Daniel J. Daly, the Marine Who Held Peking With Two Rifles

Dec 02 , 2025

Daniel J. Daly, the Marine Who Held Peking With Two Rifles

Blood soaked the earth beneath his boots. Surrounded by chaos at the gates of Peking, Sgt. Major Daniel J. Daly stood his ground, rallying Marines against overwhelming numbers. The enemy surged like a tide, but this man—a hardened warrior—held the line with nothing but courage and raw will. This wasn’t just a fight for survival. It was a testament.

The Making of a Warrior

Born in Queens, New York, 1873, Daly was no stranger to hardship. The gritty streets forged a man who lived by an unshakeable code—the Marine Corps becoming his crucible and his calling. His faith was quiet but steady, a shield in the darkest nights. “Blessed are the peacemakers,” yes, but in war, he knew peace came through sacrifice.

Daly’s life was stitched with discipline and grit. He embodied the warrior’s paradox: fierce in combat, humble in spirit. Tales from comrades speak of a man who carried the scars of battle like badges of honor, never glory-seeking, only duty-driven.

The Boxer Rebellion: Holding the Line at Peking

June 20, 1900. The Boxer Rebellion’s brutal grip tightened on China. Daly was on the frontlines defending the American Legation in Peking, the ground littered with danger and despair. Enemy forces breached walls, desperate to destroy the foreign garrison.

Lt. Colonel William McNulty, a Marine officer at the time, later praised Daly’s audacity. When ammunition ran thin, Daly picked up two rifles—one in each hand—and led a charge that recaptured the wall. Marines called it a “spectacle of fearless leadership.”

His actions earned him a Medal of Honor for extraordinary heroism under fire. Facing a wall of hostile insurgents, Daly refused to yield. The man with two rifles became legendary, inspiring men far beyond his unit.

The Great War: Valor Beyond Measure

World War I carved new battlefields of horror. As a Sergeant Major, Daly's leadership was tested in the mire of trench warfare. At Belleau Wood, Marines faced relentless machine-gun fire and poison gas.

Daly’s second Medal of Honor came not just from shooting straight but from holding his men together amid carnage. His citation reads: "For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty." One Marine remarked, “When Daly led, we didn’t just follow—we felt invincible.” His courage was a beacon in the mud and blood.

Recognition Hard-Earned and Well-Deserved

Two Medals of Honor. Few in Marine Corps history share that distinction. But Daly never sought fame. His valor was a quiet force that elevated the entire brotherhood.

Generals and fellow Marines remember him by name. “No man ever influenced the spirit of Marines more profoundly,” said Lieutenant General Victor “Brute” Krulak, decades later. These words carry weight; coming from a legend like Krulak, they seal Daly’s legacy in ironclad respect.

Beyond the Battlefield: The Eternal Lesson

Daly’s life speaks to the restless heartbeat of sacrifice. His story is one of redemption—not merely personal, but collective. Through valor, through scars, through the hell of war, he carved a path for the next generation.

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

Every veteran bears wounds, visible and hidden. Daly’s story reminds us that courage is not absence of fear—it's the refusal to surrender to it. That faith, honor, and sacrifice are threads woven tightly in the warrior’s soul.

When today’s combat veteran looks to the horizon, they see a man who stood firm against impossible odds. A man who held the line with two rifles and a heart forged of fire. Sgt. Major Daniel J. Daly’s legacy is a roar that echoes through generations: Stand firm. Fight with courage. Live with honor.

That’s the gospel of the warrior.