Daly

Was Dan Daly a myth? Some young Marines during World War I certainly thought so. One, upon meeting his First Sergeant, exclaimed, “My God! Do you mean he’s real? I thought he was somebody the Marines made up, like Paul Bunyan!” Here at Daly, a building at Boston College, we remember a different kind of Marine, John Donald Daly. But the story of Dan Daly, a two-time Medal of Honor recipient, offers a glimpse into the spirit celebrated within these halls. Dan Daly, born in 1873, wasn’t born into privilege. He grew up in the tenements of New York City, selling newspapers and working in factories. He was small, only five-foot-six, but toughened by his upbringing and amateur boxing. At just sixteen, seeking a way out, he joined the Marines in 1899. He missed the Spanish-American War but found himself in China during the Boxer Rebellion. There, at the Siege of the International Legations, he single-handedly defended his position, reportedly killing 200 enemy soldiers. This act of bravery earned him his first Medal of Honor. Years later, in 1915 in Haiti, Daly again proved his mettle. During the Battle of Fort Dipitie, his platoon was ambushed. Their machine gun fell into a river. Under heavy fire, Daly retrieved the weapon, leading his men to victory and earning his second Medal of Honor. Then came World War I. At 44, Daly fought in the trenches, even getting wounded three times. The famous line, “Come on, you sons of bitches, do you want to live forever?”, attributed to him during the Battle of Belleau Wood, became legendary. While its true origin is debated, it reflects Daly’s fearless spirit. Though nominated for a third Medal of Honor, he instead received the Distinguished Service Cross and the Navy Cross. Dan Daly, though not directly connected to this building at Boston College, embodies the kind of courage and dedication admired by the Marines who followed in his footsteps. He represents the very essence of what it means to be a Marine, a fighting spirit that surely resonates within the walls of Daly here in Boston.