Daniel Daly, Marine Who Earned Two Medals of Honor

Jan 19 , 2026

Daniel Daly, Marine Who Earned Two Medals of Honor

Sgt. Maj. Daniel Joseph Daly stood in the chaos of Tientsin, China, heart pounding beneath layers of sweat and dirt. Bullets ripped through the air. Enemy fighters surged closer. With a grenade in one hand and a rifle in the other, Daly hurled defiance into the storm—refusing to let even one inch fall. This was no ordinary Marine. This was a force of nature carved from battle’s hardest stone.

Blood and Faith: The Making of a Warrior

Born in 1873, in Glen Cove, New York, Daniel Daly was forged in the fires of humble roots and hard work. His marine code was simple: never quit, never surrender, never leave a brother behind. He lived in a world where faith wasn’t just Sunday words—it was the backbone that held him through hell.

Daly once said, “Come on, you sons of bitches, do you want to live forever?” That wasn’t bravado. It was a challenge bathed in faith and grit, a call to stand unbroken in the face of death.

Scripture echoed in his actions, too:

“Be watchful, stand firm in the faith, act like men, be strong.” — 1 Corinthians 16:13

The Boxer Rebellion: The First Medal of Honor

In 1900, Daly was amid the Boxer Rebellion in China, a brutal fight against insurgents bent on expelling foreigners. At the battle for Tientsin, the enemy swarmed with blazing determination. Daly found himself under fire, outnumbered, and trapped.

With sheer will, he grabbed enemy grenades tossed at his squad and hurled them back, saving countless lives. This wasn’t luck—it was the heart of a Marine refusing to be broken. For this act, he earned his first Medal of Honor:

"In the presence of the enemy during the battle of Tientsin, China... exhibited conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty." [1]

His fearless leadership under fire was a testament to raw courage and self-sacrifice the Corps demands but few embody.

World War I: The Legend Deepens

Fourteen years later, the world erupted again. Daly was in the mud of Belleau Wood and later at the Battle of Blanc Mont Ridge, the blood-soaked fields in France where the Marine Corps cemented its reputation as a ruthless fighting force.

In October 1918, at Blanc Mont Ridge, Daly's company was pinned down by German machine guns. Commanding from the front, he rallied his Marines under relentless fire.

He used rifle fire and grenades to silence enemy nests. His cool under pressure held the line at a critical moment. This earned him a second Medal of Honor—the only Marine to receive two of these honors in separate conflicts for valor across different wars.

His citation notes:

“For extraordinary heroism... he killed six of the enemy at close range… he led a successful charge against the positions.” [2]

Major General Smedley Butler, himself a two-time Medal of Honor recipient, praised Daly’s “growling harshness of character” but undeniable loyalty. Daly was no polished officer—he was a warrior’s warrior, a man who by action demanded respect.

The Caverns of Recognition

Two Medals of Honor. Countless other decorations. But Daly's real recognition came from the men in the mud.

He rose to Sergeant Major, the heartbeat of his battalion. Marines revered him not just for medals but for grit, honesty, and heart.

He didn’t seek glory; he lived to serve. His words linger:

“You get more out of Marines by being sure you’re one of them.”

Veterans today still carry his example—a reminder that leadership is earned in blood and sacrifice, not rank or ribbons.

Enduring Legacy: Redemption in the Line of Fire

Daly’s story isn’t simply about heroism—it’s about the scars and redemption found in combat.

War takes everything. But some come back carrying a piece of that hell inside as fuel to protect those who follow. That was Daly’s burden and his blessing. A living symbol that courage isn’t absent fear—it’s facing it anyway.

“For everyone who has been born of God overcomes the world.” — 1 John 5:4

His life teaches that redemption doesn’t erase the past—it honors it by pressing forward. By leading with courage, faith, and an unshakable bond to brothers in arms.

Daly’s footsteps echo loud in today’s combat veterans. He reminds us that every battle, every scar, writes a story worth telling.

And in those stories, we find purpose.

Sources

1. U.S. Marine Corps History Division, Medal of Honor Citations: Daniel Joseph Daly 2. History and Museums Division, U.S. Marine Corps Medal of Honor Recipients in WWI