Oct 31 , 2025
Daniel J. Daly Twice Awarded the Medal of Honor in Belleau Wood
Sgt. Maj. Daniel Joseph Daly stood in the forge of war, twice baptized in fire where few men ever return. When bullets sliced the air and comrades fell silent, Daly was the man who refused to waver. He did not wait for orders; he made the orders. Not once, but twice, his valor tore through the hellscape of combat—once in the China’s Boxer Rebellion and again amid the mud and blood of the First World War.
From Working-Class Roots to Warrior’s Code
Born in 1873, Daly emerged from the hard streets of Glen Cove, New York—a place where resilience was carved by hand, by sweat. His faith wasn’t flashy but firm, deeply rooted in the grit of daily grind and the old hymns of hope. Though unassuming, his character was forged by a simple code: stand your ground, watch your brothers’ backs, and never flinch.
He lived scripture, not sermons:
“Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.” — Joshua 1:9
This became his armor, his unyielding prayer beneath the roar of artillery and rifle fire.
The Battle That Defined Him
In July 1900, during the Boxer Rebellion, Daly found himself at the bloody heart of Tientsin, China. The Marines were locked in a desperate fight against the Boxer insurgents and Imperial forces. Outnumbered, outgunned, the American and allied coalition dug in against tidal waves of enemies.
During the assault on the city’s walls, accounts testify to Daly’s fearless charge through a maelstrom of gunfire, rallying his men forward. His Medal of Honor citation for this action praises “extraordinary heroism in the presence of the enemy.” He reportedly shouted to encourage his comrades, turning the tide simply through grit and raw spirit.
He became the voice in the chaos that no one else could quiet.
Heroism in the Great War
World War I brought a different hell. Trench warfare etched scars deeper than metal—fear clawed at every man’s soul. Daly, now a seasoned veteran, was the bulwark his Marines depended on during the Battle of Belleau Wood in 1918.
His second Medal of Honor came from relentless leadership during a fierce German counterattack. Under crushing machine-gun fire and relentless shelling, Daly led a bayonet charge, a warrior’s desperate last stand. His citation states:
“His distinguished conduct and valor in action were an inspiration to the entire regiment.”
Private Henry P. “Six Shooters” Gibbons, a Marine who fought alongside Daly, recalled:
“When Daly stood up, we stood up. When he charged, we charged. There was no questioning the man.”
Recognition Beyond Medals
Daly’s two Medals of Honor aren’t just decorations. They are testimonies of unbreakable will. To hold one Medal of Honor is to stand among legends; to earn two is a call to eternity. Only 19 Marines in history have achieved that—Daly one of the most revered.
He rose to Sergeant Major, embodying not just courage, but the heavy weight of command and responsibility. Leaders spoke of his “quiet strength” and “unshakable presence.” He was the man who understood that valor meant sacrifice—the kind that demanded everything, leaving no room for doubt or fear.
A Legacy Etched in Flesh and Spirit
Daly’s story is not just about heroics. It’s about what war does to men, and how some men rise—scarred but unbowed. His life reminds us that courage is not the absence of fear, but the relentless refusal to give in to it.
He lived, breathed, and died in the company of brothers, carrying the invisible weight so others could breathe free. His legacy is not found on medals or memorials but in the souls of those who understand the cost of freedom.
His faith carried him through every hellish dawn. His story challenges warriors and civilians alike to reckon with sacrifice—not as a word, but as a way of life.
“Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.” — John 15:13
Sgt. Maj. Daniel Joseph Daly’s fight was never just for ground or glory. It was a relentless battle for redemption—his own, his comrades’, and ours.
In every battlefield roar and silent watch, his spirit endures—a beacon for those who carry the scars and stories of combat, a reminder that true valor lives long after guns fall silent.
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