Daniel Joseph Daly, Marine Twice Awarded the Medal of Honor

Jan 07 , 2026

Daniel Joseph Daly, Marine Twice Awarded the Medal of Honor

Bloodied hands, hell all around. The enemy closed in, claws bared like wolves hunting a wounded dog. Sgt. Maj. Daniel Joseph Daly stood his ground in the stifling heat of Tianjin, China. One pistol. One small squad against an onslaught. The fire snapped, but the line held—because one man refused to break.

The Battle That Defined Him

July 1900. The Boxer Rebellion. The streets ran with chaos and smoke. Daly found himself leading Marines in the thick of it, inside the legendarily brutal siege of the foreign legations. The Boxer fighters surged forward, wild and merciless. The enemy wanted blood—and they were ready to take it in buckets.

But Daly? He had a different plan.

Despite the hailstorm of gunfire, he grabbed one of the enemy’s fallen rifles and charged headlong into the enemy throng—alone, twice. Twice, he singlehandedly beat them back, throwing the tide of battle just enough to save his comrades from collapse.

“I’d rather have a damn Marine by my side than any man on earth.” —Maj. Gen. Smedley Butler, reflecting on Daly’s courage¹

His actions in Tianjin earned him his first Medal of Honor. But that was only the beginning.

Forged by Faith and Hardship

Born in Glen Cove, New York, in 1873, Daly was a working-class kid who knew hardship early. Raised with a quiet Catholic faith, he carried the Scriptures with him like armor. His personal creed was carved into every action: stand your ground. Protect your own. Honor your duty.

The Bible whispered in his ear on sleepless nights:

“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 him when the screaming of battle threatened to drown all reason. It also kept him humble. He never sought glory—only survival for his men and mission carried out as best as a broken world would allow.

Beyond Tianjin: War Engraved on Bone and Spirit

Fast forward to 1918. The hellscape of Belleau Wood, France. World War I.

Daly, now a seasoned veteran, again found himself amid the worst of it. Artillery shells shredded the air. Men screamed, fell, and vanished into mud. The Marines were tasked with pushing back German forces locked in an entrenched grip across ravaged landscapes.

Here, Daly’s leadership sharpened into something almost otherworldly. He didn’t just lead—he inspired.

When a German machine gun nest was devastating his company, Daly reportedly picked up a discarded rifle and charged forward alone, yelling at his men to follow. The enemy position was silenced. Lives were saved.

He earned his second Medal of Honor for this valor, making him one of only 19 in U.S. history to receive the medal twice—and one of just three Marines to do so².

“Daly was the perfect storm of toughness and tenacity. His courage wasn’t just bravado—it was an absolute refusal to allow his brothers in arms to die without a fight.” —Maj. Gen. John A. Lejeune³

Recognition Beyond the Medals

Two Medals of Honor. The Navy Cross. The respect of a Corps and a nation.

But Daly was more than the metals pinned to his chest. He was the salt of the earth a generation could look up to. He truly embodied the grit and sacrifice of the Marine Corps—raw, unvarnished heroism forged in mud, blood, and smoke.

He rose to Sergeant Major, the highest enlisted rank, closing a career marked by relentless devotion, toughness, and a restless spirit that refused to quit.

His voice was gravel, his demeanor unyielding—but those who knew him saw the quiet faith beneath it. A man haunted by war but grounded by purpose.

Legacy Etched in Valor and Redemption

Sgt. Maj. Daniel Joseph Daly’s story is the story of all who have worn the uniform and stared death in the eye without blinking.

True courage isn’t the absence of fear, but action in spite of it.

His legacy echoes in every Marine who carries the weight of battle and the scars beneath their skin. He teaches us that valor isn’t perfect—it’s raw, impulsive, sacrificial. It’s standing when others fall. It’s faith worn like armor beneath the grime.

The world still fights. The battlefield shifts. But Daly’s cry of defiance to the darkness lingers:

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

That line isn’t just history—it’s a battle hymn for the broken and the brave alike, calling the living into the fray with unshaken resolve.

“The Lord is my rock, my fortress, and my deliverer.” (Psalm 18:2) —for men like Daly, this was the only way home.

Sources

¹ Marine Corps History Division – “Smedley Butler: A Biography” ² U.S. Naval History and Heritage Command – “Two Medal of Honor Recipients: Daly, John and Daly, Daniel Joseph” ³ Lejeune, John A., Marine Corps Historical Foundation: Archives and Oral Histories