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

Feb 05 , 2026

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

Blood soaked the frozen earth near Peking. The air thick–thick with desperate shots and raw grit. Amid the chaos, a hunkered Marine took up the fallen’s rifle, charging headlong into the dragon’s maw. Fearless. Relentless. Unbreakable. This was Daniel Joseph Daly, twice decorated with the Medal of Honor, a warrior’s warrior—carved by fire and bound by an unyielding code.

Blood and Faith in Brooklyn’s Trenches

Daniel Joseph Daly was born in 1873, Brooklyn, New York. Raised rough in a working-class neighborhood where hard knocks and hard truths were daily bread, he learned early that survival meant grit and loyalty. He enlisted in the Marine Corps in 1899—not for glory but with a calling deeper than medals.

Daly’s faith was steel beneath his sinew. A devout man, his belief in duty and sacrifice mirrored the ancient warrior’s path. Scripture marked his soul:

“Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or discouraged.” — Joshua 1:9

His honor code was simple—fight for your brothers, protect the weak, finish what you start. No excuses.

Boxer Rebellion: The First Storm

In 1900, China’s Boxer Rebellion drew Daly into the fray. The Siege of Peking tested every Marine. Fierce urban combat, brutal hand-to-hand fights amid burning buildings. Locked in, surrounded, the Marines endured days of withering fire.

Daly’s Medal of Honor citation from this battle reads plainly: “Distinguished himself by extraordinary heroism in presence of the enemy during the battle near Peking…”

The exact story carried in Marine lore: When the enemy barricaded the gates, Daly rushed the wall alone, laying down covering fire, rallying his men forward. His fearless aggression turned the tide.

Years later, fellow Marine John Twiggs Myers said, “Daly never knew what fear was. He seemed to wear it like a coat he refused to take off.”

The Hell of Belleau Wood and WWI Valor

More than a decade later, the First World War swallowed Daly whole. By then Sergeant Major Daly was a legend, hardened in two decades of battle. Belleau Wood, June 1918—a nightmare of trenches, machine guns, and shattered dreams. The First Marine Division fought off relentless German assaults. Men died in droves.

In this crucible, Daly’s wrath burned bright. The Medal of Honor for his WWI action was harder still—a testament to raw leadership. Under withering artillery and rifle fire, he stayed with his men, directing troops, refusing to yield an inch.

His citation states:

“Assumed command of the platoon, led a charge which captured the stronghold... displaying exceptional courage and coolness under heavy fire.”

At a critical moment, when some faltered, Daly’s voice roared over the carnage. “Come on, you sons of bitches, do you want to live forever?”

The line is etched into Marine Corps legend—not for bravado alone, but as a call to face death head-on.

Honors Etched in Blood

Daly remains one of just three Marines awarded the Medal of Honor twice—a distinction earned by sheer audacity and sacrifice. His decorations include:

- Medal of Honor, Boxer Rebellion (1900) - Medal of Honor, WWI, Belleau Wood (1918) - Numerous other medals and citations, reflecting a career of relentless service.

Commanders respected him, peers revered him, and the Corps immortalized his example. General John Lejeune called him “without question the most distinguished Marine of his time.”

Yet Daly never sought glory. When asked, he deflected: “I just did my job.”

Scarred but unbroken, his final words to younger Marines carried the heavy weight of hard-won truth.

Legacy of Iron and Spirit

Daniel Daly’s life is a testament to the raw essence of combat—courage beyond fear, leadership by example, and unyielding sacrifice. He fought battles not just with bullets but with heart and soul, carrying his wounds as badges of honor.

For veterans, Daly’s legacy rings clear: The combat experience is not about glory but standing steadfast when all hell breaks loose. For civilians, it’s a lesson in the cost of freedom and the heavy shadow of valor.

His story is redemption wrought in blood and fire—a reminder that true heroism is lived in the quiet moments after the guns fall silent.

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

But first, peace is earned in darkness.

Daniel Joseph Daly stood in that darkness. He came out bearing scars—scars that still speak.

Sources

1. Marine Corps University, “Twice Medal of Honor Recipient Daniel J. Daly” 2. Military Times Hall of Valor, “Daniel Joseph Daly Citation Records” 3. John A. Gresham, The Marines Take Anzio 4. General John Lejeune quoted in Leathernecks: The 100-Year History of the Marine Corps — Alexander’s Publishing