Daniel Joseph Daly, Marine at Belleau Wood with Two Medals of Honor

Jan 22 , 2026

Daniel Joseph Daly, Marine at Belleau Wood with Two Medals of Honor

Sgt. Major Daniel Joseph Daly stood alone on a rough battlefield. Bullets ripped the air around him. Enemy lines pressed hard. Yet, with blood dripping and chest heaving, he roared, “Come on, you sons of bitches, do you want to live forever?” That raw, savage defiance echoed across time—etched into the marrow of Marine Corps legend.

Background & Faith

Born in 1873 to Irish immigrants in New York City, Daly’s youth was tough—workshops and street corners hardened his resolve. He joined the Marines in 1899, seeking a life bigger than himself. Faith held tight in his soul through every trial. Not loud or preacher-like, but steady—a quiet root beneath raging storms.

There is a dignity in sacrifice, something Daly carried like armor. Scripture whispered in moments of darkness:

“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

His life was a testament to that burden and blessing.

The Battles That Forged Him

Daly first tasted legendary combat in China during the Boxer Rebellion (1900). Amid chaotic fighting in Tientsin, his Marine unit faced brutal resistance. Despite heavy fire, Daly saved wounded comrades and rallied Marines through the hellfire.

Medal of Honor number one came for this relentless heroism:

“For distinguished conduct in the presence of the enemy in battle of Tientsin, China.”

Years later, the Great War tore open Europe’s veins. As a Gunnery Sergeant in the 4th Marine Brigade, Daly found himself entrenched in the mud and mayhem of Belleau Wood, 1918.

Enemy artillery and machine guns shredded the lines. But when the Marines’ advance lost momentum, Daly mounted a parapet, fists clenched, voice unbroken. He screamed, “Come on, you sons of bitches, do you want to live forever?”—driving his ragged Marines forward into hellish machine gun nests. That roar broke fear into shards.

He earned a second Medal of Honor:

“For extraordinary heroism while serving with the 6th Marine Regiment during the battle of Belleau Wood.”

Two Medals of Honor, decades apart. Few in American military history carry such scars of valor twice over.

Recognition & Reflection

Fellow Marines called him “Old Man” Daly long before his gray hair showed. Commanders respected his grit and battle intelligence. Author Brigadier General Smedley Butler said of Daly:

“There is no better Marine than Sergeant Major Daly.”

His medals—the Navy Cross, Distinguished Service Cross, in addition to the two Medals of Honor—are more than decorations. They are blood-written chronicles, witnesses to a man who held the line when others faltered.

In later years, Daly served as Sergeant Major of the Marine Corps in China. Humble but unyielding, his life was the fight, his fight was for those who follow.

Legacy & Lessons

Daniel Daly’s legacy is carved deep into the Marine Corps ethos and American valor. Courage isn’t born in calm moments; it is wrung from the grit of fear, loss, and sacrifice. Leadership is not rank alone—it is the roar under fire, the hand pulled back from the abyss.

His cry at Belleau Wood remains a battle hymn for warriors, a vivid reminder: Fear is a liar. Honor is a calling.

“Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.” That is the truth Daly lived and died by—the scripture behind every act of battlefield redemption.

His story warns us—heroes aren’t born flawless or fearless. They are forged in the merciless heat of combat, shaped by faith, and driven by a fierce refusal to quit. Daniel Joseph Daly’s scars are America’s scars. His roar still flames across every battlefield where freedom demands a voice.

Come on, you sons of bitches, do you want to live forever? The legacy answers: Live forever through courage. Live forever through sacrifice. Live forever through unyielding honor.

Sources

1. Naval History and Heritage Command, Lieutenant Colonel Daniel Daly, USMC: Biography and Citation 2. Gerald J. Prokopowicz, All for the Regiment: The Life of Robert Gould Shaw and the 54th Massachusetts (context on WWI Marines) 3. Military Times Hall of Valor, Daniel J. Daly 4. Smedley Butler, War is a Racket (quotes and reflections)