Jan 08 , 2026

Daniel Daly, Marine Twice Awarded the Medal of Honor

Blood and fire. Sweat and grit. This is where Daniel J. Daly etched his name into Marine Corps and American lore—fearless, relentless, battle-born.

A warrior who stood when others faltered. Twice awarded the Medal of Honor not once but twice. A savage spirit forged in the crucible of the Boxer Rebellion and later, in the mud and gas of World War I’s trenches. The story of Sgt. Maj. Daniel Joseph Daly is carved into the bones of combat itself.

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From Brooklyn Streets to Leatherneck Valor

Born in Brooklyn in 1873, Daniel Daly was no stranger to hard living. Raised in a working-class Irish family, he learned early that survival demanded toughness, loyalty, and a steady hand.

His faith was quiet but steady. Daly was a Catholic who believed in a higher purpose, a code beyond simple duty. This faith anchored him during moments that tested the soul as much as the body.

"Fight the good fight of faith. Lay hold on eternal life." – 1 Timothy 6:12

His code was simple: protect your brothers, stand your ground, and act with honor. His fellow Marines called him “The Fighting Marine” not for showmanship, but because he lived every day as a battle-hardened example of courage.

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The Battle That Defined Him Twice Over

Daly’s first Medal of Honor came in 1900 during the Boxer Rebellion in China. The summer of his fame: defending the embattled legations in Peking under brutal siege.

When enemy forces closed in and chaos erupted, Daly grabbed a rifle and charged headlong into the fray, rallying Marines and allied soldiers alike. His citation credits him for displaying “eminent and conspicuous gallantry in battle.” Amidst the deadly street fighting, his defiance inspired desperate resistance.

But the real legend came decades later in the hellscape of WWI’s trenches—specifically, the Battle of Belleau Wood in 1918.

At Belleau Wood, Daly stood shoulder to shoulder with doughboys and Marines under relentless German assault. The woods were a death maze: mud, barbed wire, machine-gun nests, and a relentless enemy.

When his unit faced waves of enemy soldiers, Daly reportedly shouted, “Come on, you sons of bitches, do you want to live forever?” His battle cry cut through fear like a bayonet. He led a grueling counterattack, holding the line with fierce determination.

The Medal of Honor citation for his WWI actions points to his “extraordinary heroism” in single-handedly repelling assaults that threatened to break the Allied front.

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Recognition That Told Only Part of the Story

Two Medals of Honor. That alone cements Daly’s place among America’s greatest warriors. But to his comrades, medals told little of the man’s grit and relentless spirit.

Maj. General John A. Lejeune called him:

"One of the bravest Marines who ever wore the uniform."

Daly’s service career went beyond valor. He rose to Sergeant Major, embodying leadership that blended toughness with care for troops under fire.

He earned the Navy Cross and countless respects; medals recognized his combat feats, but not the countless quiet moments of grit and sacrifice.

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Legacy of Courage, Blood, and Redemption

Daly’s story is a raw reminder. Valor is no flashy moment. It’s the grind under fire—the choice to stand and fight when everything says run.

He fought in two of the most brutal conflicts of his era, saw comrades fall, and himself carried scars the medals could never show.

Yet, beyond the battlefield, Daly teaches us about enduring faith and purpose—finding meaning beyond the chaos. His life is testimony to sacrifice, brotherhood, and the hope that even in war’s darkest hours, something redemptive can emerge.

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

For veterans and civilians alike, his legacy whispers: courage demands sacrifice, scars tell truth, and honor lives on—not just on the field of battle, but in how we carry those fights forward in peace.

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Sgt. Maj. Daniel Joseph Daly did not just fight wars. He fought for those who stood beside him, and for a cause larger than any one man. His story bleeds into ours, a stark call to stand tall when the night surrounds us.

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Sources

1. Naval History and Heritage Command – Medal of Honor Recipients: Interim Awards, 1900 2. U.S. Marine Corps History Division – The Battle of Belleau Wood, 1918 3. Lejeune, John A. – Official Correspondence, 1920 4. Tucker, Spencer – The Encyclopedia of World War I: A Political, Social, and Military History, ABC-CLIO, 2005

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