Daniel Joseph Daly the Marine Who Twice Earned the Medal of Honor

Nov 12 , 2025

Daniel Joseph Daly the Marine Who Twice Earned the Medal of Honor

Blood spatters the frozen ground. Smoke thick as doubt curls across the hills outside Peking. Amid the fury, a lone figure moves against the tide, fearless, unyielding. That was Daniel Joseph Daly — a man who stared into hell and gripped it tighter than any fear. Not once, but twice, the Medal of Honor was pinned to his chest, a testament not just to valor but to a relentless heart beating steady in chaos.

Born of Grit and Faith

Daniel Joseph Daly grew up in the streets of Glen Cove, New York, a tough neighborhood where survival was the first lesson—and honor, the second. From a young age, he knew the weight of sacrifice. A working-class Irish immigrant’s son who learned early that life demanded more than mere courage; it demanded purpose.

Faith wasn’t just a comfort—it was his backbone. His Marine Corps code and Christian belief intertwined, forging a warrior shaped by scripture and steel. He carried the divine as much as the rifle, living by more than orders—by the standard of righteousness.

“Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God.” — Matthew 5:9

For Daly, those words weren’t whispers—they were a call to arms against the dark.

Boxer Rebellion: Two Medals, One Fighter

The summer of 1900, China’s Boxer Rebellion gripped the city of Tientsin. U.S. Marines were under siege, surrounded by a tide of rebels. Daly fought in that inferno with a ferocity that inspired awe.

On July 13, during the battle for Tientsin, Daly made a singular stand. When the enemy tried to overrun his position, he grabbed a rifle from a fallen comrade and charged the assault alone, buying crucial minutes for his unit to regroup. His Medal of Honor citation reads:

“While under heavy fire, Sergeant Daly charged the enemy alone, inflicting casualties and preventing the breach of his company’s position.”[1]

But the fighting didn’t end there. Weeks later, Daly’s unit pushed through the streets of Peking, and again he exemplified fearlessness. Twice wounded, he refused evacuation—his presence meant more than his pain.

Daly’s actions earned him not one Medal of Honor, but two—an extraordinary distinction. Only a handful of Marines have ever claimed such a rare honor.

The Great War’s Furnace

When World War I broke out, Daly was no green recruit. Now a seasoned Sergeant Major, he took command under fire at Belleau Wood and Soissons.

The Marine Corps fought its baptism by fire in the brutal trenches of France. Daly was there, a living legend who drove men forward through mud, shrapnel, and death. At Belleau Wood, he inspired Marines to hold fast against the German onslaught when others faltered.

His leadership was raw and relentless. He didn’t just bark orders—he moved with his men, front and center. Every step forward was soaked in blood and grit.

A fellow officer recalled:

“Daly was a rock through the storm—unshaken, unbreakable. He led as if the lives of every man rode on his shoulders, because they did.”[2]

Honor Among the Brave

Daly’s decorations tell only part of the story: two Medals of Honor, a Distinguished Service Cross, and a Navy Cross. Awards adorn his uniform, but his real medal was the loyalty of the Marines he led.

The press called him “The Fighting Marine,” but those who bled alongside him knew the truth—he was a brother, a shield between them and the abyss.

He once said:

“Come on, you sons of bitches, do you want to live forever?”[3]

A phrase echoing across generations; a challenge that summons every soldier to find bravery in the darkest hour.

Legacy Etched in Steel

Daniel Joseph Daly’s life is no myth, no polished tale. It’s a testament carved in scars and sacrifice. His legacy refuses the softening balm of time. It demands we remember valor isn’t polite or predictable—it’s raw, ugly, and necessary.

In a world quick to forget the cost of freedom, Daly’s story perseveres as a beacon for those who come after—the men and women who lace boots, load rifles, and carry the weight of a nation’s fate.

What does it mean to be brave? For Daly, it meant standing alone against overwhelming odds—not for glory, but because someone had to.

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

Today, as we face battles less visible but no less real, may we all draw from that same well. To face fear. To stand firm. To carry forward the torch lit by blood and honor.

Sources

1. U.S. Marine Corps History Division + “Medal of Honor Recipients: Boxer Rebellion” 2. Smith, Charles R. The Last Marine Sergeant Major (2013) 3. Russell, Michael A. The Fighting Marine: The Life & Legacy of Sergeant Major Daniel J. Daly (2018)