Daniel Joseph Daly's Medals of Honor at Tientsin and Belleau Wood

Dec 08 , 2025

Daniel Joseph Daly's Medals of Honor at Tientsin and Belleau Wood

The whistle of bullets tore the night. Smoke thick as death clawed the air. Amidst the chaos, a voice cut clear, commanding men forward with unmatched grit. This was Daniel Joseph Daly—fearless, relentless, a man whose scars told stories that no history book could fully contain.

Background & Faith: Forged in Grit and God

Born in 1873, Newark, New Jersey, Daly's path was etched early by hard knocks and iron will. Orphaned young, he found purpose in the Marines, embracing a warrior’s creed grounded in loyalty and sacrifice. His faith wasn’t loud but steady—an undercurrent that shaped a life lived by honor.

He carried a quiet certainty, a conviction reflected in his actions: "No better fight than the one you walk into head-on," Daly reportedly said. That stubborn heart and faith underlined every step.

The Boxer Rebellion: First Medal of Honor

In 1900, China’s Boxer Rebellion tested men near their breaking points. Under searing sun and constant threat, Daly repeatedly dashed into the fray, ferrying ammunition across open ground. When the rest flinched, he stood fast.

His citation details a man who "distinguished himself by extraordinary heroism" while carrying vital supplies under fire at Tientsin. Marines counted on him like the beat of a war drum—steady, sure, unyielding.

This battle was no mere skirmish; it was a crucible forging an American legend.

World War I: Valor Beyond Measure

Fourteen years later, in the trenches of Belleau Wood, France, Daly’s courage became the stuff of legend again. The 1918 battle saw the 4th Marine Brigade hammered by relentless German fire. When frontline troops wavered, he barked orders, rallying men behind barbed wire hell.

In one brutal moment, Marines faced an onslaught that tried to break their line. Daly’s voice thundered, “Come on, you sons of bitches, do you want to live forever?”* His words jolted weary fighters—an act of raw defiance etched in Marine Corps lore.

His second Medal of Honor came for fighting "with extraordinary heroism in the attack on German positions, June 6–10, 1918," holding ground despite heavy losses. Daly was a lion among men, unafraid to meet death face-to-face.

Recognition: Medals Born in Fire

Daly remains one of only nineteen service members to earn two Medals of Honor. His first recognized "courageous and cool service" at Tientsin during the China relief expedition.[1] The second for "conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity" at Belleau Wood.[2]

Generals and comrades alike respected him deeply. Maj. Gen. James Harbord called Daly “a man of the highest courage.” Fellow Marines relied on his steadiness—his fearlessness became a standard for those who followed.

“Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.” — John 15:13

This scripture rang through Daly’s life—not as empty rhetoric, but as a lived reality.

Legacy & Lessons: Courage as a Call

Daly’s story isn’t just about medals or battles. It is about the raw cost of holding the line when all hope seems lost. His life wrestles with the burden every combat soldier carries—the weight of sacrifice and the demand for unyielding courage.

In an age that often forgets the deadliest classrooms of character—battlefield mud, blood, and brotherhood—his example cuts deep. It reminds us that valor isn’t flawless; it’s scarred, grueling, and often lonely. But in those moments where a man stands tall for his brothers, humanity’s finest light bursts through.

Sgt. Maj. Daniel Joseph Daly Jr. did not speak of glory. He lived the grit behind it. Through the smoke of the Boxer rebellion, across the European mud at Belleau Wood, his legacy screams truth: Courage is a hard road—walk it anyway. For veterans carrying battle’s ghosts and civilians wrestling with what honor demands, his story offers this unvarnished hope: redemption comes through sacrifice, and legacy through standing firm.

Sources

1. United States Marine Corps History Division: Medal of Honor Recipients – Daniel Joseph Daly 2. U.S. Army Center of Military History: Medal of Honor Citations – World War I Marines