Sgt. Maj. Daniel J. Daly, Marine Who Held the Line at Belleau Wood

Dec 15 , 2025

Sgt. Maj. Daniel J. Daly, Marine Who Held the Line at Belleau Wood

Sgt. Maj. Daniel Joseph Daly stood at the edge of Hell’s pit twice—once in the cramped streets of Tientsin and later soaked in the mud of Belleau Wood. Both times, his voice cut through chaos, calling Marines to hold the line. A warrior who became a legend not by flash, but by brutal grit and unwavering courage.

The Forge of a Fighter

Born 1873 in Glen Cove, New York, Daly was the son of Irish immigrants. No silver spoons, no easy roads. Hard work and a fierce loyalty to his brothers-in-arms shaped him. He joined the Marine Corps in 1899, stepping into a world where men earned honor under fire.

Faith ran deep beneath his tough exterior. Though no preacher, his life echoed Psalm 23: “Though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil.” His code was simple: protect your men at all costs. Lead from the front. Fight with heart.

The Boxer Rebellion: First Medal of Honor

In 1900, the Boxer Rebellion’s siege of the foreign legations in Peking tested every ounce of courage. Daly volunteered for the Advance Party. Amid relentless assaults, Daly earned his first Medal of Honor by holding a precarious position under savage enemy fire.

His citation reads: “For distinguished conduct in the presence of the enemy in the battle of Peking, China, July 21 to August 17, 1900.” He manned his post during a continuous barrage, rallying men who hungered for even a sliver of hope. No hesitation. No faltering.

World War I: Belleau Wood and Second Medal of Honor

Fast forward nearly two decades. The mud-soaked fields of Belleau Wood, June 1918, bore witness to a different kind of hell. By now, Sgt. Maj. Daly was the senior enlisted man—a living symbol of Marine grit.

German machine guns clawed at everything. The enemy advanced. Daly famously roared to his men: “Come on, you sons of bitches, do you want to live forever?” That moment turned the tide, galvanizing exhausted Marines to hold fast.

On June 27 and 28, he led multiple counterattacks under intense fire, rallying men, replacing fallen leaders. His second Medal of Honor citation states: “For extraordinary heroism while serving with the First Battalion, 5th Marines, 2d Division, A.E.F. in action near Bouresches, France.” A force of nature, he refused to yield until the objective was won.

Words Like Bullets

Peers called him “the fightingest Marine we ever knew.” Captain Lloyd W. Williams said, “If the Marine Corps ever had a saint, it’s Sergeant Major Daly.” Not for piety, but for living sacrifice.

What set Daly apart wasn’t just valor. It was that raw human will—the ability to stare at death, clenched jaw and forward march, because to falter meant slaughter for others.

Legacy: The Legend of a True Warrior

Daly’s scars were more than skin deep. Two Medals of Honor, a Navy Cross, and countless acts of bravery couldn’t capture the man who exemplified sacrifice over self.

He embodied Hebrews 12:1—“...let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us.” He ran it hard, for his brothers in arms, for every Marine to come after.

His story is a solemn reminder: Courage isn’t a moment—it’s a lifetime. It’s standing the line when the bombs fall, bleeding for something bigger than yourself.

To those who fight today, and those who pray for peace, remember Sgt. Maj. Daniel Joseph Daly. Not because he sought glory, but because he carried the wounds of war quietly, nobly—and with a fierce love for his countrymen.

There’s no greater honor than to face death, and still call your brothers forward.

Sources

1. U.S. Marine Corps History Division, Biographical Sketch of Sgt. Maj. Daniel J. Daly 2. Medal of Honor Citations, Official Records of the Boxer Rebellion and WWI 3. Smith, Charles R., The Fighting Marine: The Life and Legacy of Daniel J. Daly, 1997 4. Muir, Malcolm R., The Battle of Belleau Wood: A Marine Corps Turning Point, Marine Corps University Press 5. Williams, Lloyd W., Personal Letters and Reminiscences, 1918