27 Facts About Daniel Daly

Daniel Joseph Daly was a United States Marine and one of nineteen US servicemen to have been awarded the Medal of Honor twice.

Daniel Daly was awarded the Navy Cross and the Distinguished Service Cross for his actions in France.

Daniel Joseph Daly was born on November 11,1873, in Glen Cove, New York, on Long Island.

Daniel Daly spent his youth in New York City, working as a newsboy and a laborer.

Daniel Daly enlisted in the United States Marine Corps on January 10,1899, at the age of 25.

Daniel Daly's first posting was with the Asiatic Fleet aboard the cruiser USS Newark.

Daniel Daly volunteered to hold the position while Captain Hall returned for the working party, and single-handedly fought off a furious all-night Boxer attack, an action which earned him his first Medal of Honor.

Later that year, Daniel Daly had two run-ins with military discipline: He was court-martialed once for drunkenness on post and spent three weeks in the brig at the Boston Navy Yard, and again three weeks later for drunkenness and verbal abuse of the sergeant of the guard.

Daniel Daly trained recruits, worked as a guard at the Portsmouth Naval Prison, and gained a reputation as an excellent boxer.

Daniel Daly was promoted to corporal in 1906 and sergeant in 1909.

On March 14,1911, Daniel Daly was garrisoned at the United States Naval Station in San Juan, Puerto Rico, when he spotted a gasoline fire that was spreading from the forecastle of the merchant schooner Springfield.

Daniel Daly received commendations from both the Secretary of the Navy and the Commandant of the Marine Corps for his actions.

At the outbreak of the Battle of Veracruz on April 21,1914, Sergeant Daniel Daly landed in Veracruz, Mexico, with a combined force of 1,200 US Marines and sailors.

The ensuing battle saw intense street fighting, and the day after landing, Daniel Daly's platoon was pinned down in an arroyo, facing heavy sniper fire from a rooftop.

Daniel Daly covertly crawled out of the ditch, entered the building from the rear and killed its entire seven man garrison, five by rifle fire and two by bayonet.

Daniel Daly earned his second Medal of Honor in Haiti with the US Marines supporting the Haitian government in a fight against Cacos insurgents.

Butler wrote that Daniel Daly performed this feat on his own initiative, and that the major was surprised to see the machine gun, which he had been resigned to fighting without, set up back at the Marine camp.

Butler further wrote that Daniel Daly moved "coolly and deliberately" and that he himself "wouldn't have had the courage" to undertake such an exploit.

Daniel Daly is a real red-blooded marine and it was an object lesson to have served with him.

At the outbreak of the Battle of Belleau Wood on June 1,1918, Daniel Daly's regiment was placed in a gap in the line left by the French 43rd Division, with the intent to stop the German advance toward Paris.

Daniel Daly quickly led a party from his company into the flames to extinguish the blaze, preventing the arsenal from exploding.

Daniel Daly immediately charged the weapon, destroying it with three grenades, shot the unit's commanding officer with his.

Daniel Daly later fought in the Battle of Saint-Mihiel and the Battle of Blanc Mont Ridge.

Daniel Daly died of a heart attack in Glendale, Queens, New York, on April 27,1937, aged 63.

On November 10,2005, the United States Postal Service issued its "Distinguished Marines" stamps in which Daly was honored alongside John Basilone, John A Lejeune, and Chesty Puller.

Gunnery Sergeant Daniel Daly was one of the company to leave Fort Liberte, Haiti, for a six-day reconnaissance.

Gunnery Sergeant Daniel Daly fought with exceptional gallantry against heavy odds throughout this action.