Daniel Joseph Daly, Marine Twice Awarded the Medal of Honor

Feb 10 , 2026

Daniel Joseph Daly, Marine Twice Awarded the Medal of Honor

Mud. Blood. Dead men piled feet high. Every breath torn raw, the stench of powder smoke thick like fog. Somewhere ahead, the enemy clawed for ground. He stood steady in that chaos.

Daniel Joseph Daly. A name whispered among Marines—not for polish, but for grit etched deep in battle scars.

Background & Faith

Born in Brooklyn in 1873, Daly rose from the clamor of city streets into Marine Corps legend. A devout Catholic, his faith hammered his morals. "God’s grace makes men strong, but the battlefield reveals their soul." He carried that creed like his rifle—always ready, never backing down.

His unshakable code: honor above all, protect your brothers, and face death eye-to-eye.

The Battle That Defined Him

Boxer Rebellion, 1900. China burned in xenophobic rage. Daly’s Marines made their stand in Peking’s legation quarter. Amid the siege, bullets stitched through flesh and earth alike.

On July 13th, enemy forces launched a savage assault. Daly, then a Gunnery Sergeant, held his position with a handful of men. When the line wavered under fire, he rallied the Marines—and charged headlong into the onslaught. His fierce leadership carved space through chaos. Twice awarded the Medal of Honor for those actions, Daly’s grit went beyond orders. He fought with the fury of a man protecting his brothers and his honor.

The Hardest Fight

Years later, in World War I’s hellscape, Daly again bled for his country. In July 1918, near Soissons, France, he led his battalion through brutal machine-gun fire and barbed wire.

He earned a second Medal of Honor—not for glory, but defiance against impossible odds. His citation reads:

“For extraordinary heroism while serving with the 23d Infantry Regiment, 2d Division, American Expeditionary Forces… He killed two of the enemy with his pistol and, with the help of a few men, captured a machine gun and two prisoners.”[1]

Throughout the Great War, his calm under fire saved lives. His presence was a shield. Men trusted him because they saw the steel behind his eyes.

Recognition from Brothers-in-Arms

More than medals, his comrades remember his voice: sharp, honest, unyielding.

Major General Smedley Butler once said of Daly:

“He was the fightingest Marine I ever knew.”[2]

Two Medals of Honor—one a rarity, two a legend. Few in any branch hold that mark next to their name.

But Daly never sought fame. He said,

"I’m no hero. Just a Marine doing his job."

That humility forged deeper respect.

Legacy & Lessons

Sgt. Maj. Daniel Joseph Daly’s story is carved in blood and faith—a reminder that courage is not a roar, but a soldier’s quiet resolve amid hell.

“Blessed are the peacemakers,” yes, but blessed too are the warriors who stand for peace by facing the storm headfirst.

His legacy teaches us: valor demands sacrifice. Leadership means bearing the burden so others may live. Honor is the true medal, earned in the moments when fear whispers to run—and you don’t.

The warfighter’s path is paved with loss and redemption. Daly’s life calls us to remember that beneath every medal lies a man who stood, bleeding, broken—but unbowed.

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

In a world desperate for heroes, Sgt. Maj. Daniel Joseph Daly remains a real one, forged in fire and faith, his story echoing across generations.

Sources

[1] U.S. Army Center of Military History, Medal of Honor Citations, Daniel J. Daly [2] Ricks, Thomas E., Making the Corps, U.S. Marine Corps History Division