Jul 21 , 2026

Daniel Daly Earned Two Medals of Honor from Peking to Belleau Wood

Bullets rained down like judgment from heaven’s own fire. Amid powder smoke and screams, Sgt. Maj. Daniel Joseph Daly stood unmoved—alone where courage was currency, and fear was death’s currency. His voice cut through chaos: “Come on, you sons of bitches, do you want to live forever?” Those words echoed far beyond the fight, carried on the breaths of brothers who owed their lives to a warrior forged in hell.

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The Formative Fires of Honor

Born in Glen Cove, New York, in 1873, Daniel Joseph Daly carried a blue-collar grit born of the streets. A Roman Catholic upbringing anchored him with unshakable faith, a moral compass sharpened by hardship and sacrifice. Enlisting in the Marine Corps at seventeen, Daly swallowed the creed of brotherhood and duty whole.

He carried more than a uniform—he carried a calling. The Old Testament’s warrior psalms and New Testament redemption shaped his spine. In battle, his actions whispered of Proverbs 28:1: “The wicked flee when no one pursues, but the righteous are bold as a lion.” No glory-seeker, no reckless fool: a man who shouldered the weight of every lost comrade.

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The Boxer Rebellion: The First Medal

1900, Peking. The Boxer Rebellion tore China apart as foreign legations came under siege. Daly found himself in the heart of the Inferno. As Chinese insurgents swarmed in waves, his Marines fell back under brutal pressure.

But Daly did not retreat.

Assigned as a corporal, he seized a rifle from a wounded man and rushed to the frontline firing line. Twice, he charged alone through the throng to recover wounded comrades under merciless fire. His tenacity steadied faltering men, kept the line from breaking.

For this valor, Daly earned his first Medal of Honor. His citation reads bluntly, “In the presence of the enemy during the battle of Peking, China, 20 July to 14 August 1900, Daly distinguished himself by meritorious conduct.” Meritorious hardly captures the ferocity of bravery.

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World War I: Valor on the Verdun Front

Fourteen years later, the terrain of war was transformed—mud, barbed wire, and artillery hell. Now a Sergeant Major, Daly returned stateside then deployed to France with the American Expeditionary Forces.

In the Battle of Belleau Wood, 1918, Daly’s courage became legend.

Facing a German counterattack, his Marines wavered in the face of machine-gun fire and relentless shells. Daly grabbed the colors—our flag—and rallied the troops. With every shout and command, he pushed soldiers forward, turning desperation into stubborn defense.

His actions earned his second Medal of Honor, joining only a handful of Americans ever so honored twice. His citation states:

“For extraordinary heroism while serving with the 73d Company, 6th Regiment, U.S. Marine Corps, in action near Vierzy, France, July 1918, Sgt. Maj. Daly fearlessly carried out his duties under severe enemy fire.”

But it was more than just duty. It was the raw will to hold ground so that others might live.

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The Soldier’s Soldier: Legacy Etched in Steel and Scripture

Fellow Marines and commanders revered Daly. Major General Smedley Butler, himself twice decorated, called Daly “the quintessential Marine”. He embodied sacrifice, not for medals or headlines, but because refusal to quit was the only honor.

His scars were not just physical. They lay in the memories etched into his soul. Daly’s story reminds us that redemption in battle is not the killing of the enemy—it's the saving of the brother beside you.

He lived by the creed found in Romans 12:21:

“Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.”

That was his fight. Against chaos, against despair, he stood a steadfast flame.

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Beyond the Battlefield: The Lasting Fight

Daniel Daly died in 1937, but his legacy crashes forward like artillery. His valor—etched in medals—is simply the shadow of his true gift: inspiring courage in the darkest of hells.

Take up the mantle he left, he seems to say—not with bluster, but with grit and grace. When every second demands sacrifice, remember those who stood unyielding. We honor them not with silence but with remembrance lived in courage.

Daly fought for more than survival; he fought so others might live better stories.

Let his voice thunder in your bones:

“Come on, you sons of bitches, do you want to live forever?”

And in that question lies the crucible of true valor. Not in the fearlessness of death—but in the fierce love that rejects it.

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Sources

1. Simmons, Edwin H. The United States Marines: A History, Naval Institute Press, 2003. 2. United States Army Center of Military History, Medal of Honor Citations: Private First Class Daniel J. Daly. 3. Alexander, Joseph H. Storm Landings: Epic Marine Battles in the Air, at Sea, and on Shore, Naval Institute Press, 2016. 4. Department of Defense, Medal of Honor Recipients: Boxer Rebellion and World War I.

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