photo #8792921

CONGRATULATIONS! 🎉 U.S. Marine Sgt. Maj. John Lee Canley the 1st living Black Marine to receive nation’s highest military honor, the Medal of Honor. Canley was in fact born in Caledonia, Arkansas, in 1937. At 15, he joined the Marine Corps using documentation belonging to his older brother.He was 30 when he was deployed to Vietnam in January 1968 as a company gunnery sergeant, leading many men around a decade younger than him. The Tet Offensive, a nationwide series of simultaneous attacks by the North Vietnamese, had just begun. According to Canley’s Medal of Honor citation, from Jan. 31 to Feb. 6, 1968, he fought off multiple attacks as his unit rapidly moved along a highway toward Hue City to relieve friendly forces that were surrounded.Canley was described as quiet and not one to brag or tout his many military decorations.“The number one thing with him is, he cared about his troops,” said Canley’s stepson, David Fenech. Passed away in Oregon at age 84, let’s make it known how great this marine was! 👏(U.S. Marine Sgt. Maj. John Lee Canley / AFP)