The USS John L. Canley is officially a warship. The vessel is an Expeditionary Sea Base and will be ready to deploy after it undergoes final certifications.
Dozens of sailors will serve aboard the USS Canley with the motto, Courage under Fire.
The late Retired Sergeant Major’s daughter, Patricia Sargent, was there for the commissioning at Naval Base Coronado Saturday. “My father understood that greatness is not achieved by the individual. It is achieved by the courageous acts of the many," she said.
Sergeant Major Canley was a Medal of Honor recipient. He earned an award as a gunnery sergeant over seven days during one of three of his deployments during the Vietnam War.
The ship has the third-largest flight deck in the U.S. Navy. It has several capabilities, that include supporting special forces if needed, but its core mission is aviation mine sweeping, using the Marine Corps Echo helicopter.
(Photo reporting partner 10News)