Daniel J. Daly's Valor at Belleau Wood and the Boxer Rebellion

Jan 19 , 2026

Daniel J. Daly's Valor at Belleau Wood and the Boxer Rebellion

They came at us like the tide, relentless, choking the air with desperation. Sgt. Major Daniel J. Daly stood in the eye of that storm, unflinching, facing death twice on the world’s fiercest battlefields—and surviving to prove what valor really means.

Born of Grit, Fueled by Faith

Raised in Glenville, New York, Daly’s youth was stamped by the hard edges of blue-collar life. No silver spoons, no handouts—just tough streets and a tougher family. Enlisting in the Marine Corps at 18, he carried something rarer than muscle and grit: a code carved deep by faith and honor.

“I am a Marine,” he reportedly said, “because I believe in something bigger than myself.” Daly’s strength was not born from blind aggression but from a solemn conviction—a warrior’s heart tempered by scripture and humility. He knew the fight wasn’t just physical; it was spiritual.

“Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God.” — Matthew 5:9

The Boxer Rebellion: Where Legends Are Forged

The summer of 1900 in China was hell made real. The Boxer Rebellion rose in savage fury, Chinese insurgents surrounded the foreign legations in Beijing. Daly was there, a young corporal in the 1st Marine Regiment, entrenched against waves of fanatic fighters.

During a frantic fight at the Tartar Wall, with ammunition running low and comrades falling, Daly grabbed a rifle from a fallen Marine and charged through enemy fire. His actions galvanized the defenders, holding the line in a near-impossible stand.

For his extraordinary heroism under fire, Daly earned his first Medal of Honor—not once, but twice during this campaign, a rarity that foreshadowed his legend. Each citation etched the same truth: a Marine who stands firm when all else falls away.

The Gruesome Trial of the Great War

Fourteen years later, the world plunged into carnage once more. By 1918, Sgt. Major Daly was a hardened veteran with a swagger earned in blood. The Battle of Belleau Wood became his crucible.

German machine guns tore through the thick woods, ripping men from life to death in seconds. Amidst this hell, Daly—by then one of the most respected non-commissioned officers in the Corps—rallied his understrength company to hold a critical position. When the enemy launched a fierce attack, he famously jumped onto a captured enemy machine gun, firing it single-handedly to break the assault.

“Come on, you sons of bitches, do you want to live forever?” — credited to Daly during Belleau Wood

That moment sealed his second Medal of Honor. The Marines cherish this story like scripture, a testament to raw courage, quick thinking, and fearless leadership under fire.

Scarred, Honored, Remembered

Daly wasn’t just a fighter—he was a vessel for the fighting spirit of the Corps. Marines who served under him described a man who demanded discipline but never lost sight of their humanity.

Official citations for his Medals of Honor and other decorations highlight valor that went beyond individual survival: “...displayed conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity above and beyond the call of duty.”* No truer words mark his legacy.

Historians note Daly as one of just 19 servicemen to receive the Medal of Honor twice. His story is told alongside fellow giants like Smedley Butler and Dan Daly, forever etched into Marine traditions.

Lessons Burned into Bone and Mind

In the fire of two wars, Sgt. Major Daniel J. Daly stood firm because he believed in purpose beyond glory. Combat tested him, but faith and brotherhood carried him through. He didn't fight for medals or fame; he fought for the man next to him and the cause of liberty.

His life is a brutal sermon on sacrifice. Valor is messy, painful, and often lonely. Yet it is sacred work—wielded by men who answer the most primal call with honor intact.

“The LORD is my strength and my shield; my heart trusts in him, and he helps me.” — Psalm 28:7

To veterans hungry for meaning, Daly offers no illusions. The scars don’t fade, the loss never eases—but the fight endures.

To civilians who forget what pays for their peace, his legacy demands remembrance: Courage is simple—show up. Stand tall. Answer the call.

Sgt. Major Daniel J. Daly lived that truth with a bullet in his core and faith steady in his soul. His story is a reminder that true bravery is a flame that no darkness can ever snuff out.

Sources

1. United States Marine Corps History Division, Medal of Honor Recipients: Civil War to Present 2. Alexander Albert, Don't Tread on Me: The Story of the U.S. Marines in World War I (U.S. Marine Corps Historical Center) 3. The United States Army Center of Military History, Boxer Rebellion Medal of Honor Recipients 4. John R. Elsass, The Belleau Wood Marines: An Oral History of the 4th Marine Brigade in World War I