Original WW1 Photo of Dan Daly 73rd Co 6th Marine Regiment Machinegun AEF USMC

Description: For your consideration is one of the greatest Marine Corps photos ever offered for sale. This original and historical WW1 era German made cabinet card photograph, measuring 8" x 6", of one of the Corps' greatest Marines ever.....First Sergeant Dan Daly. Here, Daly is photographed with one of the greatest Marine combat units of all time....the 73rd Company (Machine Gun) of the 6th Marine Regiment. According to Smedley Butler, Dan Daly was "The fighten'est Marine ever". Daly is probably best known for yelling out to his men during the June 1918 Battle of Belleau Wood, "Come on, you sons of bitches, do you want to live forever?" as he charged forward and over the top of the trenches into battle. This quote is one of the few placed around the atrium at the National Museum of the Marine Corps, in Quantico, and has been featured similarly in movies and literature. It is one of the first quotes that Marines learn at boot camp and OCS. Daly seems to have alluded the cameras and there are very few images of him. The photo, which most likely dates to the Winter of 1918 or early 1919, shows members of the 73rd Company around Daly. All are identified in pencil around the photo margins. Outside of his famous portrait where he is seen wearing his two Medals of Honor, this is the only other photo of him I have ever seen offered for sale. This is not a mass produced photo and was probably only made for Daly and the 14 members of the team. It has a german photography studio stamp to the lower right: Hermann Schrors PHOTOGRAPH HONNINGEN A. R.W. Daly is shown at center holding a football with "73rd Co, 6th Marines" written on it. I surmise, perhaps he was the team's senior enlisted "sponsor" or even a coach. He is wearing the stripes of a First Sergeant on his overcoat and unlike other photos where he displays a serious disposition, he displays a smirky smile. Marines found all sorts of events to pass the time during the occupation of Germany and sports was probably #1 (next to drinking and cavorting). It is interesting to note, one of the Marines behind Daly wears a captured German belt buckle with roundel. One additional Marine photographed is a Distinguished Service Cross / Navy Cross awardee, Casey V. Loomis (Thiacourt). Card shows rounded corners and some creases with light spotting to the image throughout. A rare and historical photo for those that like collecting items of Marine personality figures. Marines photographed are: Top: George K Willard, Ralph Barnett, Thomas P Nevin, Norman A Cobb, William R Potter, John E Trout, Elmer Thielen, and Raymond Powers Middle: Royal Heckman (listed as Hedeman) (SS and WIA), James L Barker (listed as Barger), Dan Daly (MOH x2, DSC, NC, SS and WIA), Captain Kortright Church, Casey V Loomis (DSC, NC, SS) Bottom: Harry Henke and William S Harman (WIA)

Price: 5250 USD

Location: Charleston, South Carolina

End Time: 2024-03-03T13:12:17.000Z

Shipping Cost: 0 USD