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

Nov 21 , 2025

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

The ground trembled beneath hellfire and cannon roar. Amidst rain-slick mud and choking smoke, a savage fury consumed Dan Daly. No hesitation. No fear. Just raw, human defiance cracked against overwhelming odds. This was not a man made for surrender. This was a warrior carved in the fire of relentless combat.

Born of Honor and Faith

Daniel Joseph Daly entered this world on November 11, 1873, in Glen Cove, New York—a hard-scrabble place where grit meant survival. Irish roots ran thick in his veins, a stubborn pride tempered by Catholic faith and the discipline of working-class grit.

Faith was his unseen armor, whispered in quiet prayer before battle. A code grounded in loyalty to his brothers-in-arms, respect for duty, and a stubborn belief in righteous cause. No bluster, no empty boasts. Just deeds that echoed louder than words.

Daly enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corps in 1899. The Corps was more than a job—it was forge and family. His steel spine and battleborn courage would carry him from the Boxer Rebellion to the muddy trenches of the Great War. He became a living testament—gritty, sacrificial, and true.

The Boxer Rebellion: “Come on, you sons of bitches, do you want to live forever?”

The summer of 1900 marked the crucible that stamped Daly in Marine lore. The Boxer Rebellion was an uprising against foreign influence in China—brutal street fighting in the walled city of Peking. Marines and soldiers were tasked to rescue besieged legations and hold ground against desperate odds.

During the Battle of Tientsin, Daly’s reputation as an unyielding warrior was cemented. Facing wave after wave of Boxer insurgents, amid scorching bullets and bayonet charges, he held his position fiercely. His Medal of Honor citation reads of “distinguished conduct in the presence of the enemy,” a phrase that fails to capture the raw courage on display¹.

But the moment the Corps—and history—would never forget came during the perilous defense of the Peking legations. Amid relentless attacks, Daly stood his ground, rallying men with the defiant cry, “Come on, you sons of bitches, do you want to live forever?” His voice was thunder in the chaos, a call to hold fast when hope flickered low.

The Great War: Valor Beyond Measure

Fourteen years later, in the mud and horror of World War I, Daly’s mettle was tested anew. The Marine Corps’ 4th Brigade fought merciless battles that defined American blood sacrifice in the war.

At the Battle of Belleau Wood in June 1918, Daly’s leadership was more than inspire—it saved lives. His Medal of Honor citation for gallantry during this ferocious fight reads: “Fearlessly led the advance under deadly fire, rallying scattered men, and charging headlong into the enemy,”².

His actions in France were more than brave; they were pivotal. The wood was thick, fire was thick, and death was thickest of all. Still, Daly pushed forward, embodying the spiritual and physical endurance that carried Marines—and the nation—through hell.

Honors Etched in Blood and Steel

Daniel J. Daly stands among a rare breed—one of only 19 combatants in American history to receive the Medal of Honor twice, and the only Marine to earn two for separate conflicts. The first for valor in China’s Boxer Rebellion. The second for gallantry on the Western Front.

His citations speak not just of personal courage, but of selflessness under fire—the kind that wins wars and saves brothers’ lives. General John A. Lejeune described Daly as “a man who exemplifies the Marine spirit,” a warrior who fought with unshakable devotion to country and comrades.

His story circulates quietly among Marines and soldiers—a legend whispered in barracks and memorials, a reminder of what it means to endure and lead.

Legacy: The Measure of Courage and Redemption

For those who follow, Dan Daly’s legacy stands as a fierce beacon: courage is not absence of fear, but a commitment to act despite it. Valor is not the absence of scars but the will to stand after bleeding raw. His life is a testament that combat—and faith—can forge purpose beyond the battlefield.

“Let brotherly love continue. Be not forgetful to entertain strangers: for thereby some have entertained angels unawares.” — Hebrews 13:1-2

Daly’s fight was never for glory, but for the men beside him and the greater good beyond the gun smoke. He knew the cost; he carried the scars; yet he kept moving forward. Through his blood-stained pages, the living memory of sacrifice demands respect and remembrance.

Amongst the thunder and carnage, Sgt. Major Daniel J. Daly found a deeper war—a battle for meaning, for hope, and for redemption. And in that fight, he left us a charge louder than gunfire: Never surrender your soul.

Sources

1. U.S. Marine Corps History Division, Medal of Honor Citations: Daniel J. Daly 2. History and Museums Division, United States Marine Corps, Medal of Honor Recipients, World War I