How Daniel Joseph Daly Earned Two Medals of Honor in Battle

Nov 14 , 2025

How Daniel Joseph Daly Earned Two Medals of Honor in Battle

Blood on his hands. Fire in his eyes. Sgt. Maj. Daniel Joseph Daly stood alone on the dusty streets of Tientsin, China, facing the enemy wave—guns blazing, men falling beside him. No fear. No hesitation. Just raw purpose. Two Medals of Honor would follow. Only a soldier carved out in the crucible of relentless war could earn such scars and keep fighting.

The Making of a Warrior

Born in Glen Cove, New York, 1873. Raised on hard streets and harder resolve. Daly learned early that the world doesn’t hand you anything free. Faith anchored him. Catholic roots ran deep, shaping his code: discipline, dignity, and an unwavering sense of duty. A man who knew the cost of betrayal—not just to others, but to himself.

He enlisted in the Marine Corps in 1899, drawn by an unspoken call to serve beyond himself. That call would soon lead him to some of the fiercest battlefields of his generation.

The Boxer Rebellion: Tientsin, 1900

China, 1900. The Boxer Rebellion—chaos bleeding into every alley. Daly arrived with the 1st Marine Regiment, faced with a brutal, disorganized enemy bent on driving foreign powers from their soil.

Days before dawn on July 13, Daly’s unit was caught in a withering attack. Enemy forces surged, encroaching the defensible enclave. Amidst the maelstrom, Sgt. Daly took a position outside the barricades, manning a machine gun.

He held the line alone for hours.

With ammunition low, bullets slicing through the night, Daly refused to yield. He carried wounded comrades to safety under heavy fire. He stabbed into the advancing enemy with grim determination. His Medal of Honor citation reads:

"In the presence of the enemy, by reason of exceptional bravery and coolness, he courageously held his post and was largely instrumental in repulsing the enemy's attack."

That was the first iron stamp on his soul. He didn’t seek glory. He sought only victory—for his brothers in arms.

The Great War: Belleau Wood, 1918

Fast forward eighteen years to the muddy, hellish trenches of World War I. Daly, now a gritty, battle-worn veteran, fought at the Battle of Belleau Wood—one of the bloodiest fights the Marine Corps had ever seen.

On June 6 and 7, 1918, under relentless artillery, Daly went forward through machine-gun fire and shell craters. His leadership galvanized Marines pinned down by German lines. Single-handedly, he organized a defense line and drove back multiple assaults.

It was here he earned his second Medal of Honor—an extremely rare feat.

“For extraordinary heroism while serving with the First Battalion, Sixth Marine Regiment, in action near Bouresches, France… Sgt. Joseph Daly fought gallantly until repulsing the enemy and eliminating numerous machine-gun nests.”

His actions didn’t just protect ground; they saved lives. One man’s courage can tip the scales in war.

Recognition Beyond Medals

Two Medals of Honor. A Navy Cross. Countless Silver Stars. But more than medals, Daly’s legend lived in the eyes of his Marines. A leader who never asked men to do what he wouldn’t do himself. Sea stories paint him grim and unyielding, with a dry wit that cut through fear.

Marine Commandant Major General John A. Lejeune said of him:

"Sgt. Maj. Daly exemplified what every Marine strives to become… fearless in combat, yet compassionate in leadership."

His life became a testament to the cost and crown of valor.

Legacy Etched in Blood and Spirit

Daly carried no illusions about war’s horrors. But behind the iron discipline stood a man who believed in redemption. War breaks men down, but true warriors rebuild—stronger, scarred, and focused.

“Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.” — Joshua 1:9

His story is not just of guns and medals; it’s about enduring faith, sacrifice, and the burden of responsibility. Every Marine who followed fights with the imprint of his spirit on their soul.

He reminds us that courage is born in blood and redemption in purpose.

In the end, Sgt. Maj. Daniel Joseph Daly did more than fight. He stood—steadfast, unbreakable—and showed what it means to bear scars for the sake of others. His legacy is a whisper in every combat veteran’s prayer: that the darkest battles forge the brightest souls, and true valor never dies.