Northwest Arkansas Democrat-Gazette

El Dorado native OK’d to receive Medal of Honor

- KAITLYN RIGDON

EL DORADO — Decades after a battle in Vietnam, an El Dorado native is one step closer to receiving a Medal of Honor.

John Canley led Marines through the streets of Hue, Vietnam, during fighting over 50 years ago. The Battle of Hue took place during the North Vietnamese Tet Offensive from Jan. 31 to Feb. 6, 1968.

On Jan. 29 of this year, President Donald Trump signed a bill passed by Congress that authorizes the president “to award the Medal of Honor to Gunnery Sergeant John L. Canley for acts of valor during the Vietnam War while serving in the Marine Corps,” according to a White House news release.

Canley, who is now 80, carried several wounded Marines while under heavy enemy fire and assumed command to maintain the unit’s organizati­on and morale in the “most chaotic battle of the Vietnam War.”

Canley was wounded more than once during the fighting but continued pushing forward. He conducted several tours in Vietnam from 1965-70, and his efforts saved the lives of many men and earned him the Navy Cross.

The legislatio­n upgrades Canley’s Navy Cross to the Medal of Honor, the highest U.S. military decoration. It also grants a waiver to the requiremen­t that service members receive the Medal of Honor within five years after the heroic event took place.

Canley, who spent 28 years in the service, left El Dorado at age 15 to join the Marines.

“[El Dorado] is where I went in the Marines from. It was about 21 days before I was 16,” Canley said. “I took my brother’s birth certificat­e. On my birth certificat­e it says J. L. My brother’s name was L. J., so I was able to switch it around and convince the recruiter to let me take the test.”

Canley attended the president’s State of the Union address in Washington on Jan. 30. He was the guest of honor for U.S. Rep. Julia Brownley, D-Calif.

“Sergeant Major Canley truly exemplifie­s the kind of courage and bravery for which this honor is awarded,” Brownley said in a news release.

Brownley wrote the legislatio­n that will allow Canley to receive the Medal of Honor. She introduced the bill after Defense Secretary James Mattis sent her a letter saying he supported upgrading Canley’s Navy Cross to the Medal of Honor, a news release stated.

Canley, who now resides in Oxnard, Calif., said he will receive the Medal of Honor award sometime in the next three months.

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