Daniel Daly, the Marine Who Earned Two Medals of Honor

Jan 08 , 2026

Daniel Daly, the Marine Who Earned Two Medals of Honor

Dirt under his nails, sweat and blood in his eyes, Sergeant Major Daniel Daly stood alone. The enemy surged forward, a tide threatening to drown his position. Yet, without hesitation, Daly roared orders, lifted a rifle, and shattered the nightmare with hollow-point steel and indomitable grit.

The Backbone of a Warrior

Daniel Joseph Daly was born into a hard, blue-collar life in Glen Cove, New York, 1873. Poverty and grit shaped him long before the uniform did. Raised by working hands and tough values, he carried a soldier’s code written in raw bone and blood. Faith was never a missing piece—he believed in a higher justice, a purpose beyond the carnage.

“Blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trial, for when he has stood the test, he will receive the crown of life.” — James 1:12

Daly was more than muscle and ammunition. He was a man who understood sacrifice meant more than dying; it meant living with scars—seen and unseen—with honor.

The Fight that Forged a Legend — Boxer Rebellion, 1900

In China’s boiling heat, at the Battle of Tientsin, Daly’s name was carved deep into Marine Corps legend. The Boxer Rebellion was chaos unleashed; imperial forces and foreign troops clawing for survival amid a tidal wave of insurgents.

Daly’s citation tells enough. On July 13, 1900, under withering fire, he twice plunged into the enemy to retrieve wounded comrades. Alone, with bullets ripping past, he seized the moment, rallied his men, and swung the battle’s momentum. His fearless leadership was simple—fight so hard the enemy doubts himself.

“During the advance on Tientsin, China, Sergeant Daly distinguished himself by his exceptional courage and coolness in the face of the enemy.” — Medal of Honor citation¹

This was no Hollywood stunt. This was the crucible of war, and Daly emerged not a hero by chance but by iron will.

The World War That Tested All

Fourteen years later, the Great War found Daly leading Marines once more. Across the hell-soaked trenches of Belleau Wood, he was a beacon of resolve amid mud and machine guns. World War I was different—trench warfare, gas, artillery—war’s grinding, relentless face. Yet, Daly’s valor remained undiminished.

At Belleau Wood, his actions turned the tide. Under brutal conditions, facing what many called a lost cause, he rallied Marines forward, embodying the very spirit of “Retreat? Hell, we just got here!”—a phrase he reportedly shouted and that became the Marine Corps’ enduring fighting cry².

“He was there every time you needed him, crossing trenches under fire, leading assaults, pulling men back from death’s door.” — Col. John A. Lejeune³

Daly earned his second Medal of Honor for single-handedly capturing an enemy machine gun nest, turning a desperate fight into a hard-won victory.

Recognition for a Rare Soul

Two Medals of Honor. The Marines and the nation bowed solemnly. Only a dozen US servicemen received this distinction twice. Daly earned his medals not for glory but for the men beside him.

Despite this, he was no star. He rose modestly to Sergeant Major, a rank that suits a warrior-carrier of stories and scars rather than empty titles.

“I’d like to see a Marine concerned with his medals, and I’ll show you a failure.” — SgtMaj Daniel Daly, reportedly⁴

The awards came with official respect, but his real legacy is etched in the eyes of Marines he inspired, a legacy of faith, courage, and relentless grit.

Legacy Written in Blood and Faith

Daly’s story is not relic or legend—it's a call to the warrior in us all. Courage is not the absence of fear but the will to stand and fight despite it. Sacrifice is not dying for nothing but living so others might live better.

Few embody the scars of combat and the redemption of service like Daniel Daly. His life reminds us that valor is forged in no-frills reality: blood, prayer, unyielding loyalty.

He lived by a quiet creed—serve with honor, fight like hell, trust in God.

“He has fought the good fight, he has finished the race, he has kept the faith.” — 2 Timothy 4:7

Today, as twilight falls across battlefields new and old, let us remember not the medals or the myth, but the man who stood alone, giving every breath for those beside him.

Daly’s spirit still rides with every Marine who answers the call—scarred, steadfast, and unbroken.

Sources

¹ Congressional Medal of Honor Society — “Daniel Joseph Daly” ² Marine Corps History Division — “Legend of Belleau Wood” ³ Lejeune, John A., Commandant of the Marine Corps Memoirs ⁴ “Marine Corps Times,” Interview with SgtMaj Daniel J. Daly