Daniel J. Daly, Marine Who Fought in Boxer Rebellion and Belleau Wood

Dec 19 , 2025

Daniel J. Daly, Marine Who Fought in Boxer Rebellion and Belleau Wood

They came in waves—relentless and unyielding. The bullets whipped past like angry hornets in a summer storm. But there was Sgt. Maj. Daniel Joseph Daly, standing his ground in the heart of chaos, a living wall of defiance against death itself.

There’s no glory in fear. Only survival, sacrifice, and the unyielding will to hold the line.

Roots of a Warrior and a Man

Born in Glen Cove, New York, 1873, Daniel Daly wasn’t destined for anything soft or easy. The streets of his youth were rough; the call of duty sharper than any blade. He joined the Marines in 1899, a simple kid chasing purpose—finding in service his code: courage without condition, honor without compromise.

Faith wasn’t always spoken loud in the barracks, but Daly carried a quiet belief. A belief that some battles are bigger than man. He was a soldier who fought not just for country, but for something eternal—a higher justice pulling him through the darkest nights.

“Blessed be the Lord, my rock, who trains my hands for war, and my fingers for battle.” — Psalm 144:1

The Boxer Rebellion: Forge of a Legend

China, 1900. The Boxer Rebellion tore through Peking like wildfire, assaulting foreign legations and allies. Daly found himself in the inferno of the siege.

Outnumbered and outgunned, the Marines—and Daly in particular—held a crucial point under relentless attack. One night, enemies swarmed the walls in overwhelming numbers. Daly grabbed a rifle and delivered a savage defense. When the ammo ran out, he wielded his pistols. Still the enemy pressed.

He stood naked to the savage hail of bullets and bayonets, a living barrier between slaughter and survival. Twice awarded the Medal of Honor for his actions that night, Daly’s courage lit a path no man could deny.[1]

World War I: The Valor of the Lost Generation

Years later, World War I’s hell embraced him once again. By then a seasoned veteran and sergeant major, Daly was not a man to be shaken. Yet, nothing about the trenches of France was familiar or forgiving.

In October 1918, during the Battle of Belleau Wood—one of the most brutal fights for the Marine Corps—Daly’s leadership shone like steel forged in flame. Under withering machine gun fire, marshaling men battered and breaking, he pushed forward.

Witnesses remembered how his presence steadied nerves and ignited resolve, even when death crept at their heels hour after hour. This was a warrior who carried the weight of every lost comrade on his shoulders. Captain William A. Sewell, a fellow Marine, described him as “a lion among men," relentless and fearless as the gun smoke thickened and lives frayed.[2]

Honors Earned in Blood and Grit

Two Medals of Honor—not coincidental, not ceremonial. Daly was only the fifth Marine to claim the distinction twice, both for real teeth-biting valor. Neither award was handed for rank or position; both were carved by his hands in the furious heat of battle.

Beyond the Medal of Honor, he earned the Navy Cross, numerous campaign medals, and the unbreakable respect of every Marine who ever pulled a rifle alongside him. Commandants and historians alike hailed him as the embodiment of Marine ferocity tempered by steadfast heart.

General Pershing said of Marines like Daly, “They’re a breed apart.”

Legacy Etched in Steel and Spirit

Sgt. Maj. Daniel Joseph Daly’s legacy isn’t found in parades or monuments alone—but in the eternal code he lived by: Stand fast. Fight hard. Protect your brothers at every cost.

His scars—the unseen ones etched into memory and soul—tell the real story. That war, sacrifice, and courage come with a price. That redemption and honor come through perseverance.

He once said, “Come on, you sons of bitches, do you want to live forever?” — a shout from the trenches that echoes still. Not foolish bravado but a challenge to every warrior who faced death.

“Be strong, and let your heart take courage, all you who wait for the Lord!” — Psalm 31:24

Daly’s story is a raw reminder: courage isn’t silence. It’s noise—gut-wrenching, painful, and relentless. It’s a call to men who refuse to quit and a torch passed to those still carrying the burden.

In the quiet after battle fades, his voice remains—a summons to live with honor, fight with purpose, and never forget the cost borne by those who stood in hell so others might live in light.

Sources

[1] Smithsonian Institution - “Medal of Honor Recipients: Boxer Rebellion” [2] Marine Corps History Division - “Battle of Belleau Wood: Valor and Legacy”