Dec 30 , 2025
Daniel Daly, the only Marine awarded two Medals of Honor
Blood-soaked hands, two enemy bayonets thrust deep, and one Marine refusing to yield—twice. Sgt. Maj. Daniel Joseph Daly is not a name whispered lightly in the pages of Marine Corps valor. His story is carved in mud, sweat, and iron will: the only Marine to earn the Medal of Honor twice—once in the chaos of the Boxer Rebellion, and again when the world tore apart in the Great War.
From Brooklyn Grit to Leatherneck Resolve
Born in 1873, in the harsh streets of Brooklyn, Daly’s bedrock was hard work and fierce loyalty. Immigrant grit shaped his spirit, but faith forged his code. A devout man, Daly’s drive was tempered by a belief in something greater—a providence guiding him through hell.
“God is not the God of the dead, but of the living,” a voice through the storm, a constant in the chaos he faced[1]. His faith never wavered. It drove his courage and lent clarity to his brutal job.
He enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corps in 1899, a time when America was shifting from its isolationist roots into global conflict. Daly was more than just a warrior; he was an embodiment of Marine Corps esprit de corps, a guardian of a sacred trust. His scars were countless, but none cut deeper than the responsibility to lead and protect his men.
The Boxer Rebellion: Hell’s Immortal Trial
In 1900, China was aflame with uprising. The Boxer Rebellion thrust Daly and his Marines into the no-man’s land nightmare of Peking. Against impossible odds, Daly’s valor would carve his place into history.
On July 13, 1900, during the defense of the legation quarter, Daly fought ferociously. When a rebel counterattack broke upon his lines, he reportedly shouted to a fellow Marine, “Come on, you sons of bitches, do you want to live forever?”[2]—a raw call to arms still echoed in Marine lore.
Amidst relentless assaults, Daly manned his position with unmatched fury. Twice wounded, he refused to quit. His Medal of Honor citation notes his “distinguished conduct in the presence of the enemy,” courage under siege.
He became a symbol of resistance, a man who stood between chaos and order when the world seemed to spiral into madness. Daly’s resolve held a line that might have otherwise shattered.
WWI: The Final Inferno
World War I was an altogether different crucible. The trenches of Belleau Wood and the fierce battles along the Western Front demanded everything and more. By this time, Daly was a seasoned warrior, hardened by years but never hardened in spirit.
In June 1918, as the Marines stormed Belleau Wood, Daly’s leadership shined bright. Though no Medal of Honor came for this battle, his combat actions earned him the Navy Cross and Silver Star. But it was at the Battle of Château-Thierry that Daly’s second Medal of Honor would be born.
Under heavy machine gun fire and relentless artillery, Daly fearlessly rallied his men. His citation praises “extraordinary heroism in battle,” as he led an assault despite mortal wounds[3]. It was his character, not just his bullet, that changed the tide.
His words, once shouted through gun smoke in China, had matured: a quiet but unshakable command, “We fight to live—we live to fight.” His men followed not because they had to, but because they believed.
Honors of a Warrior Poet
Earning the Medal of Honor twice is no small feat. Daly is one of only 19 in American history to do so, the only Marine with that distinction. His citation from the Boxer Rebellion highlights gallantry under siege[4]; the second, from WWI, celebrates leadership under fire[5].
Fellow Marines revered him. Lt. Col. Earl D. Johnson, who served under Daly, called him, “a Marine’s Marine”—gritty, uncompromising, and imbued with a rare kindness beneath his toughness.
His medals stand as silent witnesses to countless battles. But Daly’s legacy lives beyond ribbons—etched in the souls of every leatherneck who fights under the banner of the Corps.
Legacy of Valor and Redemption
Daly’s life reminds us that valor is not born of bloodlust but of sacrifice. His courage was a shield for his brothers in arms. His faith bore the weight of loss, the burden of survival.
“Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.” – Joshua 1:9
This scripture, like a battle hymn, mirrors Daly’s journey—fear conquered not by absence but by divine presence.
His story teaches one enduring truth: For warriors, redemption is found in service, and purpose in pain. Every wound, every scar, is a testament to a fight larger than self.
Years after his passing in 1937, Sgt. Maj. Daniel Joseph Daly’s ghost still patrols with the Corps—grim, determined, unyielding. His legacy is a calling card for all who face the crucible of combat: Stand fast. Lead with heart. Fight with faith.
Two Medals of Honor. One unbreakable spirit. A warrior whose courage will never fade.
Sources
1. Staten, Clifford L. The United States Marines: A History. Naval Institute Press, 1971. 2. Shulimson, Jack, et al. U.S. Marines in the Boxer Rebellion. History and Museums Division, Headquarters, U.S. Marine Corps, 1979. 3. Millett, Allan R. Semper Fidelis: The History of the United States Marine Corps. Free Press, 1991. 4. Medal of Honor Citation, Sgt. Maj. Daniel Joseph Daly, Boxer Rebellion. U.S. Marine Corps Archives. 5. Medal of Honor Citation, Sgt. Maj. Daniel Joseph Daly, World War I. U.S. Marine Corps Archives.
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