‘Come On, You Sons of B*tches, Do You Want to Live Forever?’: The Unmatched Valor of Dan Daly, Double Medal of Honor Marine

The annals of military history are replete with tales of extraordinary courage, but few figures stand as tall as Daniel Joseph Daly in the pantheon of American heroes. Revered within the United States Marine Corps, Daly holds a distinction so rare it borders on the mythical: he was awarded the Medal of Honor not once, but twice, for two entirely separate and distinct acts of valor in combat. This unparalleled achievement sets him apart from nearly all other recipients of the nation’s highest military decoration. This exploration delves into the two incredible actions that earned him these honors, examining the character of the man behind the legend, the statistical unlikelihood of his feats, and his enduring impact on the very ethos of the Marine Corps.

To immediately grasp the remarkable nature of his accomplishments, the following table provides a concise overview of the two actions that earned Daniel Daly his Medals of Honor:

Table 1: Daniel Daly’s Medals of Honor at a Glance

The First Test: Boxer Rebellion, Peking 1900

The turn of the 20th century found Imperial China in a state of profound upheaval. European powers and Japan had carved out “spheres of influence,” leading to widespread resentment among Chinese nationals. This discontent, fueled by unequal treaties, the British opium trade, and the disruptive activities of foreign Christian missionaries, culminated in the rise of the “Boxers,” formally known as the Society of the Righteous and Harmonious Fists. Their rallying cry, “Support the Ching Dynasty and Exterminate the Foreigners,” reflected a deep-seated desire to rid China of foreign presence.  

By June 1900, the situation escalated dramatically. The Empress Dowager Cixi, initially ambivalent, eventually sided with the Boxers, ordering the Chinese Imperial Army to join the assault on the Legation Quarters in Peking (now Beijing), where foreign embassies were located. This marked the beginning of a desperate 55-day siege. The U.S. Marine Corps, as part of an international relief force, was present to protect the besieged legations. Within this chaotic environment, the strategic importance of the Tartar Wall, a formidable ancient structure measuring 45 feet tall and 40 feet wide, became paramount. Control of this wall was critical because it offered an unobstructed field of fire directly into the Legation Quarters, making it the most vulnerable point in the defense. The context of this siege, characterized by deep-seated anti-foreign sentiment and a shifting government stance, underscores the desperation and high stakes of every defensive action, particularly those on the wall.  

Daly’s Stand on the Tartar Wall

It was on August 14, 1900, that Private Daniel Joseph Daly, serving with Captain Newt Hall’s Marine Detachment, 1st Regiment (Marines), from the U.S.S. Newark, etched his name into history. He and Captain Hall had initially mounted a bastion on the Tartar Wall. As the relentless attacks intensified, Captain Hall departed to secure reinforcements, leaving Private Daly to defend the position single-handed.  

Armed with his Lee-Winchester Navy Straight-Pull Rifle, an M1895 bayonet, and a single canteen of water, Daly faced overwhelming odds. Wave after wave of “hundreds of Chinese ‘Boxers'” and Imperial Chinese Army forces launched relentless assaults, subjecting him to constant sniper fire and repeated charges. He fought alone through the night, repelling every attack, his solitary stand preventing a catastrophic breach of the perimeter. By dawn, when reinforcements finally arrived, they found Daly “battered but alive,” with approximately 200 dead or dying Chinese piled before his position. His extraordinary actions “ensured the security of a crucial point on the perimeter wall, saving hundreds of lives in the Foreign Legation Quarters”. For this gallantry, he was awarded his first Medal of Honor, with the official citation simply stating that he “distinguished himself by meritorious conduct” in the presence of the enemy during the battle of Peking.  

The stark contrast between the sparse official citation—a mere declaration of “meritorious conduct”—and the vivid, detailed accounts of his single-handed defense against hundreds of attackers is striking. This discrepancy highlights how formal language can sometimes fall short in capturing the true scope of valor. Daly’s actions were so far beyond typical expectations that the citation system of the era struggled to adequately describe them. It suggests that true heroism often defies simple categorization and requires a narrative to be fully appreciated, subtly underscoring the limitations of bureaucratic recognition when faced with such profound individual bravery.  

Fifteen Years Later, Unwavering Courage: Haiti, 1915

Fifteen years after his heroic stand in Peking, Daniel Daly found himself in a vastly different, yet equally perilous, theater of operations: Haiti. The U.S. intervention in Haiti, which began in 1915 and lasted until 1934, was driven by long-standing American interests in maintaining stability in the Caribbean, particularly due to fears of foreign, especially German, influence in the strategically located nation. Haiti was plagued by extreme political instability, with a rapid succession of assassinations and overthrows of presidents. In this volatile environment, the U.S. Marines were deployed to restore order and protect American assets, engaging in what became known as the “Caco Wars” against Caco insurgents—quasi-military mountain tribes who often acted as mercenaries.  

This Haitian context presented a different type of conflict compared to the static, defensive siege of the Boxer Rebellion. While Peking involved holding a fixed position against an organized, albeit irregular, enemy, Haiti was characterized by guerrilla warfare against “bandits” in challenging, often ambush-prone terrain. Daly’s transition from static defense to dynamic, offensive action in this new environment demonstrates a versatile and proactive form of courage, proving his valor was not situational but an intrinsic part of his character, adaptable to any combat scenario.  

The Ambush at Fort Dipitie and the Machine Gun Rescue

On the night of October 24-25, 1915, Gunnery Sergeant Daniel Joseph Daly, serving with the 15th Company of Marines (Mounted), 2d Marine Regiment, was part of a 40-man mounted patrol under the command of Major Smedley Butler, near Fort Dipitie. As the detachment navigated a deep ravine, crossing a river, they were suddenly ambushed from three sides by approximately 400 Cacos concealed in the bushes. The patrol was pinned down under heavy fire, and their horse, carrying the crucial machine gun, was killed, sinking the invaluable weapon to the riverbed.  

In the chaos and darkness, Daly performed an act of extraordinary heroism. “Acting on his own initiative,” he left the relative safety of the Marine defensive position. Under constant enemy fire, he swam the river, located the submerged horse, freed the machine gun from its restraints, and then, in what is often recounted as three separate, arduous trips, carried the 200 pounds of weaponry and ammunition more than a mile back to his beleaguered patrol. Major Smedley Butler, himself a future double Medal of Honor recipient, was present and later expressed profound admiration for Daly’s feat, stating that Daly moved “coolly and deliberately” and that Butler himself “wouldn’t have had the courage” to undertake such an exploit.  

The retrieval of that machine gun proved crucial. With the weapon back in action, the Marines were able to break the ambush. At daybreak, the rearmed patrol, with Daly leading one of the squads, routed the Cacos, capturing and destroying Fort Dipitie. His bravery directly led to the survival of his patrol and the defeat of their ambushers. For this action, he received his second Medal of Honor, the citation noting his “exceptional gallantry against heavy odds throughout this action”.  

Smedley Butler’s personal testimony regarding Daly’s courage provides a powerful validation of his heroism. Coming from another warrior of such elite standing, who himself earned two Medals of Honor, Butler’s admission that he “wouldn’t have had the courage” for Daly’s actions elevates Daly’s heroism beyond mere objective description. This creates a compelling narrative of peer recognition at the highest level, suggesting that Daly possessed a rare, almost singular, form of bravery that even other exceptional warriors acknowledged as extraordinary. This adds a layer of qualitative depth to his already impressive quantitative achievements.  

Dan Daly: The Quintessential Marine

Daniel Joseph Daly was born on November 11, 1873, in Glen Cove, New York. He enlisted in the United States Marine Corps on January 10, 1899, at the age of 25, and served continuously until 1919, eventually retiring as a Sergeant Major in 1929. Despite his legendary feats, Daly was a man of relatively small physical stature, standing at 5 feet 6 inches and weighing 134 pounds. This physical reality makes his immense combat achievements even more remarkable, underscoring that his power came not from brute size, but from an indomitable spirit. He was also known to have been a semi-professional boxer, hinting at the fighting spirit that defined his career.  

Daly’s career was marked by a consistent pattern of valor, extending far beyond his two Medal of Honor actions. During World War I, he earned both the Navy Cross and the Distinguished Service Cross for his actions at the Battle of Belleau Wood in June 1918. On June 5, 1918, he extinguished a fire in an ammunition dump at Lucy-le-Bocage, risking his life to prevent a catastrophic explosion. Just five days later, on June 10, he single-handedly attacked and captured a German machine-gun emplacement using only hand grenades and his automatic pistol, and also brought in wounded soldiers under fire during a German attack on Bouresches. His extensive list of decorations includes the Silver Star, French Croix de Guerre with Palm, and the French Médaille Militaire, among many others.  

Table 2: Daniel Daly’s Major Military Decorations

The Famous Belleau Wood Exhortation

Perhaps no single moment cemented Daly’s legend more firmly in the public consciousness than his most famous attributed quote from the Battle of Belleau Wood: “Come on, you sons of b*tches, do you want to live forever?”. This audacious challenge, reportedly yelled as he ordered an attack on a German machine gun nest, became an immortal battle cry within the Marine Corps. While historical accounts debate the exact wording and whether it was truly uttered by Daly or was the creation of a war correspondent, its enduring power in Marine Corps lore is undeniable. Daly himself later claimed he said, “For Christ’s sake, men—come on! Do you want to live forever?”.  

The fact that the quote’s precise origin and wording are debated, yet it remains central to Daly’s legend and the Marine Corps ethos, is telling. It demonstrates that the spirit of the quote—an audacious defiance of fear and mortality—resonated so deeply that it transcended literal accuracy to become a foundational myth. This speaks to the powerful role of narrative in shaping military culture and the human desire for inspiring figures, even if the details become embellished over time. It highlights the difference between historical fact and the profound impact of a story on collective identity.  

Reputation and Respect

Daly’s reputation among his fellow Marines was unequivocal: he was tough, inspiring, and the very embodiment of a “Marine’s Marine”. Major General Smedley Butler, who served alongside him, famously declared him “The fightin’est Marine I ever knew,” adding that “it was an object lesson to have served with him”. Similarly, Major General John A. Lejeune, a former Commandant of the Marine Corps, acclaimed Daly as “the outstanding Marine of all time”.  

A profound aspect of Daly’s character was his consistent refusal of commissions, reportedly stating that he would rather be “an outstanding sergeant than just another officer”. In a military hierarchy where promotion to officer rank is typically seen as the pinnacle of a career, Daly’s repeated decision to remain an enlisted man speaks volumes about his priorities. It demonstrates a deep commitment to the enlisted ranks and a belief in the direct, front-line leadership role of the Non-Commissioned Officer (NCO). This choice reinforces his image as a leader who leads from the front, embodying the fighting spirit of the enlisted Marine, which made him uniquely revered by those he served with and led. Furthermore, Daly was known to disdain publicity, famously terming medals “a lot of foolishness,” indicating a focus on duty and action rather than personal recognition.  

A Rarity Among Heroes: The Significance of Two Medals of Honor

The Medal of Honor is the highest military decoration awarded by the United States, bestowed for acts of valor that go “above and beyond the call of duty”. Since its creation in 1861, more than 3,520 Medals of Honor have been awarded. Within this exceptionally select group, only 19 individuals have received the Medal of Honor twice.  

What elevates Daniel Daly’s achievement into an even rarer category is the distinction that both of his Medals of Honor were awarded for two separate and distinct acts of combat valor. Many other double recipients historically received two medals for the  

same act (e.g., both Army and Navy versions), or for acts of valor performed during peacetime. Daly falls into neither of these categories. In fact, he is one of only two Marines—the other being Major General Smedley Butler—to achieve this specific distinction. Smedley Butler’s two Medals of Honor were for actions in Vera Cruz in 1914 and Haiti in 1915.  

This statistical breakdown quantifies the unprecedented nature of Daly’s valor, placing him in an almost mythical category of military heroes. By contrasting the tiny number of double recipients (19) with the total Medals awarded (over 3,500), and then further narrowing it down to “only two Marines for separate actions,” the historical record powerfully illustrates the exceptional nature of his achievement. This numerical context transforms Daly’s accomplishment from merely “impressive” to “historically unique and almost impossible to replicate,” solidifying his status as an outlier even among the most elite heroes.

Table 3: Medal of Honor Rarity

The Enduring Legacy of a “Marine’s Marine”

Daniel Daly’s influence extends far beyond his individual acts of bravery; his legend has profoundly shaped the very fabric of the Marine Corps.

Leadership Style Daly’s leadership was characterized by a direct, “leading from the front” approach, evident in both his Medal of Honor actions and his World War I feats. His physical involvement in combat, such as single-handedly defending the Tartar Wall or retrieving the machine gun in Haiti, was a powerful example. This direct leadership fostered extreme loyalty and courage in his men, as demonstrated by their willingness to follow him into seemingly impossible situations in Haiti and the enduring impact of his Belleau Wood exhortation. His “constant attention to the needs of his men” and his reputation as a strict but fair disciplinarian further solidified his standing as a leader who earned respect through both action and care. His leadership style was not just a tactic; it was a character trait that elevated the performance of his unit, becoming a model for future Marine leaders.  

The NCO Factor The profound significance of Daly achieving both Medals of Honor as an enlisted man—first as a Private, then as a Gunnery Sergeant—cannot be overstated. This embodies the fighting spirit and critical role of the Marine NCO corps, often regarded as the backbone of the Marine Corps. His consistent refusal of a commission, preferring to remain “an outstanding sergeant than just another officer,” further reinforces this. In many military traditions, the highest honors are often associated with officers. Daly’s achievements as an enlisted man and his deliberate choice to remain an NCO challenge this perception, making him a powerful, enduring symbol for the enlisted ranks. He personifies the “backbone of the Corps” idea, demonstrating that the highest forms of valor and leadership are not exclusive to commissioned officers and reinforcing the importance of the NCO in direct combat and leadership.  

Comparison with Smedley Butler The comparison between Daniel Daly and Major General Smedley Butler, the only other Marine to receive two Medals of Honor for separate actions, is insightful. Both served in the “Banana Wars,” with Butler earning his Medals in Vera Cruz and Haiti, and Daly in Peking and Haiti. Both achieved the pinnacle of valor. However, their career paths diverged significantly: Butler rose to the rank of Major General , while Daly deliberately remained an NCO throughout his career. This contrast highlights that while both were exceptional, their philosophical approaches to military service offered different models of Marine excellence. Butler became a vocal critic of war in his later years, while Daly remained the quintessential “fighting Marine,” embodying different forms of impact within the military.  

Impact on Marine Corps Ethos Daniel Daly’s legend is not merely historical; it is a living part of Marine Corps identity, shaping its values and inspiring generations. His relentless courage, his “never quit” attitude, and his ability to fight against overwhelming odds have deeply contributed to the Marine Corps’ culture of bravery, perseverance, and “esprit de corps”. He embodies the Marine ideal of holding the line against impossible odds. The continuous praise from high-ranking Marines like Lejeune and Butler, and the pervasive nature of his quotes and anecdotes within Marine lore, indicate that Daly is more than just a historical figure. He is a foundational myth, a symbol of the “Marine’s Marine,” whose actions and character have been internalized into the Corps’ ethos, influencing training, leadership, and the very self-perception of Marines. This demonstrates the powerful, long-term ripple effect of individual heroism on institutional culture.  

The “Weight” of Two Medals One might speculate on the personal impact or responsibility of being one of so few to hold such a distinction. However, Daly’s reported indifference to medals, which he termed “a lot of foolishness,” offers a profound perspective. This suggests that his valor was not driven by external reward or ego, but by an intrinsic motivation—a deep sense of duty, a pure love for the fight, and a commitment to his country and comrades. His continued service and repeated acts of valor, even after receiving the nation’s highest honor, indicate that his bravery was deeply ingrained, a reflection of his inherent nature rather than a burden of expectation. This makes his heroism even more authentic and less about seeking glory, resonating deeply with the “duty first” military ethic.  

More Than Metal: The Symbolism of Supreme Valor and Recognition

The Medal of Honor stands as the nation’s highest military decoration, representing the pinnacle of courage, self-sacrifice, and an unwavering commitment to going “above and beyond the call of duty”. Daniel Daly’s two Medals of Honor are not merely pieces of metal; they are profound symbols of supreme valor, embodying the extraordinary capacity of the human spirit in the face of extreme adversity.  

Beyond the military, the underlying principle that drives the awarding of such honors—the desire to acknowledge and commemorate outstanding human endeavor—is universal. The Medals of Honor awarded to Dan Daly represent the pinnacle of military valor, but the underlying principle—the desire to acknowledge and commemorate outstanding human endeavor—is universal. Today, organizations and communities continue this tradition by [creating lasting symbols of achievement] for various forms of excellence, often seeking out [specialists in crafting commemorative awards] to bring these recognitions to life. While the Medal of Honor is unique, the act of [designing custom medals for exceptional service] or other significant accomplishments allows for tangible, enduring recognition in corporate, academic, sporting, and community settings, ensuring that merit in all its forms is duly celebrated. This connection bridges the historical significance of military valor with the contemporary practice of recognition, demonstrating the universal human need to honor achievement.  

Conclusion

Sergeant Major Daniel Joseph Daly remains one of the most extraordinary figures in American military history. His unique achievement of earning two Medals of Honor for two separate and distinct acts of valor in combat—a feat shared by only one other Marine—cements his place as a paragon of courage and resilience. From his solitary stand on the Tartar Wall during the Boxer Rebellion to his audacious retrieval of a machine gun under fire in Haiti, Daly consistently demonstrated a level of bravery that inspired awe even in fellow heroes like Smedley Butler.

His small stature belied an indomitable spirit, and his preference to remain an NCO, rather than seeking officer commissions, underscored his profound commitment to leading from the front and embodying the fighting spirit of the enlisted Marine. The legendary battle cry attributed to him at Belleau Wood, whether precisely accurate or not, captures the essence of his “never quit” attitude, which continues to shape the Marine Corps’ ethos. Daniel Daly’s legacy is more than a historical record; it is a living inspiration, a timeless testament to unmatched valor, and a powerful reminder of the indomitable human spirit in the face of overwhelming odds. His story continues to resonate deeply, serving as a perpetual example of what it means to be a “Marine’s Marine.”