Medal of Honor: Johnny Lee Canley – Vietnam War – January 31 to February 6, 1968
For nearly a week in Hue, Gunny Canley seemed to be everywhere at once. He led attacks, rescued wounded Marines, took command, and was always found where the fighting was fiercest.
July 14, 2026
Name: Johnny Lee Canley
Rank: Gunnery Sergeant (Highest Rank: Sergeant Major)
Branch: U.S. Marine Corps
War: Vietnam War
Unit: Company A, 1st Battalion, 1st Marines, 1st Marine Division
Date of Action: January 31 – February 6, 1968
Location: Hue, Republic of Vietnam
Summary of Action
On January 31, 1968, during the opening days of the Tet Offensive, Company A, 1st Battalion, 1st Marines was tasked with fighting its way toward Hue City to relieve friendly forces surrounded by North Vietnamese troops.
The company was immediately met by fierce enemy resistance and fought off multiple vicious attacks while advancing along the highway leading into the city. During these early engagements, Gunnery Sergeant Johnny Lee Canley repeatedly exposed himself to enemy fire to carry wounded Marines to safety, despite being wounded himself.
When Company A's commanding officer was severely wounded during the fighting, Gunnery Sergeant Canley immediately assumed command of the company.
Leading Marines into Hue City, Canley found himself engaged in one of the most brutal urban battles fought by American forces during the Vietnam War. Enemy machine guns, snipers, and fortified positions transformed the ancient city into a deadly maze of walls, buildings, and kill zones.
Caught in murderous crossfire from enemy machine-gun positions, Canley quickly established a base of fire before personally leading a platoon in a flanking attack that destroyed several enemy strongpoints.
For the next three days, he retained command of the company, leading Marines through bitter house-to-house combat while continuously exposing himself to enemy fire to rescue wounded men.
On February 4, Gunnery Sergeant Canley led Marines into an enemy-occupied building in Hue City. Realizing the enemy position could not be neutralized without drawing their fire, he deliberately moved into the open to reveal their location. Once identified, he personally helped eliminate the enemy positions and systematically expanded the Marines' control of the structure one room at a time.
Determined to destroy the remaining enemy strongpoint, Canley maneuvered to a position above the enemy's location and dropped a large satchel charge into their position, forcing the surviving enemy soldiers to withdraw.
The fighting continued for days.
On February 6, during a fierce engagement at a hospital compound, wounded Marines lay exposed under enemy fire. Without hesitation, Gunnery Sergeant Canley twice climbed a wall in full view of enemy soldiers and carried wounded Marines to safety.
Throughout the Battle of Hue, he led from the front—not as an officer, but as a Marine Gunnery Sergeant who refused to ask his Marines to go anywhere he would not go himself.
His Medal of Honor recognizes six days of extraordinary heroism, leadership, and self-sacrifice during one of the most difficult urban battles of the Vietnam War. Johnny Lee Canley embodied the Marine Corps' tradition of leading from the front and demonstrated that rank alone does not define leadership—character does.
Medal of Honor Citation
JOHNNY LEE CANLEY
Rank and organization: Gunnery Sergeant, United States Marine Corps.
Unit: Company A, 1st Battalion, 1st Marines, 1st Marine Division.
Place and date: Hue, Republic of Vietnam, January 31 to February 6, 1968.
Citation:
For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty in action against the enemy while serving as Company Gunnery Sergeant, Company A, First Battalion, First Marines, First Marine Division from 31 January to 6 February 1968, in the Republic of Vietnam.
Company A fought off multiple vicious attacks as it rapidly moved along the highway toward Hue City to relieve friendly forces that were surrounded by enemy forces. Despite being wounded in these engagements, Gunnery Sergeant Canley repeatedly rushed across fire-swept terrain to carry his wounded Marines to safety.
After his commanding officer was severely wounded, Gunnery Sergeant Canley took command and led the company into Hue City.
At Hue City, caught in deadly crossfire from enemy machine-gun positions, he set up a base of fire and maneuvered with a platoon in a flanking attack that eliminated several enemy positions.
Retaining command of the company for three days, he led attacks against multiple enemy fortified positions while routinely braving enemy fire to carry wounded Marines to safety.
On 4 February, he led a group of Marines into an enemy-occupied building in Hue City. He moved into the open to draw fire, located the enemy, eliminated the threat, and expanded the company's hold on the building room by room. Gunnery Sergeant Canley then gained position above the enemy strongpoint and dropped in a large satchel charge that forced the enemy to withdraw.
On 6 February, during a fierce firefight at a hospital compound, Gunnery Sergeant Canley twice scaled a wall in full view of the enemy to carry wounded Marines to safety.
By his undaunted courage, selfless sacrifice, and unwavering devotion to duty, Gunnery Sergeant Canley reflected great credit upon himself and upheld the highest traditions of the Marine Corps and the United States Naval Service.
