Sergeant Major Daniel ("Dan") Daly
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During the Boxer Rebellion, (China, 1900) the defense of the American legation at Peking (now Beijing) was in the hands of a strong but small force of Marines, which included Private Dan Daly. On the afternoon of July 13, German soldiers were driven back from their position on the east end of the wall. When a Marine Captain asked for a volunteer to take up point and provide cover fire while repairs were made to the fortification. Daly stepped forward and said, "I'm your man."
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Daly held his position, alone, throughout the course of the night, withstanding repeated Boxer assaults. Relieved at dawn, Daly was found to have accounted for more than 200 Boxer dead, an accomplishment that earned him his first of two Congressional Medals of Honor.
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