Daniel Joseph Daly, Two-Time Medal of Honor Marine of Belleau Wood

Nov 07 , 2025

Daniel Joseph Daly, Two-Time Medal of Honor Marine of Belleau Wood

Blood spills. The ground shakes. Men falter. But Sergeant Major Daniel Joseph Daly stands. Alone, defiant, a bullet’s whisper inches past him — and still, he rallies those around him with a voice cracked from war and unyielding in purpose. This is no mere soldier. This is a legend carved from grit, sacrifice, and unbreakable spine. Twice awarded the Medal of Honor — once during the chaos of the Boxer Rebellion, again in the hellscape of World War I. A man whose name speaks not just of heroism, but of relentless service and raw humanity.

Born of Steel and Faith

Daniel Joseph Daly emerged from humble roots in Glen Cove, New York, born in 1873. He carried an unshakable moral backbone that reflected a deep, abiding faith and an old-school sense of honor. Daly’s spirituality ran quiet but fierce beneath his gruff exterior— a code written not on paper but in actions. “Blessed be the man who trusts in the Lord, whose hope is in the Lord.” (Jeremiah 17:7) This anchored him through storms more violent than any earthly tempest.

He enlisted in the Marine Corps in 1899, stepping into a world rife with global conflict and moral imperative. The Corps wasn’t just a uniform to Daly — it was a calling. Sacrifice wasn’t what he did; it was who he was. Amidst brotherhood forged by fire, he grew into a leader who bore scars on his flesh and soul.

The Boxer Rebellion — Valor Ignited

In 1900, the streets of Peking (now Beijing) writhed with chaos. The Boxer Rebellion saw a multinational siege against foreign legations by the anti-foreigner Boxers. Daly charged into that inferno with steady resolve. As a corporal, he earned his first Medal of Honor for what would become legendary Marine tenacity — single-handedly holding a position under relentless enemy attack, twice engaging and driving back charges despite overwhelming numbers.

His citation plainly stated: “Distinguished himself by extraordinary heroism in the presence of the enemy while serving with the relief expedition of the Allied forces in China.” This was no reckless bravado. It was tactical courage married with an iron will. As the walls crumbled and comrades fell, Daly embodied the spirit of the Corps: Semper Fidelis — Always Faithful.

War to End All Wars — Steel Tempered Again

Two decades later, the world plunged into the maelstrom of the Great War. By 1918, Sergeant Major Daly was a hardened veteran striking fear into enemies’ minds and hope into friends’ hearts. Now in the trenches of France with the 4th Marine Brigade, Daly’s decisive moment came during the battle for Belleau Wood — an inferno remembered as some of the fiercest fighting American troops ever faced.

On June 6, 1918, amid choking smoke and machine gun fire, Daly rallied his men under punishing artillery barrages. His Medal of Honor citation from WWI reads: “For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of life above and beyond the call of duty during attacks against the enemy.” He pulled wounded from the mud, held lines with unwavering command, and inspired Marines to press forward through hellish carnage.

Legend has it he shouted, “Come on, you sons of bitches, do you want to live forever?” This raw challenge drove Marines deeper into the fight, fueled by sheer ferocity. His leadership didn’t merely win battles — it carved a legacy of courage etched in blood and sacrifice.

Honors Etched in Bronze and Steel

Daly’s two Medals of Honor remain one of only nineteen to receive the distinction twice — a testament not just to his valor, but to his relentless presence at history’s deadliest front lines. Beyond medals, he earned the Navy Cross and multiple other commendations.

Generals and fellow Marines alike recognized Daly’s unique mark. Major General Smedley Butler, himself a two-time Medal of Honor recipient, regarded Daly as a peerless warrior — a man who bore the weight of command without losing his humanity.

“Daniel Daly was the epitome of the Marine spirit — a warrior who led from the front and never retreated from hardship.” — Smedley Butler

His story was not of glory alone, but of duty borne under the most brutal conditions.

Legacy of Grit, Faith, and Redemption

Daly’s boots no longer crush the battlefields, but his legacy remains a standard burned into Marine Corps lore. He lived by a stark creed: courage is a choice, sacrifice a burden, and leadership a sacred trust. His life compels those who follow to understand that heroism is never about being fearless — it’s about standing when fear would consume others.

“Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day.” (Ephesians 6:13) This was Daly’s unseen armor. His valor was never for self, but for brothers beside him and the country they vowed to serve.

In a world eager to forget the cost of freedom, Daly’s story screams the truth: freedom is purchased in blood and kept through those willing to bear scars for a cause greater than themselves.

The battlefield is a harsh judge, sparing no one. But Sergeant Major Daniel Joseph Daly showed us what it means to fight not just with fists and rifles, but with a heart unyielded to despair. A man who stood tall in the storm — not for glory, but because some souls are called to carry the weight of courage for us all.

May we honor that sacrifice, not just with words, but with lives lived fiercely in the debt of those who bled so we might breathe free.

Sources

1. U.S. Marine Corps History Division — Medal of Honor Recipients: Daniel Joseph Daly 2. The Marine Corps Gazette — “Daniel Daly and the Spirit of Belleau Wood,” 2014 3. T.R. Fehrenbach, This Kind of War (1963) 4. Smedley Butler, War Is a Racket (1935) 5. Congressional Medal of Honor Society — Official Citations