Medal of Honor: Daniel Joseph Daly, Haitian Campaign, 1915, October 22-24
Pinned down in the Haitian jungle, Gunnery Sergeant Daniel Daly — already a legend of the Marines — rose from the riverbank and turned back 400 rebels in the dark.
October 22, 2025
Name: Daniel Joseph Daly (Second Medal of Honor)
Rank: Gunnery Sergeant
War: Haitian Campaign, 1915
Date of Action: October 22–24, 1915
Unit: 15th Company, U.S. Marine Corps
Born: November 11, 1873 – Glen Cove, Long Island, New York
Entered Service From: New York
Summary of Action
By the fall of 1915, Haiti was a land torn by rebellion. U.S. Marines were sent to restore order, and among them was Gunnery Sergeant Daniel J. Daly — already a Medal of Honor recipient from the Boxer Rebellion. On the night of October 24, his small detachment of Marines was ambushed by 400 Cacos insurgents while crossing a river near Fort Liberté. Trapped in darkness and under fire from three sides, Daly refused to yield. Calmly rallying his men, he fought back through the night, firing and maneuvering until dawn. When daylight broke, the Marines launched a counterattack that scattered the enemy in all directions.
Fighting with unmatched ferocity and leadership, Daly once again proved why Marines called him “the fightin’est Marine who ever lived.”
Medal of Honor Citation
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.
