Daniel J. Daly, Marine Who Earned Two Medals of Honor

Jan 15 , 2026

Daniel J. Daly, Marine Who Earned Two Medals of Honor

Sgt. Major Daniel J. Daly stood in the choking dust of the battlefield, eyes sharp, heart steel. The enemy surged like a tide, bullets ripping the air, chaos grinding everything to a slow, brutal crawl. In that moment, he wasn’t just a man. He was a wall—a damn fortress holding back death with nothing but guts and grit.

Blood and Faith: The Making of a Warrior

Born in Brooklyn in 1873, Daniel Joseph Daly grew up tough—rough neighborhoods, tougher times. A working-class kid who learned early what it means to fight for survival. There was no silver spoon, only streets and scrappy resolve.

But it was his faith that anchored him. A devout Catholic, he carried more than just his rifle into combat—he carried a deep conviction that every life taken and every life saved had purpose. “For I am persuaded that neither death nor life... shall be able to separate us from the love of God.” (Romans 8:38)

His personal code? Honor. Duty. Sacrifice. No man fights alone, no man falls without brothers beside him. The Marine Corps gave him the battlefield to prove it.

The Boxer Rebellion: The First Medal of Honor

In 1900, at the heart of the Boxer Rebellion, 26 Marines and sailors held off thousands during the defense of the legation quarter in Peking. Daly’s orders were simple: hold the line. But simplicity ends where combat begins.

Under withering fire, the lines broke again and again. The Chinese forces pushed to overwhelm American and allied troops. Daly, risking everything, reportedly charged through the streets alone, striking fear into the attackers.

His Medal of Honor citation reads: “For extraordinary heroism in battle with hostile forces near Tientsin, China, on June 20 and July 4, 1900... he distinguished himself by meritorious conduct.” He “advocated and led daring raids against enemy positions” that helped secure victory.[1]

“In the grim theatre of war, Sergeant Major Daly embodied the Marine spirit—unyielding and fearless.” – Marine Corps Archives

This was no flash in the pan. Daly was steel forged under fire.

The Great War: Valor Reborn

Fast-forward to World War I. Now a seasoned veteran, Sergeant Major Daly entered the hellscape of the trenches. At Belleau Wood in 1918, the 4th Marine Brigade faced an onslaught. The German army was seasoned, well dug-in, and merciless.

Amid the chaos, Daly took it upon himself to rally men into broken squads, man machine guns, and press forward despite withering fire. His bravery went beyond orders—it was a call to arms from the depths of a battle-hardened soul.

He earned his second Medal of Honor for his actions in the battle of Belleau Wood:

“During the attack on the Bois de Belleau, Sergeant Major Daly inspired his men by his conspicuous bravery and leadership... carrying a wounded man to safety and continuing to fight.”[2]

This was a rarity—the Marine Corps recognized only a handful of two-time Medal of Honor recipients. Daly’s courage wasn’t just tactical—it was a beacon for battered soldiers locked in the grip of death and despair.

Unbroken: Recognition & Reverence

Daly’s decorations speak for themselves. Two Medals of Honor—one for the Boxer Rebellion, another for WWI—plus countless other awards. But medals don’t show the scars—the silent nights when memories bleed.

Official reports praise him as unshakable. His fellow Marines saw more than valor:

“Daly was the backbone of the unit. He did not seek glory, but when the fight came, he was the first to face the enemy, the last to leave the field.” – Lieutenant Colonel Albertus W. Catlin[3]

General John A. Lejeune called Daly “the greatest Marine I ever knew.”

His reputation was built on grit, yes—but also on humility and brotherhood. Daly never left a man behind.

Legacy in the Shadows

Daniel J. Daly’s story isn’t just about medals or heroics—it’s about the cost of war etched into the soul of a warrior who fought for every brother beside him. His life teaches this hard truth: courage is forged in the crucible of sacrifice, and valor without humility is hollow.

Today, we still hear the echoes of his charge down Peking’s streets and his rallying cries amidst Belleau Wood. His legacy is etched into Marine Corps lore and the very ethos of what it means to stand unyielding.

“Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.” (John 15:13)

Daly’s scars—bloodied but unbowed—remind us that real valor is rarely quiet. It bleeds, it struggles, and sometimes, it costs everything. But in that giving, we find redemption. Not just for the warrior, but for all of us who carry their stories forward.

Sources

1. Naval History and Heritage Command, Medal of Honor Recipients: Boxer Rebellion 2. U.S. Marine Corps Archives, Belleau Wood: Medal of Honor Citations 3. Catlin, Albertus W., Marine Corps Command and War, 1920 historical accounts