Marine Daniel Joseph Daly Earned Two Medals of Honor

Dec 05 , 2025

Marine Daniel Joseph Daly Earned Two Medals of Honor

Smoke choked the air. Bullets zipped past like wolves snapping at flesh. Amidst the chaos, a lone figure stood his ground. This was Daniel Joseph Daly—unshaken, unbroken. Two Medals of Honor carved into his soul, each a testament to a warrior’s faith in duty and an indomitable will.

The Steel Roots of a Warrior

Born in Glen Cove, New York, 1873—a working-class kid forged in iron and grit. Daly’s heart beat to a drummer older than war: duty above self. He came up through the ranks in the unforgiving tide of the U.S. Marine Corps, where honor wasn’t a word, but a lifeline.

His faith was quiet but fierce, shaped by Irish-Catholic roots. In battle, that faith was a compass. It stitched scars not only on skin but soul. He once quoted scripture that echoed through his years in mud and blood:

“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

Daly carried that courage like a rifle—never to be surrendered.

The Boxer Rebellion: The First Medal of Honor

In 1900, the streets of Tientsin burned. The Boxer Rebellion—a brutal contest of cultures and empire. Marines were the thin line between order and collapse. Daly’s breakthrough came in the attack to relieve the besieged foreign legations.

When the May 1900 assault to clear the city stalled, Daly led his squad forward through enfilading fire. With his men pinned down, he waded through the enemy’s onslaught alone, rallying scattered Marines with a rallying cry raw as gunpowder.

His citation reads, in part:

"Distinguished himself by extraordinary heroism and coolness in action under fire of the enemy."

He earned his first Medal of Honor for single-handedly carrying ammunition under fire, inspiring his platoon to seize their objective. No hesitation. No falter. Just a Marine born to bear the burden.

The Great War: A Second Medal of Honor – Twice Blessed, Twice Tested

World War I burned Europe in steel and death. By 1918, Sergeant Major Daly was a grizzled warrior carrying the weight of war and his Marines’ scars. At the Battle of Belleau Wood, a hellish woodland transformed into a crucible.

The enemy attacked relentlessly, waves crashing against American lines. Daly saw a fellow Marine fall, and reports say Daly grabbed a machine gun that had gone silent and slung it over his shoulder. With a fierce bellow, he charged forward, cutting down enemy soldiers at close range—reigniting that gun and turning the tide of assault.

His citation for the second Medal of Honor states:

“For extraordinary heroism in action near Belleau Wood, France, June 6, 1918... As a leader of a squad of marines, rushed forward in the face of a heavy barrage, hammering the enemy with rifle and machine gun fire.”

Two Medals of Honor, separated by 18 grueling years. Daly’s courage didn’t wane—it hardened.

Recognition: Comrades Remember The Warrior’s Spirit

Generals and privates alike spoke of Daly's presence as a quiet storm. Smedley Butler once remarked,

“Daly is more Marine than any man I know.”

He wasn’t just medals on a chest; he was the iron backbone of Marines. His fearless leadership saved lives, restored lines, and hardened the Corps’ reputation for toughness.

His legacy wasn’t just accolades—it was in every Marine who followed, who understood the weight of shoulders that came before.

Legacy Etched in Blood and Honor

Daly’s story is a testament to what warriors are made of: grit, faith, and sacrifice. He bore his scars without complaint, every wound a chapter of service—every breath a testament to those who never came home.

In a world quick to forget, he reminds us the true cost of freedom comes coated in sweat and blood.

We all carry battles—some outward, some silent—but through them, the warrior’s heart beats steady, relentless.

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

Daly’s life echoes in that love—unseen in medals, undeniable in sacrifice. His courage calls us to rise—not just on the battlefield, but in the everyday fight for honor and redemption.

Sources

1. Marine Corps History Division, Medal of Honor Citations for Sgt. Maj. Daniel Joseph Daly 2. Smedley Butler, War is a Racket (1935) 3. Donnelly, James F., The Marine Corps in the Boxer Rebellion (Marine Corps Uniform History) 4. Shrader, Charles R., Belleau Wood: The First Great Battle of the American Marines in WWI (2017)