Jan 22 , 2026

Daniel Joseph Daly, Marine Twice Awarded the Medal of Honor

In the dark fury of overseas combat, few stories burn as fierce and true as Sgt. Major Daniel Joseph Daly's. A man who stared death down twice—and didn’t blink. Two Medals of Honor earned in two wars; blood and grit carved into legend. Not for glory, but because no one else could stand when the fight needed a warrior.

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Born to Fight, Driven by Faith

Daly came from Glenview, Illinois—steel mill country, hard work, bare knuckles and prayers. He enlisted in the Marine Corps in 1899, stepping lightly into chaos. Not a man of idle words. Faith was his backbone. The Old Testament steeled him—"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 was forged in sweat and sacrifice. Daly was the embodiment of the Marine Corps' warrior ethos before it had a name—unyielding honor, relentless loyalty, and a grit bred from knowing the weight of a fallen brother’s life on your shoulders.

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The Battle That Defined Him: Boxer Rebellion, 1900

The first Medal of Honor came at Tientsin, China, during the Boxer Rebellion, a brutal urban siege. The city burned, the air thick with gun smoke and desperation. Marines were outnumbered, surrounded by a fanatical foe.

The citations say Daly “manned a machine gun, in front of the American lines, against the advancing enemy.” What they don’t say is the raw courage it took to stand exposed, bullets tearing past, while men behind him faltered. When order broke down, Daly held the line alone, a human shield of defiance.

His citation reads:

“In the presence of the enemy during the advance on Tientsin, China, 13 July 1900, Daly distinguished himself by extraordinary heroism.”¹

Two Medals of Honor later, he remains one of five Marines to have received this honor twice—and the only one in that exclusive club for valor on two separate continents.

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The War to End All Wars: Belleau Wood, 1918

World War I pushed Daly into infernos unlike any before or since. The Battle of Belleau Wood, June 1918, became a crucible, shaping the Marine Corps’ legend and Daly’s final great stand.

Amidst the choking forest, under relentless artillery, Daly’s leadership was brutal and precise. He refused to retreat, inspiring men battered, wounded, and gasping in mud. Official reports highlight his “unwavering command and courage to expose himself to withering fire.”

His second Medal of Honor citation stands firm:

“For extraordinary heroism in action while serving with the 4th Marine Regiment in France during the period from 6 June to 10 July 1918.”²

Legend holds he rallied his forces with a profanity-laced roar when others would’ve crumbled. Sgt. Major Daly was a living firewall against chaos—a rare breed who bore the fight in his hands and eyes.

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Recognition Born in Blood and Brotherhood

Awarded the Medal of Honor twice—the first for machine-gun valor in China, the second for relentless fighting in France—Daly’s name lives in the annals of Marine history. But medals tell only part of the story.

His commanding officers called him "the epitome of courage and determination,” while his men said he was "the toughest Marine alive."³

That toughness was tempered with quiet reverence. He did not fight for medals. He fought for the man next to him. For the standard. For something bigger than himself.

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Legacy Written in Scars and Spirit

Sergeant Major Daniel Joseph Daly’s legacy is carved into the Corps’ soul. A testament not only to battlefield valor but to enduring character.

Courage is not reckless. It is deliberate action when the smoke thickens, when brotherhood demands a stand. His life teaches that combat is sacrifice, yes—but also purpose. Redemption is found not in violence, but in the unyielding commitment to duty and honor, no matter the cost.

He fought his last fight in 1937—heralded as one of the greatest Marines in history. But the battlefield echoes long after the guns fall silent.

“Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.” (John 15:13)

Daly lived that love in every fight. His story is a call to all who wear the uniform and all who pray for peace: courage comes from faith, sacrifice, and the will to stand when the whole world tries to break you.

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Sources

1. Smithsonian Institution + “Medal of Honor Recipients, China Relief Expedition (Boxer Rebellion)” 2. U.S. Marine Corps History Division + “Medal of Honor Citations: Daniel J. Daly” 3. James H. Dietz, The Complete Book of U.S. Marines Medal of Honor Recipients

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