learn what civilians were doing to build their country's defenses.
The group met with Royal Air Force (RAF) and civilian officials, including their counterparts in the British Legion, to study civilian defenses and consider how The American Legion might contribute to the American civilian defense effort should the war come across the Atlantic.
Commander Warner and the members of the group left England inspired by the high level of organization among the British civilian defense groups, feeling strongly that the British could win against Germany with American assistance.
After the United States joined the war, D'Olier directed civilian defense efforts in New Jersey, New York and Delaware.
In 1944, D'Olier was appointed chairman of the United States Strategic Bombing Survey, tasked with evaluating the effects of American aerial bombardment in World War II.
The Survey, comprised of all civilian personnel, published a report on the effectiveness of American bombing strategies in Europe in 1945 and another report on the effects of the atomic bombs in Japan in 1946.
Past National Commander Franklin D’Olier passed away on Dec. 10, 1953, at the age of 76.
His wife Helen had preceded him in death in 1950 after a five-year illness. They are buried at the D'Olier family grave site in Burlington, NJ.
Franklin D'Olier's legacy of unselfish service lives on in the aims and ideals of the organization he led more than a hundred years ago.
