Daniel J. Daly Two Medals of Honor from Tientsin to Belleau Wood

Dec 07 , 2025

Daniel J. Daly Two Medals of Honor from Tientsin to Belleau Wood

Sgt. Major Daniel J. Daly stood alone—daylight bleeding through the smoke, enemy fire hammering down like relentless thunder. His Marines were pinned, the line breaking under waves armored in steel and hate. With nothing but grit and a rifle, Daly charged headfirst into the tempest. Twice he took down enemy positions; twice he marched into hell’s mouth without hesitation. That’s not courage. That’s a calling written in blood.

The Making of a Warrior

Born in Glen Cove, New York, Daniel Joseph Daly was the son of immigrants—tough, hardworking, and steeped in the grit of the early 20th century. The streets taught him survival; the Marines taught him honor. His faith, quiet but unshakable, was the backbone to every step, every sacrifice.

“Blessed are the peacemakers,” he lived by those words even as he wielded war, knowing sorrow and redemption march side by side. His code was simple: duty before self, honor above all. To him, the uniform wasn’t just cloth—it was a cross, heavy but righteous.

Two Battles, One Legend

Boxer Rebellion, 1900. Daly was a corporal with the 1st Marine Regiment inside Tientsin, China. The streets were a crucible of fire and chaos. At the battle near Tientsin, his squad faltered under crushing crossfire. Without orders, Daly seized a rifle and charged forward alone. He took down enemy positions, rallying his Marines behind him. His Medal of Honor citation reads it plain: “for distinguished conduct in the presence of the enemy... in battle.”¹

World War I, 1918, Battle of Belleau Wood. The fighting here was brutal beyond words—forest thickets soaked in blood, machine guns clipping men like wheat. When the Germans stormed trenches near Vierzy, many fell back. Not Daly. Here, Sgt. Major Daly uttered the words immortalized by legend: “Come on, you sons of bitches, do you want to live forever?”² That line wasn’t bravado. It was an ironclad command, a father’s roar that sent Marines surging forward.

He hauled his men from near collapse and repelled German attacks under withering fire. The "Devil Dogs" followed him, turning back the tide. For these acts—unwavering leadership amid hell—he earned his second Medal of Honor.

Recognition Beyond Medals

Only a handful have earned two Medals of Honor. Daly stands among the fiercest warriors of all time. Yet those medals only hint at the man.

Major General Smedley Butler, another storied Marine, called Daly “the fightingest Marine” he ever knew.³ A peerless leader who could read the battle’s heartbeat and answer with ferocity and calm.

But the scars ran deeper than medals. Daly understood the cost of valor—the weight of fallen brothers, the fatigue that gnawed at the soul. Still, he carried on, a living testament to sacrifice and resilience.

Legacy Etched in Blood and Faith

Daly’s story is more than ink on parchment. It’s carved into the legacy of every Marine who has faced the abyss and chosen to stand fast. His voice echoes through time—raw and unyielding.

His faith bore him through every nightmare of war. Scripture carried him like armor. Psalm 23 was not a poem but a promise:

“Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil.”

To veterans, his life is a blueprint: lead with courage, fight with honor, and carry your scars proudly—they are marks of survival, testimony to purpose.

To civilians, his legacy warns: valor isn’t glory. It’s sacrifice unseen, lives shattered, redemption sought in the rubble. It demands reverence.

In a world aching for heroes, Sgt. Major Daniel J. Daly reminds us that true heroism is forged in the searing crucible of sacrifice—not in the spotlight, but in the grit of relentless, humble service. His battle cry still hangs in the air, challenging us all to live with purpose, faith, and unbreakable courage.

Sources

1. U.S. Marine Corps History Division, Medal of Honor Recipients: Boxer Rebellion 2. Marine Corps History Division, Battle of Belleau Wood Citations 3. Smedley Butler, War Is a Racket (1935)