| John Canley | |
| Birth Date: | 20 December 1937 |
| Birth Place: | Caledonia, Arkansas, U.S. |
| Death Place: | Bend, Oregon, U.S. |
| Placeofburial: | Arlington National Cemetery |
| Allegiance: | United States |
| Branch: | United States Marine Corps |
| Serviceyears: | 1953–1981 |
| Rank: | Sergeant major |
| Unit: | 1st Battalion, 1st Marines |
| Battles: |
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| Awards: | Medal of Honor Bronze Star Medal with "V" device Purple Heart Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal with "V" device |
John Lee Canley (December 20, 1937 – May 11, 2022) was a United States Marine and a recipient of the United States military's highest award for valor, the Medal of Honor, for his actions in January/February 1968 during the Battle of Huế. At the time of this action Canley was a gunnery sergeant with Company A, 1st Battalion, 1st Marines. Canley was originally awarded the Navy Cross but this was upgraded to the Medal of Honor, which was presented on October 17, 2018. The Expeditionary Sea Base USS John L. Canley (ESB-6) is named for him.
Canley was born in Caledonia, Arkansas, on December 20, 1937. His father was employed at a chemical plant; his mother worked as a restaurant manager. Canley was raised in nearby El Dorado.[1] In 1953, he enlisted in the United States Marine Corps from Little Rock, Arkansas. He retired in 1981.[2]
On the morning of January 31, 1968, Company A, 1st Battalion, 1st Marines was loaded onto trucks and sent to reinforce United States and South Vietnamese forces under siege in Huế.[3] As the convoy approached the southern suburbs of the city, they began to come under increased sniper fire.[4] In one village, the troops dismounted and cleared the houses on either side of the main street before proceeding. The Marine convoy stopped several times to eliminate resistance in heavy house-to-house[5] and street-to-street fighting before proceeding again. During this fighting the company commander, Captain Gordon Batcheller, was wounded. Gunnery Sergeant Canley assumed command of the company, and he and Sergeant Alfredo Cantu Gonzalez led the Marines in the defense of the convoy, actions for which Gonzalez would later be posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor. At about 15:15 after bloody fighting the Marines managed to make their way toward the besieged Military Assistance Command Vietnam (MACV) compound .[6] Canley was awarded the Navy Cross in 1970.[1]
Sergeant Major Canley retired from the Marine Corps on October 23, 1981.
Representative Julia Brownley sponsored a private bill in Congress for Canley's Navy Cross to be upgraded to the Medal of Honor.[7] On December 21, 2017, the House of Representatives waived the five year time limit for the award of the Medal of Honor, and the Senate later took similar action. Secretary of Defense Jim Mattis recommended the upgrade to President Donald Trump, who approved the award in July 2018.[8] [9] On Wednesday, October 17, 2018, Trump awarded the Medal of Honor to Sergeant Major John L. Canley, United States Marine Corps (Retired), for conspicuous gallantry.[10] [11]
On June 26, 2022, five weeks after Canley's death, the Expeditionary Sea Base USS John L. Canley (ESB-6) was christened at a shipyard in San Diego. His daughter Patricia Sargent performed the christening of the 784feet ship.[12] [13]
Canley was married to Viktoria Fenech. Together, they had one child (Patricia), as well as a stepson (David) from Fenech's previous relationship. They eventually divorced. He also had two children with Toyo Adaniya Russeau: Ricky and Yukari. After retiring from the Marine Corps, Canley resided in Oxnard, California.[1]
Canley died on May 11, 2022, at his daughter's home in Bend, Oregon. He was 84, and suffered from cancer prior to his death.[1] [14]
The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress, March 3, 1863, has awarded in the name of Congress the Medal of Honor to
| 1st row | Medal of Honor | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2nd row | Bronze Star Medal with Combat Distinguishing Device[15] [16] | Purple Heart | Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal with Combat Distinguishing Device | Combat Action Ribbon | |||||
| 3rd row | Navy Presidential Unit Citation with three bronze service stars | Marine Corps Good Conduct Medal with seven service stars | Marine Corps Expeditionary Medal with one service star | National Defense Service Medal with one service star | |||||
| 4th row | Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal | Vietnam Service Medal with nine service stars | Korea Defense Service Medal | Navy Sea Service Deployment Ribbon with two service stars | |||||
| 5th row | Vietnam Gallantry Cross with two Silver Stars | Vietnam Gallantry Cross Unit Citation | United Nations Medal | Vietnam Campaign Medal | |||||
| Badges | Rifle expert marksmanship badge (11 awards) | Pistol expert marksmanship badge (16 awards) | |||||||