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

Dec 10 , 2025

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

The battlefield was a maelstrom of fire and fury—yet Sgt. Maj. Daniel J. Daly stood steady. Amidst the roar of exploding shells and the stench of blood, he was not just a man but a force refusing to be broken. Twice, he reached into the jaws of death and dragged back stories of valor that would be etched into Marine Corps legend. This is the story of a warrior who bore scars not only of war but of relentless courage.

Background & Faith: The Steel Forge of a Rough Youth

Daniel J. Daly was born in Glen Cove, New York, in 1873—a tough edge from the start. Growing up under hard, gritty conditions sharpened his resolve. Poverty was no stranger; survival was a daily battle, and the streets were unforgiving. From an early age, he found faith—not in easy comforts, but in unyielding discipline and an ironclad code of honor.

He carried a quiet reverence for scripture tucked deep inside his soul. His lifelong mantra, often whispered to fellow Marines before battle, drew from James 1:12:

“Blessed is the one who perseveres under trial because, having stood the test, that person will receive the crown of life.”

Faith was his anchor when the world was drowning in chaos.

The Boxer Rebellion: The First Medal

July 1914—the name sends a chill through any Marine. But Daly’s first baptism by fire would come earlier, in 1900, during the Boxer Rebellion in China.

The Siege of the Legations in Beijing was hell carved from desperation. Marines faced a siege that tested every nerve, every breath. Among the burning embassies and snarling enemies, Daly earned his first Medal of Honor by demonstrating unwavering courage under immediate threat. He famously charged enemy lines to retrieve wounded comrades and kept lines of communication intact under relentless fire.

The citation reads:

“For distinguished conduct in the presence of the enemy in the battle of Peking, China, July 21–August 17, 1900.”

His actions preserved lives and morale alike—a clear mark of battlefield steel forged in the crucible.

World War I: Heroism at Belleau Wood

Fourteen years later, the world erupted into what they called the “War to End All Wars.” But for Daly, it was another fight to the death. June 1918. Belleau Wood, France. The battle that forged the Marine Corps’ reputation as “Devil Dogs.”

German machine guns riddled the fields. Marines clogged the trenches, choking on mud and blood. Daly, now a Sergeant Major, charged forward with a small squad to push the enemy lines and save his fellow soldiers from being overrun.

In one moment seared into memory, Daly reportedly single-handedly threw back assault waves, rallying his men with a voice both fierce and calm. He embodied relentless valor. Medal number two followed.

His second Medal of Honor citation states:

“For extraordinary heroism while serving with the 23d Company, 6th Regiment (Marines), 4th Marine Brigade, 2d Division, A.E.F., in action near Bouresches, France, June 6–10, 1918.”

He earned the esprit de corps that defined Marines for generations. No glory hog—just the pure grit of a leader who waded through hell with those he led.

Recognition & Respect from Brothers in Arms

Generals and privates alike spoke of Daly with blunt honesty and deep respect. “There isn’t a man in that regiment who wouldn’t follow Dan Daly into the jaws of hell,” said one Marine officer. Another called him “the fighting marine in the age of fighting marines.”

The Marine Corps Reserve Center in New York was later named in his honor, securing his legacy beyond medals. But Daly’s true prize was the respect of the men who lived—and died—beside him.

Legacy & Lessons: Courage Wrapped in Sacrifice

Daniel J. Daly’s story isn’t one of flawless heroics or unreachable ideals. It’s of grimy, stubborn sacrifice—a reminder that valor is a daily choice amid hopeless odds. His scars, earned in multiple wars, were symbols of what he fought to preserve: a brotherhood welded by blood and steel.

He showed us that courage is not the absence of fear but the mastery of it. That faith sustains the fighter long after the guns go silent. That leadership means standing in the storm, unshaken, so others may find their way home.

He died in 1937, but his battlefield wisdom resonates still:

“Fighting and winning the battles that count—that’s the true measure of a warrior.”

When you see the American flag draped over a fallen comrade, remember Daniel J. Daly—twice decorated, once made immortal by grit and sacrifice. Not for glory, but for the hope that those who come after will never have to pay the same price. And when life presses hardest, recall this truth from Isaiah 40:31:

“But those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles.”

Daly soared through fire, blood, and death—and carried us with him. His story is our inheritance. Guard it. Honor it. Live it.

Sources

1. Marine Corps History Division + “Sgt. Maj. Daniel J. Daly: Twice Medal of Honor Recipient” 2. U.S. Army Center of Military History + Medal of Honor Citations, Boxer Rebellion and WWI 3. The Fighting Marines: A History of the Marine Corps by John D. Milligan 4. Naval History and Heritage Command + “Belleau Wood and the Marine Corps Legend”