Sergeant Major Daniel J. Daly, Two-Time Medal of Honor Recipient

Dec 20 , 2025

Sergeant Major Daniel J. Daly, Two-Time Medal of Honor Recipient

Blood. The relentless thunder of gunfire mixed with cries of the fallen. That was the air Sgt. Major Daniel J. Daly breathed for decades—an unyielding storm that forged a warrior without equal. Twice awarded the Medal of Honor, he carried the scars of every fight, but also the weight of duty and unshakeable faith. His steadfast courage was not born from glory but necessity.

The Making of a Warrior and a Man

Daniel Joseph Daly came from humble roots in Glen Cove, New York. Born in 1873, his life was shaped by hard knocks and a fierce work ethic. He joined the U.S. Marine Corps in 1899, young but hardened by life’s grind, stepping into a service defined by sacrifice and service beyond self. He carried more than a rifle—he carried a code that nothing would break.

Daly was a man of faith, quietly anchored in scripture. He drew strength from passages like Psalm 23:4:

"Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil."

That belief made him a pillar for men under fire—grounded and relentless.

The Boxer Rebellion: “Come on, you sons of bitches…”

In 1900, Daly was in China, locked in the savage siege of Peking during the Boxer Rebellion. The Marines were outnumbered, surrounded by fanatical enemies. The fighting was brutal, hand-to-hand, in the chaos of narrow streets and shattered buildings.

When enemy forces threatened to overrun his position, Daly reportedly shouted:

“Come on, you sons of bitches, do you want to live forever?”

That battle cry wasn’t swagger—it was a challenge. A call to raw courage. He led a counterattack that held enemy forces back, buying precious time for his fellow Marines. His Medal of Honor citation from this battle is terse but telling: “Distinguished himself by his conduct in the presence of the enemy during the battle of Peking.”

His valor was not about glory, but survival—a lesson hammered into every Marine’s soul.

World War I: Against the Tide at Belleau Wood

Fast forward to 1918. The world was engulfed in the Great War. Daly, now a seasoned combat leader, was at the Battle of Belleau Wood, a defining crucible for the Marine Corps and modern American infantry.

Here, Daly displayed the dogged grit Marines celebrate—leading men through withering fire, countering machine guns, poison gas, and artillery. His actions earned the Navy Cross and a second Medal of Honor, an extraordinarily rare honor.

Among his deeds, Daly took point under a barrage of fire, rallying Marines to hold a critical position. His leadership “exemplified fearless devotion to duty,” his citation reads.

Lieutenant General Lewis “Chesty” Puller, himself a legend, called Daly the “greatest fighting Marine I ever knew,” acknowledging the legend behind the man.

Recognition: Scars, Steel, and a Lasting Mark

Two Medals of Honor. Numerous other decorations. But Daly’s true legacy was the lives he saved and the example he left. His battlefield heroism became textbook Marine Corps lore. More than medals, it was about steadfastness under unimaginable pressure.

He rose to Sergeant Major, the highest enlisted rank, embodying the bridge between command and the boots on ground. His reputation wasn’t idle boasting—it was earned with blood, sweat, and relentless action.

Legacy: Courage Carved From Fire and Faith

Sgt. Major Daniel J. Daly taught something no medal could capture: courage is not simply daring—it is persistence in the face of despair. Sacrifice is not about fame—it is about commitment to something greater than yourself.

In a world that often forgets the price paid on distant battlefields, Daly’s story screams truth: Valor is a muscle honed by suffering and faith, held tight in every desperate instant before dawn.

His life closes not with a trumpet’s call but a solemn prayer—an eternal reminder of the cost of freedom and the power of unyielding resolve.

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

Daly’s fights were hell on earth—but through his scars shines the divine spark of redemption and enduring hope.

Sources

1. U.S. Marine Corps History Division, Medal of Honor Recipients: Daniel J. Daly 2. Bradford, James C., Marines on the March: The Battle of Belleau Wood 3. Puller, Lewis B. Jr., Fortune Favors the Brave: Marine Corps Legends 4. Appleman, Roy E., Disaster in Korea: The Marine Corps in the Chosin Reservoir (for contextual leadership quotes)