USS John L Canley commissioned to honour first living black US Marine to receive Medal of Honor
A US Expeditionary Sea Base has been named after the late Sergeant Major John L Canley, who before his death in 2018, became the first living black US Marine to receive the Medal of Honor, the highest military decoration for valour.
USS John L Canley (ESB 6) was commissioned by the US Navy at a ceremony attended by more than 1,200 people including members of the Canley family, US Marines who served with Sgt Maj Canley and senior officials such as Carlos Del Toro, Secretary of the US Navy, and Sgt Maj Carlos Ruiz, Sergeant Major of the Marine Corps.
The 784ft ship honours Sgt Maj Canley, a US Marine who distinguished himself during the Vietnam War during the Battle of Huế, with Company A, 1st Battalion, 1st Marines.
Sgt Maj Canley was originally awarded the Navy Cross for his bravery, but this was upgraded to the Medal of Honor 50 years after the battle, making him the first living black Marine to receive the nation's highest military decoration for valour.
Previous black recipients in the US Marines had received the medal posthumously.
During the ceremony, Mr Del Toro discussed the importance of sharing the incredible stories of US Navy personnel such as Sgt Maj Canley, saying: "While the legacy of African American service members in the sea services spans centuries, their stories often went untold and they often did not receive the recognition they deserved.
"Ultimately, our Navy and our Marine Corps and our nation are made stronger by our diversity – diversity of background, of experience and of thought – which ensures our ability to out-think, outpace, and out-manoeuvre our adversaries – forever remains strong.
"Just as history matters, representation matters too."
The heroic action of Sgt Maj Canley
In 1968, Gunnery Sergeant Canley served in Company A, First Battalion, First Marines, First Marine Division in the Republic of Vietnam.
As outlined in Sgt Maj Canley's Medal of Honor citation, Company A fought off multiple vicious attacks during the first week of the Tet Offensive as it rapidly moved along the highway toward Huế City to relieve friendly forces that were surrounded by enemy forces.
Despite being wounded in these engagements, GySgt Canley repeatedly rushed across fire-swept terrain to carry his wounded Marines to safety.
After his commanding officer was severely wounded, GySgt Canley took command and led the company into Huế City.
He led attacks against multiple enemy-fortified positions while routinely braving enemy fire to carry wounded marines to safety.
The gunnery sergeant would move into the open to draw fire, locate the enemy, eliminate the threat and expand the company's hold on the building room by room.
On 6 February, during a fierce firefight at a hospital compound, GySgt Canley twice scaled a wall in full view of the enemy to carry wounded marines to safety.
For his undeniable bravery, GySgt Canley was awarded the Navy Cross.
Making Medal of Honor history
Following an Alpha Company reunion many decades later, Canley's fellow Marine and friend John Ligato embarked on a journey to ensure his leader received the credit he deserved, saying: "We'd all be dead if it wasn't for the Gunny."
Sgt Maj Canley was awarded the Medal of Honor 50 years after his actions during the Battle of Huế City, becoming the first African American US Marine to receive the Medal of Honor while still living.
On receiving the award, Sgt Maj Canley said: "It's more about them than me.
"This is about the young marines that sacrificed so much, I just happened to be their leader."
The veteran died in Bend, Oregon, on 11 May 2022, but the US Navy is confident his legacy will live on through USS John L Canley, serving as an inspiration to all who sail in her.
The commissioning ceremony was filled with traditions including a 19-gun salute, setting the ship's pennant, manning the first watch and bringing the ship to life.
USS John L Canley: The US Navy's newest expeditionary sea base
USS John L Canley is the fourth Expeditionary Sea Base (ESB) variant of the Expeditionary Transfer Dock platform.
ESBs are highly flexible platforms that provide logistics movement from sea to shore supporting a broad range of military operations.
The ESB variant is designed around four core capabilities – aviation, berthing, equipment staging area plus command and control.
Sgt Maj Carlos Rui, Sergeant Major of the Marine Corps, said: "To anyone who had anything to do with the building of this ship, I say, 'The Marines are ready to get on it and get to it'."
USS John L Canley was christened on 25 June 2022 at the General Dynamic NASSCO shipyard in San Diego, California, and delivered into the MSC fleet, where it underwent testing leading up to its commissioning into the Navy fleet.
The commissioning of the vessel as a United States Ship will make it a more versatile and flexible warfighting machine, capable of a variety of sea missions.
The ship operates with a hybrid crew of military personnel and civil service mariners.
Carlos Del Toro, Secretary of the US Navy, said: "It is my firm belief that USS John L Canley will serve as an example to everyone who serves on this ship, or passes in her wake."
MSC directs and supports operations for about 140 civilian-crewed ships that replenish US Navy ships at sea, conduct specialised missions, preposition combat cargo at sea around the world, perform a variety of support services and move military equipment and supplies to deployed US forces.
Celebrating its 75th anniversary in 2024, MSC exists to support the joint warfighter across the full spectrum of military operations, with a workforce that includes about 6,000 civil service mariners and 1,100 contract mariners, supported by 1,500 shore staff and 1,400 active duty plus reserve military personnel.
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