Gunnery Sergeant Daniel Joseph Daly, a Marine in the U.S. Marine Corps, received the Medal of Honor for gallantry on October 24, 1915 at Fort Liberte, Haiti during the 1915 Haitian campaign. At the time he was serving with 15th Company (Mounted), 2nd Regiment, 1st Brigade, 2d Regiment. Daly was 41 years old.
2 other service members also received the Medal of Honor for actions on the same day. He later rose to the rank of Sergeant Major. Daly is one of the few people to receive the Medal of Honor twice; see his other award (August 14, 1900).
Daly was born on November 11, 1873 in Glen Cove, Nassau County, New York. His Medal of Honor is credited to New York. Daly died on April 27, 1937 in Glendale, New York, at the age of 63. He is buried at Cypress Hills National Cemetery in Brooklyn, New York. His medal is held by National Museum of the US Marine Corps (Medals for both actions), Quantico, VA.
Daly is one of 6 Medal of Honor recipients from the 1915 Haitian campaign and one of 678 credited to New York.
Official Medal of Honor citation
Second Award: Serving with the 15th Company of Marines on 22 October 1915, GSgt. Daly was one of the company to leave Fort Liberte, Haiti, for a six-day reconnaissance. After dark on the evening of 24 October, while crossing the river in a deep ravine, the detachment was suddenly fired upon from three sides by about 400 Cacos concealed in bushes about 100 yards from the fort. The marine detachment fought its way forward to a good position, which it maintained during the night, although subjected to a continuous fire from the Cacos. At daybreak the marines, in three squads, advanced in three different directions, surprising and scattering the Cacos in all directions. GSgt. Daly fought with exceptional gallantry against heavy odds throughout this action.
Citation text: U.S. Government, public domain.
Other decorations and honors
Besides the Medal of Honor, Daniel Joseph Daly received:
Source: Wikidata. Gold chips link to our guide to that decoration.
Battles and campaigns
Also served in: World War I, Boxer Rebellion, Banana Wars.
Places
Veteran resources, cemeteries and meeting places in New York →
From the archives
Additional information on his action comes from U.S. Navy General Order No. 319, dated August 25, 1917:
"On October 22, 1915, Capt. Upshur, First Lieut. Ostermann, First Lieut. Miller, Asst. Surg. Borden, and 35 enlisted men of the Fifteenth Company of Marines, all mounted, left Fort Liberte, Haiti, for a six-day reconnaissance. After dark on the evening of October 24, while crossing river in deep ravine, the detachment was suddenly first upon from there sides by about 400 Cacos concealed in bushes about 100 yards from fort. The Marine detachment fought its way forward to a good position, which it maintained during the night, although subjected to a continuous fire form the Cacos. At daybreak, the Marines in three squads commanded by Capt. Upshur, Liet. Ostermann, and Gunnery Sergt. Daly, advanced in three different directions, surprising and scattering the Cacos in all directions. The expeditionary commander commented on the gallantry displayed by the officers and men of this detachment in the following language:
‘The action of the 35 men in the attack made upon them during the night of October 24 can not be commended too highly. It is true that these men were in pitch darkness, surrounded by 10 times their number and fighting for their lives, but the manner in which they fought during that long night, the steady, cool discipline, that prevented demoralization is remarkable. Had one squad failed, not one man of the party would have lived to tell the story. The actual assault upon the enemy, made in three different directions and beginning as soon as the light permitted them to see, was splendid. It meant success or utter annihilation. It succeeded thanks to the splendid examples given by the officers and noncommissioned officers supported by the men. Upshur and Ostermann advancing from two directions captured Fort Dipitie with a total of 14 Marines, putting garrison to flight. Demolished and burned fort. All three squads burned all houses from which fire had been coming. I believe, therefore, that Capt. William P. Upshur, First Lieut. Edward A. Ostermann, and Gunnery Sergt. Daniel Daly should be given medals of honor for this particular engagement and the work of the following day.’
It will be noted that Gunnery Sergt. Daniel Daly is mentioned by the commandant for conspicuous gallantry at both Fort Dipitie and Fort Riviere."
Timeline
- November 11, 1873Born in Glen Cove, Nassau County, New York
- October 24, 1915Act of valor — Fort Liberte, HaitiAge 41. 15th Company (Mounted), 2nd Regiment, 1st Brigade, 2d Regiment
- April 27, 1937Died in Glendale, New YorkAge 63.
- Resting placeCypress Hills National CemeteryBrooklyn, New York
Biography
Daniel Joseph Daly (November 11, 1873 – April 27, 1937) was a United States Marine and one of nineteen U.S. servicemen to have been awarded the Medal of Honor twice. Daly and Major General Smedley Butler are the only Marines who earned two Medals of Honor for two separate acts of valor. Daly is among the most decorated U.S. Marines in history, and over a thirty year career saw action in all the major Marine Corps campaigns from 1899 to the end of World War I. He earned his first Medal of Honor during the Boxer Rebellion in 1900 and the second in Haiti in 1915. Butler described Daly as "the fightingest Marine I ever knew...It was an object lesson to have served with him." General John A.
From the Wikipedia article “Daniel Daly”, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Read the full article →
Named in his honor
- USS Daly — destroyer
