Daniel Daly the Marine Who Earned Two Medals of Honor

Dec 15 , 2025

Daniel Daly the Marine Who Earned Two Medals of Honor

The rain hammered down like enemy fire. Mud clung like a second skin. Somewhere behind the chaos, a lone voice cut through the darkness—steady, fearless—calling Marines to hold the line. That voice belonged to Daniel Joseph Daly. Two Medals of Honor later, his name is etched in the marrow of Marine Corps history. No glory, just guts. No surrender, just the grind of relentless courage.

Roots of Steel and Spirit

Born in Glen Cove, New York, in 1873, Daniel Daly wasn’t born into privilege or ease. He grew up hard, learning early that honor was earned, not inherited. The streets and factories of the late 19th century shaped a working-class grit in him—tough, unyielding, real. Enlisting in the Marine Corps in 1899, Daly carried that blue-collar backbone into a world aflame with imperial conflicts and shadow wars.

His faith was a quiet, steady flame. Not flashy piety, but a personal code hammered out in prayer and reflection. “Greater love hath no man than this,” echoed quietly in the corners of his heart—a readiness to lay down one’s life for one’s brother. This wasn’t about medals or applause; it was the warrior’s burden, borne with solemn grace.

The Boxer Rebellion: Holding the Line at Tientsin

The summer of 1900 found Sgt. Daly and his Marines trapped in Tientsin, China. The Boxer Rebellion was a brutal, chaotic uprising, targeting foreigners and Chinese Christians alike. Daly, then a corporal, faced an enemy surge intent on routing his unit.

Amid the pounding shells and whistling bullets, the line wavered. It was here—without hesitation—that Daly leapt forward, wielding a rifle with relentless fury, rallying terrified Marines to stand their ground. His citation would later recall his “indomitable courage and leadership” in holding the line.

He earned his first Medal of Honor there. But medals don't capture the grit of mud-soaked nights filled with screams and the stench of death. Daly lived each second, breath held, finger steady, eyes locked on the enemy—because his brothers were counting on him.

World War I: The Legend of the Two Medals

Daly’s second Medal of Honor came not from a grand charge but from a single act that earned immortal fame. At the Battle of Belleau Wood in June 1918, his unit was under savage German fire. The Marines were pinned, outnumbered, and taking brutal casualties.

As German soldiers advanced, Daly shouted across the battlefield:

“Come on, you sons of bitches, do you want to live forever?”

This raw challenge wasn’t bravado. It was a call to arms—iron will forged amidst artillery and mud. He personally charged enemy trenches, bayoneting dozens of combatants, breaking their momentum. His courage galvanized the Marines, turning the tide and cementing the fierce reputation of the Corps.

Daly's Medal of Honor citation recounts how he “gallantly and courageously” fought through heavy fire. His legendary shout became a battle cry—fierce, biting, unforgettable. Sergeant Major Daniel Daly wasn’t just fighting for survival; he was fighting for honor, for his men, for something bigger than himself.

Medals, Memories, and Brotherhood

The two Medals of Honor only tell part of the story. Daly’s official citations mark him as one of the fiercest warriors ever to wear the Eagle, Globe, and Anchor. Others earned one; Daly earned two—an extraordinary distinction few in Marine Corps history share.

Fellow Marines remembered him not as a celebrity but as a relentless leader with a fierce heart. “Daly was a Marine’s Marine,” said one veteran. “He didn’t ask you to do what he wouldn’t do himself.” His courage was raw and real—no flash, just an unbreakable will.

Enduring Legacy: Courage Etched in Blood and Faith

Daniel Daly’s story burns like a beacon in the fog of war. His courage was forged in blood and sacrifice. But beyond the medals and glory lies a deeper truth—the warrior's heart is shaped by purpose, faith, and relentless sacrifice.

His life reminds us that heroism isn’t born from glory but from the choice to stand when fear wants you to run. In his unwavering spirit, we find a template for redemption—not just for the battlefield, but for every fight where courage meets doubt.

“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

The scars he bore, the battles he fought—they weren’t just for him. They spoke for every Marine, every soldier who stands on the line long after the cheers have faded. Sgt. Major Daniel Joseph Daly’s legacy demands more than remembrance. It demands we embody it—stand firm, fight hard, and never break faith.

This is what it means to be Marine. This is what it means to live a warrior’s redemption.

Sources

1. Naval History & Heritage Command, “Daniel Joseph Daly – Two-time Medal of Honor Recipient” 2. West, Bing. The Forgotten Warrior: The Medal of Honor of Daniel Daly, Naval Institute Press, 2016 3. Marine Corps History Division, “Medal of Honor Citations, Boxer Rebellion and WWI”