Dec 07 , 2025
Daniel Daly Marine Medal of Honor from Boxer Rebellion to Belleau Wood
He stood alone, bullets tearing through the smoke-choked air, fighting off a band of enemies bent on slaughter. Sergeant Major Daniel Joseph Daly was not a man to bend. His rifle barked out, his voice cut through the chaos—“Come on, you sons of bitches, do you want to live forever?” Those words were more than bravado. They were a war cry born of iron will, steel nerves, and the relentless spirit of a warrior who carried the weight of every fallen brother with him.
The Blood and Steel of a Marine’s Faith
Born in Glen Cove, New York in 1873, Daniel Daly carved his early life from hard working-class grit. From the streets to the docks, he learned early how to stand his ground, but it was the Corps that forged him into legend. A devout man, Daly carried scripture and faith—not as a crutch, but as a code. His life was battle and redemption entwined: “Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.” (John 15:13)
This verse wasn’t just words. They were a daily reckoning. He lived by loyalty, honor, and an unshakable belief that sacrifice meant something lasting. A warrior’s faith, rough and ready, bleeding with every step on foreign soil.
The Boxer Rebellion—Defending the Legation Quarter
In 1900, Beijing burned with revolt. The Boxer Rebellion dragged Marines into vicious urban combat, street by street, building by building. Daly was part of the relief forces sent to protect the International Legation.
Amid the shattered walls and sniper fire, Daly’s fearless leadership struck like thunder. On June 20, with a detachment pinned down and running low on ammunition, he charged forward alone, bayonet fixed. His citation reads:
“For extraordinary heroism in the presence of the enemy during the battle of Peking, China, 20 June to 16 August 1900.”1
His calm under relentless fire shattered the enemy's resolve. This was one Medal of Honor earned on sheer guts and nerve.
World War I: Belleau Wood and the Marine Corps Legend
Fourteen years later, Sergeant Major Daly’s battlefield hardened resolve met the inferno of the Great War.
At the Battle of Belleau Wood in June 1918, Marines faced one of the fiercest fights of the war. German machine guns halted every advance. Yet Daly grabbed a rifle, positioned himself in the open, and raked enemy machine gun nests with steady fire. He wasn't just firing bullets—he was firing hope into the hearts of the young Marines around him.
Twice awarded:
His first Medal of Honor came for Boxer Rebellion courage. His second, a rarity in American history, came for “heroism and conspicuous gallantry in action at Belleau Wood”2—an honor few have matched.
His war medals tell a story of relentless courage amid the mud, blood, and scream of artillery. His actions turned the tide in that forest. Marines were inspired by a man unflinching, weathering storm after storm without yielding.
Brothers in Arms: Voice of Command and Valor
Daly earned respect not through rank alone but through raw grit and connection to the men he led. Writers like Smedley Butler, himself a legend in the Corps, spoke of Daly's fierce dedication.
“Daly was the clearest example of fighting spirit I ever knew... Wherever there was hell to raise, Daly was there first.”3
His voice, gruff and low, commanding respect on blood-soaked fields, carried truth into every decision. He did not parade his medals; he earned their place with every step into danger.
The Weight of War and the Legacy Etched in Sacrifice
Daniel Joseph Daly died in 1937, but his legend walks every battlefield where courage is tested and men are called to stand against death and despair.
His legacy is more than medals. It is the fierce refusal to quit in the worst moments. It is the cry to courage even when all odds shout to run. It is the truth that valor is not the absence of fear—but the relentless conquering of it. His story teaches that every soldier’s scars mark more than pain—they mark the price of freedom.
We remember Sgt. Maj. Daniel Daly not as myth, but as man—wounded, unyielding, faithful.
In the darkest hours, his question lingers:
“Do you want to live forever?”
For the men and women who bear the scars of battle, the answer is in the fight—the relentless, sacred duty to hold the line, carry the fallen, and pass on the flame.
“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)
# Sources 1. Naval History and Heritage Command, Medal of Honor Recipients: Boxer Rebellion 2. U.S. Marine Corps History Division, The Battle of Belleau Wood and Medal of Honor Citations 3. Smedley D. Butler, War Is a Racket (1935) and Marine Corps Archives
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