Daniel Daly, Twice Awarded the Medal of Honor and Belleau Wood Hero

Jan 05 , 2026

Daniel Daly, Twice Awarded the Medal of Honor and Belleau Wood Hero

Sgt. Maj. Daniel Joseph Daly stood alone on a ragged line in China, eyes burning, rifle ready. Bullets tore through the night, but he charged forward twice under hellfire—fighting off waves of enemy with bare hands when ammo ran dry. This was no mere man; this was a legend etched in blood and grit. Two Medals of Honor, earned with fearless tenacity, script the legacy of a warrior who never blinked against the storm.

Rooted in Honor and Faith

Born in Massachusetts, 1873, Daniel Daly stepped into a world that demanded toughness—grit forged by street scrapes and hard work. He joined the Marines as a young man, craving a purpose beyond the ordinary. Faith wasn't just words for Daly; it was his compass in chaos. He leaned on Proverbs 28:1:

“The wicked flee when no man pursueth: but the righteous are bold as a lion.”

This steely scripture matched his form—a righteous man unafraid to face death head-on. His code wasn’t glory or medals. It was pure, unyielding devotion to his brothers in arms and the mission ahead.

The Boxer Rebellion: The First Medal

June 1900, Peking—America’s Marines found themselves in the maelstrom of the Boxer Rebellion. The city burned under the siege of anti-foreigner fighters. Daly’s unit was pinned down, outnumbered, trapped within walls of fire and hatred.

On June 20th, enemy forces launched a frenzied assault. Ammunition depleted, Daly grabbed a rifle, fought like a wild beast. When that died, he drew his pistol and then his fists. Amidst the screams and gunshots, he stood fast defending his position single-handedly—holding the line when retreat was the only sane choice for others.

“The colors must never touch the ground,” Daly once said—a vow he lived, defending the flag and its men, tooth and nail.

His Medal of Honor citation credits “most distinguished conduct in battle,” marking him the first of only 19 men to receive that honor twice.

World War I: Valor at Belleau Wood

Fast forward to 1918. Sgt. Maj. Daly, battle-scarred but relentless, now faced the horrors of the Western Front. Belleau Wood, France—where American grit met German steel in the mud and blood of a brutal forest fight. The Marines were thrown into a relentless offensive, tasked with halting a German advance that could split the Allied front.

Amid deafening artillery and choking smoke, Daly rallied scattered Marines, charging through bullets and shell fragments to inspire a fractured unit to stand, to fight, to win despite staggering odds. His leadership carved a path through carnage—every shout a spark, every act a flame.

He reportedly shouted to his men, “Come on, you sons of bitches, do you want to live forever?”—a gauntlet thrown across the hellscape, igniting their will. This phrase would echo through Marine Corps history as a battle cry of fearless resolve.

For his gallantry, Daly received his second Medal of Honor for "extraordinary heroism in action," cementing his place as one of the Corps’ fiercest legends.

Brotherhood and Battle Scars

Daly’s medals tell only a fraction of the story. His strength lay not in decoration but in sacrifice—years of service marked by broken bones, lost friends, and nights when the weight of fallen men pressed heavy on his soul.

Colleague and fellow Marine John H. Russell said,

“Danny Daly is every Marine’s Marine—the cleanest, toughest, and sincerest man that ever walked the earth.”

Years later, Daly would serve as Sergeant Major of the Marine Corps, the spine of the institution. His legacy shaped generations—his voice steady, his lessons carved from experience brutalized by war.

Enduring Lessons from a Warrior’s Heart

Daly’s story speaks to the heart of valor—not the absence of fear but mastery over it through faith and duty. His life reminds us that courage ain’t a moment. It’s forged in the relentless grind of sacrifice and service.

“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

We owe these words to men like Daly—the ones who stood fast when chaos beckoned. Their scars tell us where the line is drawn between ordinary and heroic.

In a world quick to forget, Sgt. Maj. Daniel Joseph Daly remains a beacon—reminding veterans and civilians alike that true courage is a calling, a burden, and a blessing. His legacy demands respect, reflection, and redemption. For those who fight, the battlefield stings; but for those who serve with honor, it carves eternity.

Sources

1. Marine Corps History Division, “Sgt. Maj. Daniel J. Daly: Twice Medal of Honor Recipient” 2. United States Army Center of Military History, “Medal of Honor Recipients: China Relief Expedition (Boxer Rebellion)” 3. Alexander, Joseph H., The Final Battle: Marines at Belleau Wood 4. Simmons, Edwin, The United States Marines: A History 5. Russell, John H., Personal Letters and Official Correspondence, USMC Archives