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Double Congressional Medal of Honor Recipient
Sergeant Major Daniel Joseph Daly
SERGEANT MAJOR
DANIEL ("DAN") DALY, USMC
(DECEASED)
Boxer Rebellion 1900 Medal of Honor Recipient
Haitian Campaigns Medal of Honor Recipient
Sergeant Major Daniel ("Dan") Daly was once acclaimed by Major General John A. Lejeune , former Commandant of the Marine Corps, as "the outstanding Marine of all time." General Smedley D. Butler called him "The fightinest Marine I ever knew," and wrote that "it was an object lesson to have served with "him."
This kind of praise was generally expressed by Marine officers and enlisted men alike and, according to the record, "Dan" Daly deserved it.
Sergeant Daly and General Butler are the only Marines who ever received the Nation's highest military award-the Medal of Honor-twice for separate acts of heroism.
A small man (five feet, six inches in height and weighing only 132 pounds), Daly nevertheless was a fine military figure, erect and well-proportioned. His keen gray eyes looked upon danger without fear. Although a "natural" for publicity, he disdained it and disliked all the fuss made over him. He termed medals "a lot of foolishness." Personally be enjoyed a pipe, crammed with cut plug tobacco, but did not drink.
Daly was a strict disciplinarian, yet fair-minded and very popular among both officers and enlisted men. He was noted not only for his reckless daring, but also for his constant attention to the needs of his men. Offered a commission on several occasions, he is said to have declined on the grounds that he would rather be "an outstanding sergeant than just another officer."
Dan Daly is perhaps best remembered for a famous battle cry delivered during the desperate fighting in Belleau Wood in June 1918. Marines took a terrific pounding on the outskirts of Lucy le Bocage ("Lucy Birdcage" to the A.E.F.) at the fringe of Belleau Wood. They were outnumbered, outgunned and pinned down. Then Daly made history. He ordered an attack. Leaping forward, he yelled to his tired men, "Come on, you sons of bitches, do you want to live forever?"
Very little is known about Daly's early life other than the fact of his birth in Glen Cove, Long Island, New York, on 11 November 1873, and the fact that he was a newsboy and something of a fighter for his weight and size.
With the hope getting into the Spanish American War , Daly enlisted in the Marine Corps on 10 January 1899. But he didn't make it. Before he had finished boot-camp training, the war had collapsed and he was ordered aboard ship and sent to the Asiatic Fleet.
In May 1900, he shipped aboard the USS Newark for Taku Bay, China, where he landed with other Marines and entrained for Peking. The American Marines and Germans had been stationed on Tartar Wall, south of the American Legation, but intense enemy fire had driven them from the position. With Captain Hall, Daly mounted the wall bastion, bayoneted rifle in hand. On August 14, Captain Hall left to bring up reinforcements and Daly remained to defend the position single-handed. Chinese snipers fired at him and stormed the bastion, but he fought them off until reinforcements arrived. For this gallantry he was awarded his first Medal of Honor.
Fifteen years later, in action against Haitian bandits, Sergeant Daly earned the rare distinction being awarded a second Medal of Honor. The citation accompanying the award states:
"Gunnery Sergeant Daniel Daly, United States Marine Corps, on the night of October 24, 1915, three officers and 35 enlisted men were attacked by 400 Cacos while crossing a river in a deep ravine concealed in bushes about 100 yards from a 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 under the command of Captain Upshur, Lieutenant Osterman and Gunnery Sergeant Daly advanced in three different directions, surprising and scattering the enemy in all directions. Had one squad failed, not one man of the party would have lived to tell the tale. Gunnery Sergeant Daly, 15th Company, during the operations was the most consipicuous figure among the enlisted men."
Dan Daly's service was varied and included sea duty aboard the USS Newark, Panther, Cleveland, Marietta, Mississippi, Ohio, and Machias. In addition to combat in China, Haiti and France, he served in Panama, Cuba, Vera Cruz, Mexico and Puerto Rico, and on eight United States posts.
During World War I, Daly served from 4 November 1917 to 21 April 1919, participating in combat in the Toulon Sector (March-May 1918); Aisne Operations (June 1918); and the Chateau-Thierry Sector (Belleau Wood, June 1918). During this operation, on June 5 and at the risk of his life, he extinguished a fire in the ammunition dump at Lucy le Bocage. Two days later, while the same sector was under one of its heaviest bombardments, he visited all machine gun crews of his company, then posted over a wide section of the front, cheering his men. On June 10, single-handed, he attacked an enemy machine gun emplacement, capturing it by the use of hand grenades and an automatic pistol. On the same date, during an enemy attack on the village of Bouresches, he brought in wounded under heavy fire.
Sergeant Daly also served in the St. Mihiel Offensive (September 1918) and the Champagne Offensive (Blanc Mont, September-October 1918). He was wounded in action on June 21 and twice on 8 October 1918. He then served with the American Army of Occupation in Germany following the Armistice, which he considered "not a bad birthday present."
A complete list of Sergeant Major Daniel Daly's decorations and medals includes the Medal of Honor (Navy) (1900-Peking, China); Medal of Honor (Navy) (1915-Haiti); Navy Cross (1918-Belleau Woods); Distinguished Service Cross; Letter of Commendation (Secretary of the Navy); Letter of Commendation (Secretary of the Navy); Letter of Commendation; Good Conduct Medal with two bronze stars; China Relief Expedition Medal; Philippine Campaign Medal; Expeditionary Medal with one bronze star; Mexican Service Medal; Haitian Campaign Medal; World War I Victory Medal with Aisne, St. Mihiel, Meuse-Argonne and Defensive-Sector clasps; Medaille Militaire; Croix de Guerre with Palm; and the Fourragere (the last three awards from the French government).
Daly remained unmarried all his life. In 1919 he was reported as saying, "I can't see how a single man could spend his time to better advantage than in the Marines." Soon thereafter he was placed on the retainer list of the Fleet Marine Corps Reserve, awaiting retirement. He took a job as a bank guard on Wall Street, New York City, and held the position 17 years.
Retired officially on 6 February 1929, Sergeant Major Daniel ("Dan") Daly died at Glendale, Long Island, New York, 28 April 1937. His remains were buried in Cypress Hills. Today a destroyer bears Daly's name. His record as a fighting man remains unequalled in the annals of Marine Corps history.
CITATIONS:
DALY, DANIEL JOSEPH (First Award)
Rank and organization: Private, U.S. Marine Corps. Born: 11 November 1873, Glen Cove, Long Island, N.Y. Accredited to. New York. G.O. No.: 55, 19 July 1901. Other Navy Awards: Second Medal of Honor, Navy Cross. Citation: In the presence of the enemy during the battle of Peking, China, 14 August 1900, Daly distinguished himself by meritorious conduct.
DALY, DANIEL JOSEPH (Second Award)
Rank and organization: Gunnery Sergeant, U.S. Marine Corps. Born: Glen Cove, Long Island, N.Y., 11 November 1873. Accredited to: New York. Other Navy awards: Second Medal of Honor, Navy Cross. Citation: Serving with the 15th Company of Marines on 22 October 1915, G/Sgt. Daly was one of the company to leave Fort Liberte, Haiti, for a 6-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 3 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 3 squads, advanced in 3 different directions, surprising and scattering the Cacos in all directions. G/Sgt. Daly fought with exceptional gallantry against heavy odds throughout this action.
USS Daly (DD-519)
The USS Daly is the namesake of U.S. Marine Corps Sergeant Major Daniel Joseph Daly, who was awarded two Medals of Honor. The first was as a Private during the China Relief Expedition in the battle of Peking, China on August 14, 1900. The second was as Gunnery Sergeant during the Haitian Campaign (1915) between October 24 and 25, 1915.
The USS Daly was a Fletcher Class Destroyer built by Bethlehem Steel Company in Staten Island, New York. She was launched on October 24, 1942, and sponsored by Mrs. A. Ransweiler, niece of Sergeant Major Daly. The Daly was commissioned March 10, 1943 with Commander R. G. Visser in command.
The Daly displaced 2,050 tons, with a length of 376'6", a beam of 39'4" and a draft of 17'9", and carried a crew of 329, at a top speed of 35 knots. Twin screws on twin shafts from geared turbines and high-pressure water-tube boilers powered her delivering 60,000-shaft horsepower. Her armament included five 5" 38 guns, four 40 mm Bufors and four 20 mm Oerlikon Anti-Aircraft Guns and ten 21" torpedo tubes.
The Daly sailed on both oceans in the two-ocean war. She screened the Ranger (CV-4) in the Atlantic and Lexington (CV-16) from the East Coast through the Panama Canal to San Diego, arriving August 4, 1943. She participated in the operations at Kiska and Attu in the Aleutian Islands, from August 11 through November 18. She sailed from Pearl Harbor on December 9 for the Southwest Pacific reaching Milne Bay at the east tip of the Papuan Peninsula of New Guinea on December 18. She participated in operations at Cape Gloucester on the northwest tip of New Britain. She participated in operations at Cape Sudest on the northeast coast of the Papuan Peninsula southeast of Buna, and Saidor on the north coast of New Guinea facing the Vitiaz Strait. The Daly remained in the New Guinea area participating in operations at Saidor and Cape Gloucester, before sailing for Sydney, Australia on February 4, 1944.
The Daly steamed to Milne Bay on February 22 to participate in operations in the Admiralty Islands at Los Negros Island at the eastern tip of Manus Island, and Seeadler Harbor bounded on three sides by Los Negros Island on the east and north and Manus Island on the south. She participated in operations along the north central coast of New Guinea at Wewak Harbor and Hollandia. She operated out of Seeadler Harbor against Sawar and Wakde, and assigned patrol duty between Aitape and west to Tanamerah.
From May 15 to August 7, 1944 the Daly participated in operations in Western New Guinea, as the Southwest Pacific war worked its way up the chain. She steamed to Sydney, Australia on the 7th for a brief overhaul.
The Daly steamed from Sydney to Humboldt Bay at Hollandia in New Guinea, and on September 11 sorted from Humboldt Bay northwestward for the invasion of Morotai. MacArthurs forces were now north of the equator heading toward the Philippines. The Dally steamed to Seeadler Harbor on September 29, and on October 11 she was underway for the invasion of Leyte. The Daly participated in the surface Battle of Surigao Strait, a phase of the decisive Battle for Leyte Gulf.
The Daly returned to Seeadler Harbor at Manus Island on November 3, and on November 9 steamed toward the West Coast to San Francisco Bay and the Alameda Ship Yards for a major over-haul.
On December 28, 1944 Lieutenant (j.g.) Theodore Roosevelt Curby replaced ships doctor George Augustine Sheehan. Curby was born in Maypearl, Texas and Sheehan in Brooklyn, New York. Both were from large families, Curby was the youngest of eight, and Sheehan the oldest of fourteen, and both were sons of medical doctors. Doc Curby would take medical responsibility for a crew of 329, slightly fewer than the 350 to 400 population of Maypearl. Two assaults remained before war would end in the Pacific.
On April 28, 1945 Doc Curby was killed onboard the Daly during a six minute attack by five kamikaze aircraft in the vicinity of Okinawa. His commanding officer, Commander Richard R. Bradley, Jr. wrote Doc Curby's wife, Marjorie, on May 8. He wrote:
"I know that anything I can say now will only add to your burden, but I do want you to know how the ship felt about Dr. Curby.
"I was Doc's skipper and I know that there was not a better liked man on board. He had the confidence of every member of the crew, and was continuously giving them help and encouragement. His happy manner and constant cheerfulness was contagious, and had its effect on all hands.
"The ship was under attack by enemy planes, and Doc was at one of the guns, giving aid to a shipmate. One of the planes passed over the ship and crashed nearby. The explosion which followed sent shrapnel in every direction, a piece of which hit your husband. He passed away instantly without suffering.
"I am expressing the opinion of all of his shipmates when I say that your husband was one of the swellest guys we ever knew.
"Sincerely,
"Richard R. Bradley, Jr."
On August 14, 1945 Japan surrendered unconditionally, and on Sunday, September 2, Japan officially signed a surrender agreement aboard the battleship Missouri in Tokyo Bay.
On October 18, 1945 Lieutenant (j.g.) Hilton R. Frank wrote Mrs. Marjorie C. Curby advising her of the intent of the crew of the USS Daly. They were presently compiling a book about the World War II activities of the Daly and crew. The book would be dedicated to Doc Curby, and the two other crewmembers that died on April 28, 1945. He asked Marjorie for a picture of Doc Curby to be included with the written dedication. The book was written and published, and copies mailed to the families.
The USS Daly was the namesake of a double Medal of Honor recipient, who was a tough Marine, and whose memory may have been an invisible force for the Daly. She was a tough ship with an even tougher crew earning eight Battle Stars over a course of twenty-seven months. The last two were earned with the help of Doc Curby.
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