Daniel Daly Marine Hero With Two Medals at Tientsin and Belleau Wood

May 31 , 2026

Daniel Daly Marine Hero With Two Medals at Tientsin and Belleau Wood

Blood-soaked hands do not forget.

Sgt. Maj. Daniel Joseph Daly stood in the grime of Tientsin’s burning streets, the roar of Boxer Rebellion chaos swallowing the night. When enemy forces swarmed, bullets flicked like death’s own shadow, Daly didn’t flinch. No orders needed—just the fierce, unyielding grit of a warrior born for war.

Background & Faith

Born in Glen Cove, NY, in 1873, Daniel Daly’s backbone forged early—the streets were hard, the work harder. He ran away from home to enlist in the Marines at 16. What drew him deeper than duty was a savage faith in freedom and brotherhood, an unshakeable belief that honor demanded sacrifice beyond comfort.

He wasn’t a man given to idle piety, but he carried the scripture of courage close:

“Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.” — Joshua 1:9

Daly’s Marines said he was a man whose life sermon was action—a warrior who lived out redemption at the barrel of his rifle.

The Battles That Defined Him

Daly first earned the Medal of Honor in 1900 during the Boxer Rebellion with the 1st Marine Regiment. At Tientsin, amid a storm of bullets and exploding fire, he single-handedly defended a barricade, driving off repeated attacks by enemy forces. Four times he charged forward under mortar fire, distributing ammo and rallying men, earning a reputation for fearless leadership in hell.

But that was only the prologue.

World War I loomed, and Corporal Daly was ready. In France, with the 6th Marine Regiment, he faced the unimaginable brutality of trench warfare on Belleau Wood. When the German advance threatened to push his lines back, Daly did something that cemented his legend:

He reportedly shouted, “Come on, you sons of bitches, do you want to live forever?” — a raw, electrifying call that sparked a desperate counterattack.^1

Daly’s second Medal of Honor came from those muddy woods. Under relentless machine gun fire, he stormed a German position alone, killing at least four soldiers to buy time for his comrades.

“It takes a real man to do what Daniel Daly did,” fellow Marine Maj. Smedley Butler, himself a two-time Medal of Honor recipient, remarked.

Two Medals, two wars. One man’s relentless refusal to bend under the weight of death.

Recognition

The U.S. Marine Corps honors Daly as one of the few who held two Medals of Honor for separate actions—the highest tribute to valor.

His first came with a citation praising him for “distinguished conduct in the presence of the enemy at Tientsin, China.” His second recognized “extraordinary heroism” at Belleau Wood during June 1918.^2

He rose rapidly through the ranks, finishing his career as Sergeant Major. But rank or medals never clouded the grit in his eyes. Daly was a warrior’s warrior—the blood of comrades on his hands, their lives etched into his soul.

Legacy & Lessons

Daniel Daly’s story is carved in iron and sacrifice. Fighting for what’s right is never clean. It’s scorched earth and the steady burn of loss. Yet, he showed what it means to stand firm when the world fades to chaos. A leader who led by example, a man who knew courage wasn’t a feeling but a choice—each day, every moment.

His life declares this truth: valor is not a gift. It is forged in the crucible of struggle. And redemption is the prize for those who dare to stand, no matter the cost.

"Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends." — John 15:13

Daly laid down more than life; he laid down the blueprint for a warrior’s soul. Veterans remember him not just as a hero, but as a brother who bore the scars they share. Civilians owe him their freedom.

This is the legacy of Sgt. Maj. Daniel Joseph Daly: a life baptized in fire and hardened by unshakable resolve.

Sources

1. Marine Corps History Division, Daniel Joseph Daly: Twice Medal of Honor Recipient. 2. United States War Department, Medal of Honor Citations 1900 & 1918.