Jan 07 , 2026
Daniel Daly Marine Hero at Belleau Wood With Two Medals of Honor
Sgt. Major Daniel Joseph Daly stood his ground where others would have fallen. He didn’t just run through hell—he seized hell by the throat and never let go. His was a life carved in fire and grit, baptized in the blood of two very different wars. Two Medals of Honor. Not many carry such a burden, or such a legacy.
The Making of a Warrior
Born in 1873, Brooklyn shaped Daly with the hard edge of a working-class Irish kid. No silver spoons—only fists and faith. The streets taught him early: survival demands heart and honor. He enlisted in the Marines in 1899, stepping into a brotherhood forged by sacrifice.
His code stitched together by faith and duty. Daly was known to quote scripture and pray in quiet moments, grounding his courage in something greater than himself.
“God is my refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.” — Psalm 46:1
That faith didn’t make him soft—it steeled him for hell’s furnace.
The Boxer Rebellion: Defending the Legations with Fire
In 1900, Daly was at the bloody siege of Peking during the Boxer Rebellion. The foreign legations were under assault by thousands of Chinese militia. Daly manned the walls with a handful of Marines and soldiers. His Medal of Honor citation reads:
“For distinguished conduct in the presence of the enemy in the battle of Peking, China, July 21–August 17, 1900.”
In the chaos, Daly singlehandedly carried messages under fire and helped rally his comrades at critical moments. He was the steel spine in a crumbling defense.
His coolness under fire saved many lives. Fighting alongside foreign troops on alien soil, his resolve didn’t waver.
World War I: The Hero from Belleau Wood
Fourteen years later, the crucible of war found Daly again. This time, the trenches of Europe. The Battle of Belleau Wood in June 1918 became legend. Daly, now a Gunnery Sergeant, led Marines against a relentless German offensive. When his men faltered or hesitated, Daly’s voice cut through the grime and blood.
It was at Belleau Wood that Daly earned his second Medal of Honor.
“For extraordinary heroism and conspicuous gallantry above and beyond the call of duty while serving with the 73rd Company, 6th Regiment, United States Marine Corps, in action near Bouresches, France, June 7, 1918.”
Under heavy machine gun and artillery fire, Daly exposed himself again and again to rally his men, his rallying cries reportedly telling soldiers, “Come on, you sons of bitches, do you want to live forever?”
He embodied fearless, raw leadership—the kind that turns fear into fury.
Recognition in Blood and Bronze
Daly is one of only three Marines to receive two Medals of Honor. His second citation captures the brutal reality:
“Despite severe enemy fire, Sgt. Major Daly moved along the lines encouraging his men, inspiring them to unyielding feats of valor.”
Commanders respected his grit. Fellow Marines revered him. According to Major General Smedley Butler, Daly was “one of the war’s greatest heroes.”
The battlefield baptized Daly in immortal valor. But medals never defined him—his scars and survival stories did.
Legacy Etched in Sacrifice
Daniel Daly’s story isn’t about glory. It’s about the raw cost of courage. He died in 1937, long before the headlines faded. His name endures because he stood when most ran; he bore the burden so others could live.
His life teaches veterans and civilians alike that courage is a choice, not a feeling.
“Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the LORD your God goes with you.” — Deuteronomy 31:6
Daly showed us that warrior’s faith is forged amid the smoke, that true leadership is sacrifice whispered in moments no one watches.
His battle-scarred hands hold a legacy that speaks to every generation: stand firm. fight well. leave no man behind.
“Every Marine a rifleman,” they say. Daniel Daly was every man’s backbone—the steel in the spine of this Corps. His story demands that we remember: valor is timeless, sacrifice sacred, and redemption earned with blood.
Sources
1. Naval History and Heritage Command, Medal of Honor Recipients - China Relief Expedition (Boxer Rebellion) 2. U.S. Army Center of Military History, Medal of Honor Citations – World War I 3. Russell D. Bowen, Daniel J. Daly: The Most Famous Marine of World War I, HistoryNet 4. Smedley Darlington Butler, War is a Racket, 1935
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