US Marine Corps SgtMaj John Canley: Medal of Honor Recipient Vietnam War

Welcome back, everyone! Before we get into this week’s story, I want to share the Medal of Honor story of US Army Air Forces 1LT Edward Michael, who was a B-17 pilot who was involved in some of the most dangerous bombing missions over Germany during WWII. 

On April 11th 1944 while piloting his B-17 named Birdie Lee on a heavy bombardment Mission over Germany, 1LT Edward Michael and his crew came under fierce attack by a swarm of enemy Fighters targeting their bomber, ignoring the Allied fighter escort and tearing through flak to press their relentless assault. The B-17 was hammered from nose to tail by cannon fire.  Knocked out of formation and chased by multiple Fighters as it descended under heavy fire in the chaos a shell exploded in the cockpit wounding the co-pilot, destroying key instruments, and shattering a side window.  Lieutenant Michael himself suffered a severe wound to his right thigh.  With hydraulic fluid smearing the windshield and smoke filling the cockpit, the aircraft's controls became unresponsive causing a 3,000 ft drop before Lieutenant Michael managed to level the plane.  Moments later the radio operator reported that the bomb bay was in flames.  Three shells had ignited the incendiary bombs on board creating a high risk of explosion. When the emergency bomb release failed, Lieutenant Michael ordered his crew to bail out.  Seven of the 10 men escaped, but as he checked on the remaining crew he found the bombardier still at his post firing the navigator's gun at the enemy fighters.  When ordered to jump the bombardier discovered his parachute was shredded by 20mm shell fragments rendering it useless.  Realizing that abandoning the plane would doom the bomber, Lieutenant Michael decided their only chance was to attempt a crash landing.  Ignoring his own excruciating wound, Lieutenant Michael fought to keep the damaged aircraft airborne. He maneuvered violently to evade enemy Fighters enduring nearly 45 minutes of relentless attacks.  Finally he lost the pursuers by diving into a cloud bank only to emerge into a barrage of flak.  Forced to fly at treetop level, Lieutenant Michael continued toward France determined to cover as much ground as possible to give his crew the best chance of escape if they had to ditch the aircraft.  Despite losing blood rapidly, Lieutenant Michael stayed at the controls until he passed out. The co-pilot managed to guide the plane across the channel and locate an RAF Airfield near the English Coast. Just as they approached for landing Lieutenant Michael regained consciousness and insisted on retaking the controls. With the landing gear destroyed, bomb bay doors jammed open, hydraulics out and critical instruments like the altimeter and airspeed indicator unusable, the odds of a safe landing seemed impossible.  The ball turret was locked with its guns pointing down and the flaps wouldn't respond. Even so Lieutenant Michael pulled off an extraordinary landing bringing the battered B-17 down without further incident.  All seven of the crew members who bailed from the bomber were captured and held as POWs by the Germans. Lieutenant Edward Michaels survived and for his actions that saved two crew members he was awarded the Medal of Honor

Lt Michael survived the war and remained in the Army Air Forces as it transitioned to the Air Force in 1948, and he retired in 1971 at the rank of LT COL.

Now on this week’s episode of Duty & Valor, you’ll hear the story of USMC SgtMaj John Canley.  During one of the fiercest battles of the Vietnam War, he stepped up and led his company after his company commander was wounded and unable to continue.  Over a six day period, he risked his life numerous times to save his Marines, and this is his story.

John Lee Canley was born on Dec. 20, 1937 in Caledonia, CA to parents J.M, a WWII veteran and Leola Cobb Canley, who was a restaurant manager.  John spent most of his childhood in nearby El Dorado, CA, and after watching the movie Sands of Iwo Jima starring John Wayne, John was moved to join the military and serve just as his father did.  However, he was just 15 years old and obviously too young to enlist.  But he didn’t let his age stop him.  He borrowed his brother’s documents and enlisted in the Marine Corps in 1953.    

I couldn’t find much written about John prior to his time in Vietnam, but over the first fifteen years of his Marine Corps career, he moved up the ranks and served as rifle platoon leader and Gunnery Sergeant of Alpha Company, First Marine Battalion, First Marine Regiment, First Marine Division.

On January 30, 1968, North Vietnamese forces commenced a bloody campaign known as the Tet Offensive which started during the Vietnamese Lunar New Year. It involved coordinated attacks on over 100 cities, towns, and military bases across South Vietnam, including an assault on the U.S. Embassy in Saigon. Although the offensive was a tactical failure for the communist forces, it was a strategic success, as it shocked the American public and eroded U.S. support for the war, marking a turning point in U.S. involvement in vietnam.

On the second day of the Tet offensive, Jan. 31, American and South Vietnamese forces were surrounded and under siege at the City of Hue.  That morning, the Marines of Alpha Company, led by Captain Gordon Batcheller, loaded up on vehicles and moved towards the city.  

As the Marines approached from the South, they came under heavy sniper fire which forced them to dismount multiple times to clear the houses on both sides of the main road leading into Hue.  During these engagements, Gunnery Sgt Canley was wounded, but it didn’t stop him from repeatedly rushing across fire-swept terrain to carry wounded Marines to safety.  And I’d like to point out that Gunnery Sgt. Canley wasn’t of small stature, he was 6’4” and 240 pounds, making him a big target for the enemy, but he didn’t use that as an excuse to keep him from running out into the open and saving his Marines. 

While engaged in fierce street fighting, Captain Batcheller fell seriously wounded and was unable to continue.  To fill the leadership vacuum, Gunnery Sgt. Canley took command of the 150 Marines of Alpha Company and led them into Hue to aid the beleaguered Marines there.

As Alpha Company moved through the city, they became pinned down in the crossfire from multiple machine gun positions.  After setting up a base of fire, Gunnery Sgt. Canley took command of a platoon and flanked multiple enemy positions, eliminating them.   

He then led Alpha company in attacks against fortified enemy positions.  Even though he had overall command of the company, Gunnery Sgt Canley risked his life to personally save Marines, by dodging enemy rounds as he carried the wounded to safety.  

Though sources aren’t very clear when Gunnery Sgt Canley was relieved of command of Alpha Company, it appears to have been on Feb. 4.

Even though he was no longer the acting company commander, Gunnery Sgt Canley’s valor and leadership didn’t end there.  On that day,  he led a group of Marines into a building occupied by enemy forces.  As the men were pinned down, Gunnery Sgt. Canley moved into the open to draw fire from enemy rifleman.  After locating their positions, he was able to engage and eliminate them.  Room by room, the Marines made progress in securing the building.  Once they gained a position above an enemy strongpoint, Gunnery Sgt. Canley dropped a large satchel charge right into their position, causing casualties and forcing them to withdraw.

 That same day, there was another Marine from his company who distinguished himself during the Battle of Hue.  Sgt. Alfredo Gonzalez, platoon sergeant with the 3rd Platoon, jumped into action when his unit was pinned down by automatic weapons and rocket fire from heavily fortified enemy positions.

Sgt. Gonzalez, utilizing a number of light anti-tank assault weapons, fearlessly moved from position to position firing numerous rounds at the enemy emplacements. He successfully knocked out a rocket position and suppressed much of the enemy fire before falling mortally wounded.  For his actions in battle, Sgt. Gonzalez was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor.

A few days later on Feb. 6, Gunnery Sgt. Canley and Alpha Company were fighting at a hospital compound when on two separate occasions, he again risked his life to carry wounded Marines to safety.  Even after being wounded by shrapnel, he stayed with his men and helped rescue 20 Marines.

For his actions from Jan. 31 - Feb. 6, 1968, Gunnery Sgt. John Canley was awarded the Navy Cross.

He ended up serving three tours in Vietnam, eventually becoming Alpha company first sergeant.  He remained in the Marines until he retired as a Sgt Major on October 23, 1981.

 At an Alpha Company reunion decades later, men that served with Sgt Major Canley during the Battle of Hue spoke of his valor and one specific Marine took on the fight to properly recognize Sgt. Major Canley.  One of the Marines who served with him, John Ligato who later became an FBI special agent, began advocating for his Navy Cross to be upgraded to the Medal of Honor.

Normally, there is a five year limit from the date of action to when someone can be honored with the Medal the Medal of Honor.  John Ligato eventually found an ally that joined his campaign.  Representative Julia Brownley, a Democrat from California, sponsored a bill on Dec. 21, 2017, to waive the five year time limit, which would allow Sgt Major Canley to be considered for the Medal of Honor.  The bill passed the house and eventually in the senate as well.  From there the recommendation made its way to the secretary of defense, General Jim Mattis, a Marine himself.  He approved the recommendation and then presented it to President Donald Trump, who also approved it, and on October 17, 2018, President Trump bestowed the Medal of Honor upon Sgt. Major John Canley.  

On May 11, 2022, Sgt. Major John Canley passed away at the age of 84 and is buried at Arlington National Cemetery.

The following month, the Navy honored his legacy by christening the Expeditionary Sea Base USS John L Canley in his honor.  

Sergeant Major John Canley embodied the highest ideals of courage, leadership, and selflessness. In the face of overwhelming danger, he put the lives of his fellow Marines above his own, leading with unwavering resolve and compassion. His heroism during the Battle of Hue reminds us that true leadership is not about rank or recognition but about the willingness to stand for others when it matters most.