Daniel Joseph Daly, Marine Who Earned Two Medals of Honor

Nov 14 , 2025

Daniel Joseph Daly, Marine Who Earned Two Medals of Honor

Steel and blood. Fire beneath smoke. The crack of rifles, shriek of artillery—every second a test of grit and defiance. On the edge of oblivion, one Marine made a vow with his actions, not his words: never relent, never falter. Sgt. Major Daniel Joseph Daly, warrior forged in the crucible of two brutal conflicts, bore scars not just on flesh but on the soul.

The Blood-Soaked Forge: Early Life and Faith

Born in Glen Cove, New York, 1873, Daly grew up restless and fierce, a working-class kid with iron in his veins. He found more than just discipline in the Marine Corps; he found purpose. At heart, he was a man cradled by faith and hardened by conviction. The Bible whispered through the smoke and mud:

“Be strong and courageous. Do not fear... for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.” — Joshua 1:9

That scripture anchored Daly through years of war, molding leadership steeped in honor and a relentless moral compass. His Code was clear: protect the weak, face down the impossible, and lead from the front.

The Boxer Rebellion: Heroism at Tientsin

In 1900, British and allied forces scrambled to crush the Boxer Rebellion’s brutal siege in China. Daly stood in the inferno around Tientsin, where chaos reigned and comrades fell. The Marines were pinned down, under merciless fire.

Daly’s Medal of Honor citation from this battle reads simply but powerfully:

“For distinguished conduct in the presence of the enemy during the battle of Tientsin, China, July 13, 1900.”

His unofficial story? Twice that day, Daly grabbed the colors—flag—under fire and rallied shattered units, refusing to let the line break. The flag wasn’t just cloth; it was life. It was resolve. Marines called him "the fightingest Marine I ever knew."

He earned his first Medal of Honor by embodying this fierce, unyielding spirit amid brutal street-to-street combat. The fight was merciless, but so was his courage.

The Hellfire of World War I: Battle of Belleau Wood

Fourteen years later, the world exploded in blood and fire once more. By 1918, Daly had risen to Sergeant Major, the senior enlisted Marine in the 4th Marine Brigade. The battle lines near Belleau Wood, France, were soaked in the blood of youth and hope.

When the Germans pushed back, shattering American lines, Daly took charge in a desperate moment. His second Medal of Honor citation tells a harrowing story:

“In France, 24–26 June 1918. He led his machine-gun section to cover the advance of infantry under very heavy fire, preventing enemy counterattacks.”

In one eyewitness account, Daly moved among his men like a force of nature—grabbing guns, firing his own, shouting orders over the din. Men chewed mud and blood, but saw only this ironclad figure, refusing to yield ground.

Daly’s influence here was more than weapon skill. It was leadership—the quiet, fierce refusal to let fear dictate fate. His grit turned the tide, earning him respect that still echoes through Marine lore.

Recognition Among Giants

Only nineteen men have received the Medal of Honor twice. Sgt. Major Daly is one of three Marines who achieved this, standing shoulder to shoulder with legends. His decorations are testaments to valor literally written in blood and resolve.

John A. Lejeune, commandant of the Marine Corps and one of Daly’s contemporaries, praised him as “a warrior unmatched in courage and spirit.” Veterans who fought beside Daly spoke of him as a “rock in the storm,” a soul who carried the weight others could not bear.

Not just medals bound him to history, but the profound respect of his brothers in arms. His story is etched in lines of sweat and sacrifice, never penned in vanity.

Legacy: Courage Carved in Bone and Spirit

What does it mean to be a hero in constant battle? It means standing when everyone else falls. To Daly, heroism wasn’t a trophy; it was a burden carried by those who choose to fight for something greater than themselves.

Sgt. Major Daly’s legacy is one of unshakable loyalty—to country, comrades, and conscience. Today’s warriors, civilians alike, find in his life the raw truth of sacrifice: that valor is ugly, costly, and necessary.

He lived by a standard few hold, an example etched by war’s cruel hand but redeemed by faith.

“He has delivered us from such a deadly peril, and he will deliver us again.” — 2 Corinthians 1:10

Daniel Joseph Daly reminds us all: courage is not born in comfort. It is carved in the mud of battle, forged by sacrifice, and redeemed by unwavering faith. When the darkness closes in, the price of freedom is paid by those who refuse to stop fighting. His story bleeds into ours—a call to carry the torch without shame, without fear.