Daniel J. Daly, Marine Hero at Belleau Wood and Boxer Rebellion

Nov 12 , 2025

Daniel J. Daly, Marine Hero at Belleau Wood and Boxer Rebellion

The mud sucked at his boots. Bullets screamed past like hell’s own wind. Yet Daniel J. Daly stood tall amid the chaos—an unyielding rock under fire. Face streaked with grime and sweat, eyes burning with resolve, he charged forward, his voice cutting through the carnage like a clarion call:

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

Background & Faith: Forged in the Streets of Glen Cove

Born in 1873, Daniel Joseph Daly rose from the rough neighborhoods of Glen Cove, New York. A working-class kid who found his calling in the U.S. Marine Corps at 18, Daly’s early life carved the steel in his spine. Faith was his unseen armor, a quiet but steady force guiding him through every hellhole.

He carried scripture close, grounding himself beyond the violence:

“Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged.” — Joshua 1:9

His code was simple—duty, honor, and never leaving a brother behind.

The Battle That Defined Him: Hero of Two Wars

Daly’s legend was born under the blistering skies of the Boxer Rebellion, 1900. Stationed with the 1st Marine Regiment, his unit found itself cornered near Tientsin. Outnumbered and cut off, Marines fought tooth and nail to hold ground. Daly grabbed a rifle and, unflinching, manned a post with cold, fearless precision.

Later in World War I, at the Battle of Belleau Wood, the man known as “One of the Ten Greatest Marines” became a living symbol of American grit. During a savage German assault in June 1918, Daly told his men:

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

That cry echoed through the pine forests, rallying Marines to repel a German advance. Against overwhelming odds, Daly led counterattacks through machine-gun fire and artillery shells, holding the line and turning the tide.

This double Medal of Honor recipient—one of only nineteen in U.S. military history—earned his decorations not once but twice under fire, for: - Extraordinary heroism during the relief of Peking in 1900 - Gallant conduct in the fierce trenches of Belleau Wood, 1918

Recognition: Valor Etched in History

Official citations detail his valor, but it’s the words of fellow Marines that echo best:

“Daly was the toughest infantryman I ever knew. He never stopped fighting.” — Sgt. William A. Shipp, Company C, 6th Marine Regiment¹

Commanders recognized Daly as a leader who faced bullets head-on. He earned the Navy Cross, the Army Distinguished Service Cross, two Medals of Honor, and numerous other honors.

He embodied the Marine spirit not through words, but through bloodstained action.

Legacy & Lessons: The Enduring Warrior’s Spirit

Daly’s story is not just about medals or battles. It’s about a man who lived in the trenches of sacrifice, confronting fear with a soldier’s grit and a believer’s hope.

His life teaches this: courage is not the absence of fear but the decision to stand anyway. His legacy is a call to every veteran—and civilian—to carry the burden of service with honor, and to remember the cost borne by those who walk through hell for the rest of us.

“Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.” — John 15:13

Daniel J. Daly didn’t just fight battles. He set an example of relentless heart and selfless sacrifice. His scars—both visible and invisible—tell a story that no history book can fully capture.

We owe them more than words. We owe them remembrance and resolve.

Sources

1. Schuon, Karl. U.S. Marine Corps Biographical Dictionary, pp. 127-129. 2. Bartlett, Bruce. Daniel J. Daly: The Most Decorated Marine of His Time, Marine Corps Heritage Foundation. 3. U.S. Army Center of Military History. Medal of Honor Citations, Boxer Rebellion & WWI.