Marine Sgt Retired Maj. John L. Canley is honored at a ceremony that took place in the East Room of the White House on October 17, 2018 in Washington, D.C.(Photo: Chip Somodevilla, Getty Images)

WASHINGTON – Naval Sergeant Major John Canley's amazing heroism in Vietnam, 50 years ago, speaks for itself, so much so that on Wednesday he was rewarded the honorary medal of President Donald Trump at a ceremony at the White House.

Canley's daughter, Patricia Sargent, knows how her father took command of Company A, First Battalion, First Marines despite injuries caused by shrapnel during the bloody Hue battle in 1968. How established a base while he was caught in a "deadly cross fire" caused a fire by throwing himself open so that his Marines could seize a building and transport the wounded Marines to the shelter while exposing it to the enemy.

"John has stormed enemy fire, saving many American lives and defeating a large group of communist fighters," Trump said at the medal ceremony at the ceremony. a ceremony at the White House. He praised the former artillery sergeant for his "unmatched courage" and his intrepidity.

"Despite serious injuries – very very serious – he continued to face the enemy without worrying about his safety," Trump said.

The public praised Canley at length, accompanied by the shouts of the Navy: "Oorah!"

"I think you like it," Trump told the crowd.

Canley and her daughter talked about the recognition and qualities that helped her win it during an interview with USA TODAY Wednesday morning before the East Room ceremony. When Sargent spoke to Marines gathered in a hotel near the Pentagon to pay tribute to Canley, a smaller story stood out and illuminated what made Canley a transcendent leader.

In Vietnam, Canley had entrusted a young Marine on the ground that he had to clean up. Thus, the young man who comes out of high school fills a helmet of water, plunges into his razor and takes it.

"My dad told him," Hey, hey. You must wash your face and warm it to soften it before you shave, "said Sargent.

The former Navy recently confided to Sargent that he was still thinking about this moment.

"Something as small as that," the Navy told him. "But I was 18 years old. I did not know how to shave. He taught me that. Not only did I follow him and he saved my life and all those things. But he taught me these life lessons. "

Canley looks uncomfortable with the attention paid to him. He prefers to talk about the Marines who served with him, people like John Ligato, the FBI's retired agent who has been defending since 2005 that Canley receives the highest military honor in the country.

The battle for control of Hue was one of the bloodiest of the war. North Vietnamese soldiers and guerrillas invaded the provincial capital during the Tet offensive. Canley and his Marines, outnumbered and less armed, were sent to retake the city. After the battle, legendary for his bloody clashes door to door, Canley received the Navy Cross, two bronze stars and purple heart.

For Canley, the young Marines who served in Vietnam are heroes. Heroes who have suffered from poor leadership, bags and belts of poor quality and lack of relevant training. Canley, who is African-American, said the race was not a problem.

"We did not have a race problem," he said. "We had a leadership problem. Period."

The rally in Washington is an opportunity to reconnect with the Marines Canley, 80, knows since 1955.

"I have received a number of calls and letters thanking me for being their leader," he said. "It's a great feeling."

Sargent said his father's informal leadership classes were continuing to this day.

"It's about the individual. And whether to teach them things or to avoid obstacles so that they can do other things. I think that was the job of his life. He did that for the Marines. He did this for me, my brother and my sister. Now, I see him pass on these little excerpts to his grandchildren.

"I am very proud of him."

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