80-Year-Old Marine Veteran to Receive Medal of Honor
Retired Sgt. Major John Canley, an 80-year-old Marine veteran, will receive the nation’s highest military honor for his conspicuous gallantry during the Vietnam War.
President Trump announced Tuesday that the Marine veteran will be awarded the Medal of Honor on 17 October at the White House, becoming the sixth American and third Vietnam veteran to receive the award from Trump.
“It means a lot to me,” Canley told USA Today. “Mostly for my Marines because we’ve had to wait 50-plus years to get any kind of recognition.”
John Ligato, a Marine and FBI agent who has written a book about Canley’s time in Vietnam, said he was amazed at Canley’s calm composure during the battle.
“He never ran and he never ducked,” Ligato told Newsweek. “You know, it’s just amazing. I don’t know if he had some sort of death wish or what — Gunny says that he just gets into a zone and does what he has to do. … I don’t know how the bullets didn’t hit him.”
Though not specifically mentioned if the Medal of Honor is an upgrade for, or in addition to, his Navy Cross, the citation speaks for itself.
Navy Cross
AWARDED FOR ACTIONS
DURING Vietnam War
Service: Marine Corps
Battalion: 1st Battalion
Division: 1st Marine Division (Rein.) FMF
GENERAL ORDERS:
Authority: Navy Department Board of Decorations and Medals
CITATION:
The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Navy Cross to Gunnery Sergeant John L. Canley (MCSN: 1455946), United States Marine Corps, for extraordinary heroism while serving as Company Gunnery Sergeant of Company A, First Battalion, First Marines, FIRST Marine Division (Reinforced), Fleet Marine Force, during operations against the enemy in the Republic of Vietnam from 31 January to 6 February 1968. On 31 January, when his company came under a heavy volume of enemy fire near the city of Hue, Gunnery Sergeant Canley rushed across the fire-swept terrain and carried several wounded Marines to safety. Later, with the company commander seriously wounded, Gunnery Sergeant Canley assumed command and immediately reorganized his scattered Marines, moving from one group to another to advise and encourage his men. Although sustaining shrapnel wounds during this period, he nonetheless established a base of fire which subsequently allowed the company to break through the enemy strongpoint. Retaining command of the company for the following three days, Gunnery Sergeant Canley on 4 February led his men into an enemy-occupied building in Hue. Despite fierce enemy resistance, he succeeded in gaining a position immediately above the enemy strongpoint and dropped a large satchel charge into the position, personally accounting for numerous enemy killed, and forcing the others to vacate the building. On 6 February, when his unit sustained numerous casualties while attempting to capture a government building, Gunnery Sergeant Canley lent words of encouragement to his men and exhorted them to greater efforts as they drove the enemy from its fortified emplacement. Although wounded once again during this action, on two occasions he leaped a wall in full view of the enemy, picked up casualties, and carried them to covered positions. By his dynamic leadership, courage, and selfless dedication, Gunnery Sergeant Canley contributed greatly to the accomplishment of his company’s mission and upheld the highest traditions of the Marine Corps and of the United States Naval Service.
No better friend, no worse enemy.
The article may be viewed in its entirity Here.
Category: Marine Corps
Damn. Helluva guy. Well done, Gunny.
Amazing Story, well deserved.
BZ Gunny. It’s a shame it took 50 years.
An overdue award to be sure. Article I read yesterday said a buck sergeant in his company who helped organize the unit after the loss of the officers was given the MoH at the time while the Gunny here was given the NC.
If true, the buck sergeant’s Medal was probably at the insistence and efforts of Sgt Maj Canley.
BZ!
HOOAHHHH ! ! ! !
BZ Gunny. Shame it took 50 years. Wonder if this upgrade/additional award is due to the ongoing checking of past awards? Curious as to story Mason mentioned, buck SGT awarded MoH then, but NC for Gunny? Gunny didn’t seem to be bitter or anything, typical real Hero attitude; just appreciated the recognition for his other Marines. Wasn’t there, but from all my studies and talking with folks that were there, Hue was bad news, REAL BAD NEWS!
5th, I was in country but was south of Hue, Mid continent, non combat role as was ground support for AF(yes I know as I have already been told I was worthless bum), and wish I could find out more as to 2 of my H/S classmates who were listed as KIA in the providence of Hue.
Don’t/can’t sell yourself short Brother. As a well respected 1SGT told me long ago, no matter what you’re doing, you are defending the Constitution of these United States. He made mention of that when I was bitching (imagine an Army Troop bitching?), that I wasn’t doing what I signed up for and was trained to do ie; serving the guns and bringing the dam dam down on the peace loving peoples related to Victor Charles. Baby sitting and being prepared to fire off tactical nuke missiles, closing the Fulda gap to stop the Godless Communist Hordes, was supposedly important work too. Older Brother was a wing wiper on Guam. Took a break from BUFF duty to back stop a crew chief on a supply run to Saigon. That air craft was one of the ones that was filled with orphans that took major hits trying to get out. Lots of them kids didn’t make.
If my memory of history is correct this occurred over a 7 day period at the onset of the Tet offensive.
God Bless You Sergeant Major.
An understrength regiment of Marines retook the city with at first no support, then later minimal support, from an NVA division. The South Vietnamese didn’t want us wrecking their showpiece city.
Hey, does the Gunny have to survey back the Navy Cross in order to get his MoH, or does he get to keep it too?
The Marines might not have gotten much early support because there was very little support to give. Tet was a series of simultaneous attacks country wide, and mostly targeted provincial capitals. The ARVN, for example, were up to their ass in alligators all over the place. The U.S. Army had it a bit better initially because the North’s strategy was generally to avoid strongpoints such as firebases, but nobody knew how long that would last.
There was also the issue that although Hue had a certain cultural and symbolic significance among the Vietnamese, it didn’t have much actual military value. A choice might have come down to: If you can save Saigon or you can save Hue, which do you choose?
Besides, a regiment of Marines up against a division of NVA sounds like a pretty fair fight to me, but I wasn’t there at the time and wasn’t a jarhead.
Perry, it was a fair match up. We won, and Gunny Canley was there. He was pretty typical of the Marines there. It was the first real stand up firefight the Marines were in over there, and they went apeshit on the NVA.
USMC,in the case of Bud Day he is the only person to be awarded both the Air Force Cross and MoH. There is no mention as to this being done in any other branches of service having done this so if not that should set a president. One might check as to Audy Murphy as he at one time was the most decorated soldier. There also has been a Marine who is considered most decorated, I assume it includes MoH reported in the past few years so one might find out by checking him also. Otherwise one might have to spend a long time going thru the entire list of MoH personal to see if any are listed.
Much like others who were awarded MoH and received them while alive, he probably never talked to any others about what he did at that period of his life that has earned him the MoH. Their manner is often one of privacy as to their selves and to tell of others and their sacrifices. He more than likely was the one who provided the necessary information to reward the MoH to the Buck Private posthumously during the battle. If one was to ask him what he did to earn this medal he will most likely just say that “I just did what one in my position at that time is supposed to do and that was take care of my boy’s first and foremost”. Like many in the past, others have stepped forward to reward this Hero the honer he so justly deserves. I commend you Sargent Major on receiving this long due past honor.
BZ Gunny.
Sorry it was this late, SgtMaj. Bravo Zulu!
Congratulations on a well deserved and long overdue honor. Also, have to admit, the man looks really fit for his age. And by fit, I mean HAWT!
Don’t know about hot, Patricia, but I do see the face of a kick-ass SNCO, with the heart of a small boy.
It’s in a jar on his desk.
Much more about Canley’s extraordinary heroism (and those of the other Marines in Hue) is related in Hue 1968 by Mark Bowden. They didn’t receive the support they were begging for early on because HQ didn’t believe that NVA/VC could conduct the operations they were in fact conducting. It’s a great read and huge testament to the Marines (and Army grunts) who fought there.
I’ve read about SGTMAJ Canley in “HUE 1968” by Mark Bowden (author of “Blackhawk Down”).
One of my favorite little anecdotes was from an early part of the battle. Canley had just finished helping load wounded onto a truck, and was standing next to it, calmly looking around. One of his Marines yelled at him; “Get down Gunny, you’re gonna get hit”.
His response was pure, Marine Gunnery Sergeant; “By the time I get down I’ll already be hit. I may as well stay standing up and see what’s going on.”
THAT is a guy you will follow.
CLANK CLANK CLANK
Big Brass Ones.
HOOAHHHH Well Done Gunny
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