Jan 01 , 2026
Sgt. Major Daniel J. Daly, Marine Awarded Two Medals of Honor
Sgt. Major Daniel Joseph Daly stood alone amid the chaos, eyes burning with resolve. The world around him was a storm of bullets and death. Two times, hell had called his name—and two times, he answered with fearless defiance. This was no ordinary Marine. Daly was a man forged in fire, a brother-in-arms who leaned hard into the fight when all others faltered.
A Fighter Born from Humble Roots
Daniel Joseph Daly was born in 1873 in Glen Cove, New York. The streets were rough; the times, rougher. His father, an immigrant working-class man, taught young Daniel the meaning of grit: stand your ground, do your duty, and carry the weight of honor like armor. Daly lived by that creed.
Raised Catholic, faith was the undercurrent of his life. It gave him strength beyond muscle and steel. It was why he moved through chaos without fear, grounded in a belief that God was watching, and that courage was a kind of worship.
“Blessed are the peacemakers,” he lived by, yet he walked in war. Redemption wasn’t a distant promise—it was forged on every battlefield.
The Boxer Rebellion: Courage under Fire
The year was 1900. The Boxer Rebellion in China had Marines far from home, embedded in streets awash with gunpowder and broken dreams. Daly was a Sergeant then, and at the Battle of the Taku Forts, he snarled through combat that tested every nerve.
He wasn’t just a soldier—Daly became the shield for his unit. When the enemy launched a fierce counterattack, Daly grabbed the colors—American and Marine Corps flags—and planted them like a beacon in a hailstorm of bullets. His voice cut through the carnage:
“Come on, you sons of bitches, do you want to live forever?”
The cry rattled steel, stirred frozen blood, and pinned enemy fire back. His men charged alongside him, rallying because one man refused to die on his knees. That phrase, etched in Marine Corps lore, was not bluster—it was deadly truth.
The Great War: Valor in the Trenches
Fifteen years later, the horrors of World War I swallowed entire battalions in mud and fire. As a Sergeant Major, Daly served with the 4th Marine Brigade in France. At the Battle of Belleau Wood in 1918, a crucible of American resolve against the German advance, he stood his ground again.
Reports show Daly leading shattered Marines through razor wire and exploding shells, steady as a rock. He carried wounded men off the field at great risk and directed smaller units under blistering fire. His actions saved lives, but more importantly, inspired his comrades to keep fighting where others might have collapsed.
His raw leadership and refusal to quit gave the Marine Corps a legend—a living example that courage is not the absence of fear, but the will to push through it.
Two Medals of Honor: Unmatched Heroism
For his actions in the Boxer Rebellion and again in Haiti in 1915, Daniel Daly earned the Medal of Honor twice—one of only a handful in American history.
His first citation for the Boxer Rebellion reads, in part:
“Fighting with the coolness and the courage of veterans, Sgt. Major Daly assisted materially in holding the enemy under fire and preventing the capture of the fort.”¹
His second Medal of Honor was awarded for heroic conduct during the Haitian campaign, defending an outpost against overwhelming forces. The Marines described him as:
“A man whose bravery inspired and whose toughness earned universal respect.”²
Commanders, fellow Marines, and historians have all underscored that Daly’s valor wasn’t flamboyant—it was practical, necessary, and deeply personal.
Legacy Etched in Blood and Honor
Daniel Daly’s story is carved into the bleeding stone of Marine Corps history—not because he sought glory, but because he answered the call every damned time.
His battle cry remains a symbol of unyielding defiance in the face of death. But beyond the headlines, Daly embodies the soul of combat veterans: scarred, steadfast, and redeemed in purpose.
“I have fought in many battles,” Daly once said, “and I have seen many men die. But courage is something you carry inside, no matter where you go.”
From Glen Cove to the bloodied fields of Belleau Wood, his life speaks to every veteran who stands watch in darkness.
We honor Sgt. Major Daniel Joseph Daly not just for medals or tales of valor—but for every step he took against fear and every life he chose to protect. His legacy is a reminder that courage isn’t purchased by rank; it is earned with sweat, sacrifice, and heart.
“Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.” — Joshua 1:9
In the scars he bore, in the stories he left behind, we find not just a Marine, but a man redeemed by purpose and armed with unwavering faith. That is the warrior’s legacy—to fight hard, fall rarely, and live with honor after the guns fall silent.
Sources
1. U.S. Army Center of Military History, Medal of Honor Recipients: Boxer Rebellion. 2. Marine Corps History Division, Haitian Campaign Citations and Official Reports.
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