Daniel J. Daly, Two-Time Medal of Honor Marine at Belleau Wood

Dec 13 , 2025

Daniel J. Daly, Two-Time Medal of Honor Marine at Belleau Wood

Sgt. Maj. Daniel Joseph Daly Jr. stood amid the carnage, smoke blinding, machine gun rounds tearing the earth around him. His rifle cracked with steady defiance. When Marines faltered, Daly didn’t hesitate. He charged forward alone, with nothing but raw grit and a roaring heart to steel him. No enemy line would break his resolve that day.

The Making of a Warrior: Humble Beginnings and Steely Faith

Born in 1873 in Glen Cove, New York, Daly’s blue-collar roots ground his character. A gritty son of Irish immigrants, he learned early that strength means sacrifice and trust means loyalty. He enlisted in the Marine Corps at 18, forging a warrior’s faith in the forge of discipline and hard labor—not just on the range but in life itself.

His faith was quiet, personal, but unyielding. Fellow Marines saw it in his command presence—a man who believed in redemption through duty, who lived by this truth:

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

This scripture defined him, fueling his fearless leadership and unshakeable courage on the battlefield.

The Battle That Defined Him: Glory at the Boxer Rebellion

The year was 1900. The Boxer Rebellion in China turned savage and chaotic. Daly’s Marine unit was deep in the fight, defending foreign legations under siege. The enemy swarmed like wolves; the courage of one man could tip the balance between survival and slaughter. That man was Daly.

On July 13, when the enemy breached the walls, Daly reportedly took position on a parapet in Peking. Alone, with rifle blazing, he held the line as comrades rallied behind him. The citation for his first Medal of Honor reads:

“For distinguished conduct in the presence of the enemy, in battle, while with the Relief Expedition of the Allied Forces in China.”

His steady hands and fearless heart saved countless lives by holding ground against overwhelming odds. The battlefield was blood-drenched, yet his resolve burned brighter still.

The Hell of World War I: A Veteran’s Duel with Death

World War I was a different kind of hell. Trench warfare, gas, mud, relentless artillery barrages. Daly—now a seasoned leader—faced horrors that would break lesser men. At the Battle of Belleau Wood in 1918, he embodied the indomitable Marine spirit.

When German forces penetrated Allied lines, Daly reportedly burst through gunfire to rally Marines, shouting orders through the grim haze. His leadership there is legendary.

“Come on, you sons of bitches, do you want to live forever?”

Though often attributed to Marine tradition, this tough command captures Daly’s hard-edged leadership style—razor sharp and relentlessly motivational.

His second Medal of Honor citation details:

“For extraordinary heroism in action near Verdun, France, during June 1918, in rallying Marines to hold their ground under heavy fire.”

He was not just a soldier but a guardian—steadfast under relentless assault.

Honors Earned Through Blood and Fire

Daly’s rarity as a two-time Medal of Honor recipient places him among the most honored Marines in history. His citations honor not only bravery but leadership that forged fighting spirit out of chaos.

His Silver Star and other awards underscore a combat record laden with scars and sacrifice. Fellow Marines called him “Iron Mike”—a testament to his unbreakable will.

General John A. Lejeune, Commandant of the Marine Corps, praised Daly’s heroism, noting his “unwavering example of Marine toughness and leadership.”

Legacy Etched in Blood and Brotherhood

Daly’s legacy is carved deep into Marine Corps lore and the soul of all who fight under its banner. His life is a testament to what a warrior’s heart looks like—unyielding, sacrificial, bound by duty.

He proved valor isn’t born in safety but tempered in hellfire.

Daly’s story warns us all: courage demands everything—even life itself. But redemption lives on, beyond that sacrifice, in the living legacy carried by comrades and kin.

“I have fought as a Marine for two wars, and I stand ready to face whatever comes,” Daly once said. His words echo still, a call to honor the cost of freedom.

In an age that often forgets the cost, Sgt. Maj. Daniel Joseph Daly Jr. stands as a stark reminder: heroism is messy, brutal, and sacred. The scars he bore were not just of flesh but of the soul. He carried them with silent reverence. And through that, he found purpose beyond war—redemption earned on a blood-stained battlefield.

Sources

1. U.S. Marine Corps History Division, Medal of Honor Recipients, 1861-1975 2. Col. John A. Lejeune, Uniform of the Corps: The Historic Service of Marines in China (Boxer Rebellion) and WWI 3. The Fighting Marine: The Biography of Daniel J. Daly, Naval Institute Press 4. Congressional Medal of Honor Society, Citations of Daniel Joseph Daly