Arthur Robert Datnoff – Colonel, United States Army

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COLUMBIA, South Carolina – The Memorial service for Colonel Arthur Robert Datnoff, 90, will be held Monday, August 25, 2008 at 6:00 PM at Dunbar Funeral Home, Devine Street Chapel. The family will receive friends for a short time following the service at the funeral home. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Scottish Rite Center for Childhood Language Disorders, PO Box 9571, Columbia, South Carolina 29290. Interment will be Tuesday, August 19, 2008 at 9:00 a.m. in Arlington National Cemetery, Arlington, Virginia.

Colonel Datnoff passed away peacefully on Tuesday, August 12, 2008.

Born in Burlington, Vermont, he was the third of six boys of the late David Saul Datnoff and Anna Witten Datnoff.

As an Army ROTC Cadet, Colonel Datnoff earned his Bachelor of Science Degree in History from the University of Vermont where he was also involved in the stage, acting and singing. He later went on to earn his Masters Degree in International Relations from the University of Alabama. During his 30+ years of service in the United States Army, Colonel Datnoff was awarded the Army Commendation Medal; National Defense Service Medal; Combat Infantrymans Badge; European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal; American Campaign Medal; Bronze Star Medal; 7 Overseas Bars; United Nations Service Medal; Korean Service Medal; American Defense Service Medal; World War II Victory Medal; Army of Occupation Medal (Germany); Department of Defense Identification Badge; and two awards of the Legion of Merit.

After retiring from the Army in 1972, Colonel Datnoff went on to work with the state for several years at the South Carolina Commission on Alcohol and Drug Abuse, from which he retired in 1982.

Brother Arthur R. Datnoff was a charter member of the South Carolina Masonic Research Society and served as its President in 1995. In June 1998, the Society bestowed the award of Fellow in Masonic Research on Brother Datnoff.
This is an Award of Excellence for meritorious service, exemplary conduct and/or exceptional and dedicated contribution to the Society. Chosen unanimously for his activity in the Masonic Fraternity since 1981, Brother Datnoff was the 9th to receive this honor.

He was raised a Master Mason in Acacia Lodge No. 94 in 1981 and served as Master in 1987 and 1996. He served the Grand Lodge as District Deputy Grand Master for the 10th District from 1992 to 1995, and was appointed to the Grand Representative to the Grand Lodge of Japan in 1995. In 1996 and 1997, he served as Masonic Service Association Committeeman.

In 1982, Arthur Datnoff became active in the Scottish Rite and was honored with the rank and decoration of a Knight Commander of the Court of Honor in 1989. In 1993, he was coroneted an Honorary Inspector General 33. He remained active in much of the ritualistic work, serving as Degree Master in two degrees and as a participant in many others. He chaired the Feast of Tishri Committee and served as Venerable Master of the Lodge of Perfection. He was a member of the York Rite and was very active in the Shrine where he served Jamil Temple in the Ritualistic Divan and Past Masters Unit. He was a Past President of Fort Jackson Chapter No. 184, National Sojourners; and Past Commander of its General Mordecai Gist Camp, Heroes of ’76. He was also a member of Columbia’s Allied Masonic Degrees Chapter.

In October of 2005, Brother Datnoff was awarded the Grand Cross by the Supreme Council. This is the highest award that can be given to a 33-degree Mason.

In May of this year Colonel Arthur R. Datnoff was awarded the Order of the Palmetto, South Carolina’s highest civilian honor for service. In the letter from Governor Mark Sanford dated May 3, 2008, Governor Sanford stated that “you have an outstanding record as a civic and community leader and, in these pursuits, you have touched the lives of thousands across our state.” The Governor goes on to say “you have been tireless as an ambassador for many causes,” including but not limited to, “the Shriners Crippled Children’s Hospital in Greenville, the Shriners Burn Hospital, Carolina Children’s Home, Epworth Children’s Home, the Knight Templar Eve Foundation, the March of Dimes, and for MS research. Additionally, thousands of families throughout our state have been helped as a direct result of your hard work and contributions to the Rite Care Childhood Speech and Language Disorders Clinics. As a direct result of your interest and determination that positive and productive opportunities for our young people be available to as many as possible, deserving JROTC students have been honored, high school juniors in the Greater Columbia area have been provided Keys to the Constitution and young men each year have an opportunity to attend an outstanding leadership program.” Governor Sanford concludes by stating, “You capture the essence of a gentleman who considers it an honor and privilege to serve others. While it is difficult to compress and describe all you have done for your community and our state in a letter, we are grateful for your tremendous work and generous service. Thank you for upholding the highest ideals of servant leadership in everything you do.”

Quoting from SCMRS Transactions 1998 pg 130, R.V. Pinkston, PCM writes:, “While writing this paper, I kept thinking in the back of my mind, about how many times we have all heard the phrase, ‘Just one can’t make a difference’ or ‘I am only one person, I won’t be missed.’ Well after hearing this account of our beloved Marquis de La Fayette, or should we say, our beloved Arthur R. Datnoff, I will leave you with this question. What is your opinion of whether one person can make a difference.” We love you Colonel, Brother, Husband, Daddy, Papa.

DATNOFF, ARTHUR ROBERT
COL   US ARMY
WORLD WAR II, KOREA
DATE OF BIRTH: 05/08/1918
DATE OF DEATH: 08/12/2008
BURIED AT: SECTION 64  SITE 6397
ARLINGTON NATIONAL CEMETERY

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