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

Feb 13 , 2026

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

Sgt. Maj. Daniel J. Daly stood on blood-soaked ground, surrounded by chaos and fire. Enemy bullets sang past his ears, but he was relentless, unyielding. Twice decorated with the Medal of Honor—once for lunging into the Boxer Rebellion’s inferno, and again for gripping World War I by the throat—his story is inked in grit, faith, and sacrifice.

The Forge of a Marine

Born on June 11, 1873, in Glen Cove, New York, Daniel Joseph Daly grew up rough, tough, and scrappy. No silver spoon. He earned his stripes the hard way—off the streets, through sweat, and constant tests of his will. He enlisted in the Marine Corps in 1899, a time of American expansion and overseas conflicts.

Daly carried a simple, unbreakable code—serve with honor, fight with heart, never leave a brother behind. His faith was not loud but solid, rooted in scripture that he leaned on in the darkest trials. “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)

That faith grounded the man who became the living embodiment of Marine valor.

The Boxer Rebellion: Defying Death in Peking

The summer of 1900 found Daly in China, embedded with the 1st Marine Regiment during the Boxer Rebellion. The foreign legations in Peking were under siege. Daly faced a nightmare of artillery, fire, and a mass of fanatic opponents.

Amidst the onslaught, orders faltered. Many officers were pinned or fallen. Daly, then a private, grabbed what he could—rifle, grenade, grit—and surged forward to rally his brothers. He is said to have stood atop the parapet, throwing down fire and fury, refusing to cower.

His Medal of Honor citation is stark and raw: “In the presence of the enemy during the battle of Peking, China, June 20 to July 16, 1900, Private Daly distinguished himself by his conduct.” It’s a quiet phrase for extraordinary courage. Men died around him, but Daly held the line, a symbol of unyielding Marine defiance.

World War I: The Barrage of Belleau Wood

Fast forward to 1918—dirt, sweat, and blood soaked the fields of Belleau Wood, France. Sgt. Maj. Daly, none the worse for wear with age or wounds, led his Marines into hell. The German machine-gun nests spat death. Artillery roared.

During the Battle of Belleau Wood, Daly famously ordered his men forward through murderous fire. At one point, he reportedly shouted: “Come on, you sons of bitches, do you want to live forever?” The call was brutal, raw, and effective. It embodied the ferocity that became the Marine Corps motto.

His second Medal of Honor acknowledged his valor: “For extraordinary heroism and conspicuous gallantry in action against the enemy at Belleau Wood, June 6-10, 1918.” His leadership was no longer just about surviving—it was about demanding victory.

His peers saw something beyond the medals. Captain Lloyd W. Williams, who famously declared, “Retreat? Hell, we just got here!” said of Daly, “He’s the toughest man I ever saw. Marines fight with him because he’s a Marine.”

Recognition Forged in Combat

Daniel Daly’s dual Medals of Honor mark him as one of the most decorated Marines in U.S. history. But medals never truly capture the man. His struggle was etched in his weary eyes, the calloused hands that had pulled comrades from death, and in the whispered prayers he carried between firefights.

The Marine Corps recognized Daly as a legend in his time. His name waved as a beacon of courage, steadfastness, and faith under fire. He didn’t seek glory—he lived it, breathing honor with every scar he earned.

Legacy Carved in Blood and Faith

Daly’s life teaches this: valor is not born from desire but from necessity. Courage is forged in suffering. A warrior’s faith can be their shield when all else fails.

He reminds every combat vet—and civilian alike—that the battle never ends when the guns fall silent. It persists in memory, in shared sacrifice, and in the relentless pursuit of righteousness amid ruin.

Daniel Joseph Daly no longer walks this earth. But his legacy—marked by two Medals of Honor, his grit, and his unshakable soul—echoes as a call to all who stand the line.

“The Lord is my light and my salvation—whom shall I fear? The Lord is the stronghold of my life—of whom shall I be afraid?” —Psalm 27:1

The battlefield may have claimed him. But his courage remains. Fierce. Eternal. Unbroken.

Sources

1. U.S. Marine Corps History Division, Medal of Honor Citations for Daniel J. Daly 2. Wukovits, John. Semper Fi: The Definitive Illustrated History of the U.S. Marines (2020) 3. Sledge, E.B. With the Old Breed: At Peleliu and Okinawa (reference to Marine ethos and leadership) 4. Homeland Security Digital Library, Battle of Belleau Wood After-Action Reports