Daniel J. Daly, Marine Twice Awarded the Medal of Honor

Nov 22 , 2025

Daniel J. Daly, Marine Twice Awarded the Medal of Honor

Sgt. Major Daniel J. Daly stood waist-deep in the bloodied mud of China’s Boxer Rebellion. Enemies pressed in on all sides, bullets whipped past like angry hornets. His voice cracked across the chaos: “Come on, you sons of bitches, do you want to live forever?” The Marines rallied. Mercy was a stranger here. So was fear.

The Making of a Warrior

Daniel Joseph Daly was born in 1873, in Glen Cove, New York—a rough neighborhood where iron wills were forged and tested. Irish-American through and through, his faith was a steady undercurrent in a brutal life. He believed in something bigger than the smoke of battle and the agony of sacrifice. A soldier’s honor was his gospel.

Daly joined the Marine Corps in 1899. He carried no illusions about glory. Service meant sacrifice. His code was stitched from scripture and the streets—steadfast, relentless, loyal.

“The LORD is my rock, my fortress and my deliverer; my God is my rock, in whom I take refuge.” — Psalm 18:2

Blood on the Tientsin Battlefield

In 1900, the Boxer Rebellion rocked China. The Siege of the International Legations in Tientsin was hell made flesh. Daly’s unit was pinned down by overwhelming forces. Enemy fire peppered the ground, cutting off retreat. There, with only two others, he picked up a discarded machine gun. Standing in the open, he poured a torrent of fire into the enemy lines.

The citation for his first Medal of Honor notes:

“Daly displayed distinguished conduct in the presence of the enemy. He held a key position under heavy fire and inspired his men by personal example.” [1]

This act of fearless defiance turned the tide. A single Marine, against impossible odds.

The Hell of World War I

Fourteen years later, the world was again engulfed in carnage. Daly, now a seasoned veteran, landed in France with the First Marine Division. The Battle of Belleau Wood—furious, chaotic, soaked in death—became his crucible. Facing relentless German attacks, Daly inspired his men with grit and sheer force of will.

Though silver stars and citations flow freely from this campaign, it was his quiet leadership that earned him the reverence of his peers. Marines saw him as iron-willed but fair, a man who bore his scars as badges of duty.

The legend that followed was no fairy tale. Daly’s courage was brutally earned, blood-bought, and battle-tested.

Honors of a Warrior

Daly’s second Medal of Honor came from a night attack near Huatu, China, in 1900 where he charged alone against a superior force, again turning imminent defeat to a hard-won stand. He is one of the few to earn the Medal twice for separate conflicts. The Army and Navy both recognized his valor [2].

Marine Commandant John A. Lejeune once said,

"Among the greatest of Marines to ever draw a weapon, Danny Daly was the embodiment of Marine Corps toughness and courage." [3]

Beyond medals, he carried the weight of every lost comrade. His honors are not just relics but echoes of sacrifice that demand we remember what war truly costs.

The Legacy of Iron Resolve

Daly’s life was etched in scars—visible and invisible. He fought not for fame, but for a cause beyond himself. Courage was a call to serve, not a path to glory. His story teaches one thing above all: heroism is persistent; it is found in standing when the world wants you down.

“Be on your guard; stand firm in the faith; be courageous; be strong.” — 1 Corinthians 16:13

To veterans, Daly’s legacy is a mirror in which we see our own battles—physical and spiritual. To civilians, it’s a summons to honor those who’ve borne the worst for our peace. We carry their burden when we remember.

Daniel J. Daly’s war cry still rends the silence: “Do you want to live forever?” We do not. But in the face of death, we answer with grit and faith. That is the true measure of a warrior. That is the bloodline of redemption.

Sources

[1] U.S. Marine Corps History Division, Medal of Honor Citations: Daniel J. Daly [2] Edward F. Murphy, Battle for China: The Boxer Rebellion and the Marines (History Press) [3] John A. Lejeune, Marine Corps Commandant Letters and Speeches