In the early haze of a Saturday morning (February 17, 2024) that felt both somber and charged, the steel colossus known as the USS John L. Canley (ESB-6) was commissioned into the US Navy’s ranks at Naval Air Station North Island.

This wasn’t your average naval ceremony; it was a potent mix of military tradition and raw, unfiltered pride, all set against the backdrop of the relentless Pacific.

With a length that rivals the skyscrapers of some small cities, this 784-foot (239-meter) leviathan of the seas was poised to redefine the game of sea-to-shore logistics, a silent giant waking up to the call of duty.

This fourth iteration of the Expeditionary Sea Base (ESB) platform is more than just a ship; it’s a Swiss Army knife on the high seas.

With its sprawling flight deck, hangar, and mission deck, it’s equipped to handle anything from aviation support to command and control operations. It’s a testament to American ingenuity and a beacon of versatility in the unpredictable theater of military operations.

A Tribute to Valor: Honoring Sergeant Major John L. Canley

The USS John L. Canley isn’t just another ship in the Navy’s formidable arsenal. No, this vessel carries the name of a legend, a Vietnam War hero who embodied the kind of courage that books and movies try to capture but can hardly do justice to.

Sergeant Major John L. Canley, a man whose bravery in 1968 at the Battle of Hue City set a standard for heroism, now had his name etched on the hull of this floating fortress.

Carrying his wounded brothers through the hellscape of Hue City under a storm of enemy fire, his story earned him the Medal of Honor five decades later, making him an eternal figure of inspiration.