Posted on 07/21/2018 1:39:43 AM PDT by GonzoII
Fifty years after the Battle of Hue, one of the bloodiest battles of the Vietnam War, a Marine is being recognized for his brave actions.
Retired Sgt. Maj. John Canley received a phone call from President Donald Trump earlier this month in his home in Oxnard, California. Trump told Canley that he was receiving the Medal of Honor for his work in early 1968.
The White House will be making an official announcement once the date for presenting the award is confirmed.
Canley has previously received the Navy Cross, two Bronze Stars and a Purple Heart for his heroism.
In his Navy Cross citation, according to Stars and Stripes, Canley was a gunnery sergeant with 1st Battalion and 1st Marines who showed “extraordinary leadership and selflessness during the Battle of Hue.”
During the battle, his commander was seriously wounded, and Canley stepped up and helped lead his fellow Marines. During a week-long siege, Canley led his men to successfully neutralize enemy combatants and brought Marines who were injured to safety, while he himself had several shrapnel injuries.
(Excerpt) Read more at westernjournal.com ...
God bless this man and God bless our President
God Bless this US Marine.
Awesome!
The Vietnam war really did a number on us.
I still remember hippies spitting on wounded soldiers as they came through O’Hare..
Oh, and the Hare Krishnas too. Hope I got the selling right! Meant to say spelling but I’m sure there was eventual selling, too...
Nice! I had never heard of this battle.
I just love seeing the Medal of Honor ceremonies; it always gives me goosebumps.
It’s great that he is finally being recognized.
But I have a rhetorical question.
How does a man’s decoration submission sit in the Awards Branch’s inbox for fifty years before someone decides to approve it?
Boggles the mind, it does.
Again; Congrats to him and I’m glad they finally got around to recognizing his valor.
Semper Fi.
Came through San Fran in early 70 heading to the UK....Right off the plane as soon as I got into the terminal... The Red Cross set up a few tables had ham and cheese on rolls and a coke for sale ($2.00 I recall)....a few yards away the Salvation Army had
hot coffee and some pastries.... for free....the coffee was great,and the donut excellent
I love seeing it awarded as well. But only by an American who loves his country. Therefore, I couldn’t watch it for 8 years.
When I grew up in the 50’s and 60’s my schools would never have 100 percent participation in Red Cross drives because my parents would not let me donate because the Red Cross charged my Dad for stuff during WW II. I know that mine wasn’t the only family that felt this way.
Me too! Could not watch the Kenyan handing them out.
Likewise my Family was ‘firm’ in NO donations..
My dad was also charged by the Red Cross in WWII and my one Uncle was charged for water! while in Germany.. My mom had five brothers all fighting in WWII..
My husband was drafted in 1961, four months after our wedding! and in two months he was sent to Germany for a 19 month tour...while there his father died suddenly at 49, he came home..the Red Cross LOANED him 80 dollars to travel on, and when he got back on base 30 days later..he learned he had to paid that LOAN back, PLUS interest.. smh
So we agree with you..we taught our two now adult kids..Donate to many others, just not the RED CROSS..
SAD TO HAVE TO SHARE THAT, BUT THAT IS WHAT REALLY HAPPENED IN THIS FAMILY...
Fantastic!
Bttt.
5.56mm
“Nice! I had never heard of this battle.
I just love seeing the Medal of Honor ceremonies; it always gives me goosebumps.”
You should really read up on it!
Hue was one of the defining battles in USMC history.
Wounded Marines would limp back into the battle rather than leave their brother Marines.
The History channel, now American Heroes channel, had a great series on the Tet offensive and the battle for Hue.
The Tet offensive was a last gasp effort by the NVA/VC to win the war.
Unfortunately it gave the anti-war crowd here just the ammo they needed to force the wussy politicians to run from continuing the war.
US forces slaughtered the commies on the battlefield but lost most of their backing in Congress.
A big part of the Tet offensive. You should read up on it. There’s some footage in Ken Burn’s Vietnam, but there’s a decidedly leftist, anti-American slant to the documentary.
Thx, I will do that today.
RVN 67-68.
When we came back, we came into SeaTac at about 3 in the a.m., and got sent to a huge mess hall where they fed breakfast continuously 24 hours a day, and we had a return to the world short briefing that among other things suggested we travel home in civilian clothes. They told us things were “tense,” and this was the best way to avoid any problems with “people who were against the war.”
I have disliked hippes ever since.
My dad, a Korean War combat veteran, made me swear never give the red cross a penny for this same reason.
Below is his Navy Cross citation which is being “upgraded” for the MOH:
The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Navy Cross to Gunnery Sergeant James 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.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.