Former Marine Daniel Penny has more to celebrate after being acquitted in the New York subway manslaughter case as he was honored with a prestigious Marine Corps award.
During an Iwo Jima Day event in Boston, Massachusetts on Wednesday, the 26-year-old was presented with the Semper Fidelis achievement award by the Marine Corps League for his actions on that fateful day in 2023. Penny intervened to protect New York City subway passengers from threats by Jordan Neely whom he placed in a chokehold.
Neely died after the encounter and Penny faced up to 20 years in prison before the manslaughter charge against him was dropped when the jury became deadlocked on a decision. He was found not guilty and his defense attorneys, Thomas Kenniff and Steve Raiser, were on hand for the award this week as they were also honored with appreciation plaques.
New: Drop a for Daniel Penny, this is awesome news.
He has just received an award from Marine Corps League at an Iwo Jima Day event in Boston, Massachusetts!
It is meant to honor Danny for representing the Esprit De Corps of the Marines, which is defined by his selfless… https://t.co/rfvMGqM6u8 pic.twitter.com/Y5pRHDBHz3
— Tom Homan – Border Czar Independent X News Profile (@TomHoman_) February 19, 2025
Penny was given the coveted award for “representing the Esprit De Corps of the Marines, defined by selfless service and sacrifice when he risked his life by defending the people on that NYC train,” Raiser said in a statement, according to the New York Post, adding that the lawyers “defended Danny from a prosecution that never should have been sought.”
“We were honored and humbled to be in the same room being honored alongside many veterans of prior wars, including an Iwo Jima veteran and a retired general who served as one of the Tuskegee Airmen,” he said.
Special day being honored at Iwo Jima Day at the Massachusetts State House today. Privileged to meet surviving WWII veterans and Brig Gen Enoch “Woody” Woodhouse, a member of the legendary Tuskegee Airmen pic.twitter.com/v6rUCSztRi
— Thomas Kenniff (@tomkenniff) February 19, 2025
The Semper Fidelis award goes to “worthy and inspirational recipients,” according to John M. MacGillivray of the Marine Corps League.
“We believe Daniel Penny and attorneys Raiser and Kenniff deserve such recognition and hope that they will consent to accept these awards,” he wrote in a letter.
(Video Credit: Fox News)
Legendary Tuskegee Airman and retired Brigadier General Enoch “Woody” Woodhouse gave Penny another great honor as he reportedly took the Marine veteran’s hand and looked him in the eye, saying, “I’m proud of you, son.”
“That’s a moment I don’t think any of us will forget,” Kenniff said of the encounter.
“Organizers said this year’s event, which recently commemorated the 80th anniversary of the 1945 Battle of Iwo Jima, may be the last due to the dwindling number of Marine survivors still living,” Fox News noted.
“This may well be the last time that we conduct this ceremony,” MacGillivray wrote. “Therefore, we believe that the participation of Daniel Penny and lawyers Raiser and Kenniff will help to make this ceremony a success.”
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Originally from New York, Powers graduated from New York University and eventually made her way to sunny South Florida. Powers also contributes to BizPac Review.
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