WEBVTT 00:08.050 --> 00:10.619 Welcome to Naval Air Station North 00:10.630 --> 00:12.840 Island in beautiful Coronado , 00:12.850 --> 00:16.010 California and the commissioning of us 00:16.020 --> 00:19.670 S John L Conley . I am 00:19.680 --> 00:22.180 Commander Michel Martinez Executive 00:22.190 --> 00:25.309 Officer . It is my privilege to be your 00:25.319 --> 00:29.049 master of ceremonies today . Before our 00:29.059 --> 00:31.860 ceremony begins , please silence your 00:31.870 --> 00:33.000 cellphones . 00:35.979 --> 00:38.159 We are here today to celebrate this 00:38.169 --> 00:41.099 ship's namesake , United States Marine 00:41.110 --> 00:43.599 and medal of honor recipient , gunnery 00:43.610 --> 00:46.290 sergeant , John L Conley and to 00:46.299 --> 00:49.080 commission the first ship named in his 00:49.090 --> 00:52.459 honor 56 years 00:52.470 --> 00:56.310 ago in January and February 1968 00:56.319 --> 00:59.110 during the battle of way . Then gunnery 00:59.119 --> 01:01.919 sergeant John L Canley displayed the 01:01.930 --> 01:04.519 ultimate measure of leadership , 01:04.529 --> 01:06.800 courage and devotion 01:08.510 --> 01:10.980 to quote his medal of honor citation 01:12.139 --> 01:14.769 for conspicuous gallantry and 01:14.779 --> 01:17.650 intrepidity at the risk of his life 01:17.660 --> 01:19.940 above and beyond the call of duty in 01:20.089 --> 01:22.629 action against the enemy while serving 01:22.639 --> 01:25.849 as company G gunnery sergeant , Company 01:25.860 --> 01:29.790 Alpha , first Battalion First Marines 01:29.800 --> 01:33.569 First Marine Division from 31 January 01:33.580 --> 01:37.050 to 6th February 1968 01:38.169 --> 01:41.190 in the Republic of Vietnam . Company 01:41.199 --> 01:43.088 Alpha fought off multiple vicious 01:43.088 --> 01:45.330 attacks as it rapidly moved along the 01:45.339 --> 01:47.849 highway toward way city to relieve 01:47.860 --> 01:50.082 friendly forces that were surrounded by 01:50.082 --> 01:53.110 enemy forces despite being wounded in 01:53.120 --> 01:55.339 these engagements . Gunnery Sergeant 01:55.349 --> 01:58.180 Canley repeatedly rushed across fire so 01:58.290 --> 02:01.680 terrain to carry his wounded marines to 02:01.690 --> 02:05.639 safety after his commanding officer was 02:05.650 --> 02:08.369 severely wounded . Gunnery Sergeant , 02:08.380 --> 02:11.470 Canley took command and led the company 02:11.479 --> 02:15.210 into way city at way city 02:15.220 --> 02:17.639 caught in deadly crossfire from enemy 02:17.649 --> 02:20.070 machine gun positions . He set up a 02:20.080 --> 02:22.119 base of fire and maneuvered with a 02:22.130 --> 02:24.929 platoon and a flanking attack that 02:24.940 --> 02:27.970 eliminated several enemy positions , 02:28.619 --> 02:31.009 retaining command of the company for 02:31.020 --> 02:33.839 three days . He led attacks against 02:33.850 --> 02:36.429 multiple enemy fortified positions 02:36.460 --> 02:39.699 while routinely braving enemy fire to 02:39.710 --> 02:42.570 carry wounded marines to safety . 02:43.399 --> 02:45.669 On 4th February , he led a group of 02:45.679 --> 02:48.419 marines into an enemy occupied building 02:48.429 --> 02:51.419 in way city . He moved into the open to 02:51.429 --> 02:54.630 draw fire located the enemy 02:55.139 --> 02:58.089 eliminated the threat and expanded the 02:58.100 --> 03:01.289 company's hold on the building room by 03:01.300 --> 03:04.479 room . Gunnery sergeant Canley then 03:04.490 --> 03:06.379 gained position above the enemy's 03:06.379 --> 03:08.379 strong point and dropped in a large 03:08.379 --> 03:10.601 satchel charge that forced the enemy to 03:10.601 --> 03:14.399 withdraw on 6th February during a first 03:14.410 --> 03:17.139 fierce firefight at a hospital compound . 03:17.529 --> 03:20.229 Gunnery sergeant Canley twice scaled a 03:20.240 --> 03:23.419 wall in full view of the enemy to carry 03:23.429 --> 03:26.979 wounded marines to safety by his 03:26.990 --> 03:29.839 undaunted courage , selfless 03:29.850 --> 03:33.649 sacrifice and unwavering devotion to 03:33.660 --> 03:36.070 duty . Gunnery Sergeant Canley 03:36.080 --> 03:39.419 reflected great credit upon himself and 03:39.429 --> 03:41.619 upheld the highest traditions of the 03:41.630 --> 03:44.020 Marine Corps and the United States 03:44.029 --> 03:48.020 naval Service . This crew is proud 03:48.029 --> 03:50.149 to serve on the newest warship in the 03:50.160 --> 03:52.679 United States Navy and to carry on the 03:52.690 --> 03:54.740 courageous legacy of Sergeant Major 03:54.750 --> 03:56.889 Canley and of those who have gone 03:56.899 --> 03:59.580 before us to repel tyranny and to 03:59.589 --> 04:02.119 preserve freedom around the world . 04:03.490 --> 04:07.389 We are honored to have two 04:07.399 --> 04:09.630 of Sergeant Major Conley's fellow medal 04:09.639 --> 04:12.710 of honor cyient with us today . Colonel 04:12.720 --> 04:15.229 Jay Vargas , United States Marine Corps , 04:15.240 --> 04:19.209 retired and Colonel Robert J . Moji . 04:19.220 --> 04:21.390 United States Marine Corps . Retired . 04:21.920 --> 04:24.589 Gentlemen , please stand and be 04:24.600 --> 04:25.660 recognized . 04:47.890 --> 04:50.339 We are also joined by several of 04:50.350 --> 04:52.350 Sergeant Major Conley's brothers in 04:52.350 --> 04:54.359 arms who fought beside him at the 04:54.369 --> 04:57.369 battle of way . Gentlemen , would you 04:57.380 --> 05:00.119 please stand and be recognized ? 05:16.630 --> 05:19.269 Would all veterans and active duty 05:19.279 --> 05:22.089 service members and U US ? Merchant 05:22.100 --> 05:24.010 Mariners please stand . 05:38.459 --> 05:41.929 Would all seafaring families please 05:41.940 --> 05:42.709 stand . 05:52.970 --> 05:55.700 Ladies and gentlemen , thank you for 05:55.709 --> 05:59.630 your service . Our 05:59.640 --> 06:02.309 ceremony today is a time honored 06:02.320 --> 06:04.239 tradition which began with the 06:04.250 --> 06:06.910 commissioning of our first warship , a 06:06.920 --> 06:09.279 captured British schooner , the 06:09.290 --> 06:12.839 Margaretta in 1775 . 06:13.200 --> 06:16.000 Since then , thousands of ships have 06:16.010 --> 06:18.420 undergone the transformation from 06:18.429 --> 06:21.529 silent holes to fully alive 06:21.540 --> 06:24.470 warships . Our commissioning crew 06:24.480 --> 06:27.130 hereafter known as plank owners are in 06:27.140 --> 06:30.160 information among you and ready to 06:30.170 --> 06:33.850 bring our ship alive . In just a few 06:33.859 --> 06:36.440 moments , we will render honors to the 06:36.450 --> 06:38.579 honorable Carlos del Toro . 06:42.290 --> 06:45.149 Will the guests please rise and remain 06:45.160 --> 06:47.070 standing for the arrival of our 06:47.079 --> 06:50.820 official party honors the presentation 06:50.829 --> 06:54.369 of colors , the national anthem and the 06:54.380 --> 06:58.250 invocation . Ladies and 06:58.260 --> 07:00.970 gentlemen , our platform guests , 07:02.019 --> 07:05.100 Lieutenant Commander Robert L Crabb , 07:05.250 --> 07:07.920 Chaplain Corps , United States Navy 07:07.929 --> 07:10.480 retired , our ceremony , chaplain , 07:16.170 --> 07:19.089 Lieutenant Commander William C Messick 07:19.100 --> 07:22.489 United States Navy Executive Officer 07:22.500 --> 07:25.779 US , John L Can gold crew . 07:30.980 --> 07:34.200 United States Marine and former captain , 07:34.339 --> 07:37.950 Mr Robert W Shaw , our long glass 07:37.959 --> 07:38.640 presenter , 07:43.500 --> 07:46.640 our maid of honor , MS Victoria 07:46.649 --> 07:49.119 Sergeant , escorted by senior chief 07:49.130 --> 07:52.399 petty officer , Ron A S Rojas United 07:52.410 --> 07:56.000 States Navy Command , senior chief US S 07:56.010 --> 07:58.299 John L . Conley , gold crew 08:04.609 --> 08:08.369 commander Mark A Uou United States Navy 08:08.380 --> 08:10.799 officer in charge supervisor of 08:10.809 --> 08:13.200 shipbuilding bath detachment , San 08:13.209 --> 08:13.829 Diego 08:18.440 --> 08:21.489 commander William Lauper United States 08:21.500 --> 08:24.619 Navy retired US S John L Canley 08:24.630 --> 08:26.574 commissioning committee , co-chair 08:31.940 --> 08:34.650 captain Dennis Dubard United States 08:34.659 --> 08:38.039 Navy retired US S John L . Conley 08:38.049 --> 08:40.160 commissioning committee , co chairman 08:46.289 --> 08:49.320 Mr Timothy J Roberts Strategic and 08:49.330 --> 08:51.760 theater C lift program manager , 08:56.739 --> 08:59.890 Captain Micah D Murphy . United States 08:59.900 --> 09:02.659 Navy commander , military sea lift 09:02.669 --> 09:04.090 command , Pacific 09:09.859 --> 09:12.780 Captain Austin R . Hanbury , United 09:12.789 --> 09:16.020 States merchant Marine ship's master US 09:16.030 --> 09:17.799 S John L . Conley , 09:23.109 --> 09:26.739 Mr David J Carver , President General 09:26.750 --> 09:30.169 Dynamics Nasco Mhm . 09:33.700 --> 09:36.979 Rear Admiral Thomas J Anderson , United 09:36.989 --> 09:40.320 States Navy Program , Executive officer 09:40.330 --> 09:40.890 ships , 09:46.299 --> 09:49.640 Vice Admiral Brendan mclean commander 09:49.650 --> 09:51.960 Naval Surface Forces and commander 09:51.969 --> 09:55.119 Naval Surface Force us Pacific fleet 10:01.760 --> 10:04.809 sergeant major , Carlos A Ruiz United 10:04.820 --> 10:07.140 States Marine Corps . 20th sergeant 10:07.150 --> 10:08.809 major of the Marine Corps 10:14.789 --> 10:17.510 General Joseph F Dunford Junior , 10:17.520 --> 10:19.619 United States Marine Corps , retired 10:19.630 --> 10:21.710 19th chairman of the joint chiefs of 10:21.719 --> 10:24.679 staff and 36th commandant of the Marine 10:24.690 --> 10:25.690 Corps . 10:30.619 --> 10:33.700 Ladies and gentlemen , our ship sponsor 10:33.739 --> 10:36.950 MS Patricia , a sergeant escorted by 10:36.960 --> 10:39.780 senior chief petty officer , Julius C 10:39.789 --> 10:43.770 Green . United States Navy US S John 10:43.780 --> 10:46.409 L Conley command , senior chief blue 10:46.419 --> 10:46.880 crew , 10:57.869 --> 11:00.840 ladies and gentlemen , the honorable 11:00.849 --> 11:04.820 Carlos Del Toro , the 78th Secretary of 11:04.830 --> 11:08.609 the Navy , escorted by Captain Thomas A 11:08.619 --> 11:11.739 Mays United States Navy commanding 11:11.750 --> 11:14.869 officer US S John L . Conley , 11:26.479 --> 11:29.080 ladies and gentlemen , honors to the 11:29.090 --> 11:31.190 honorable Carlos Del Toro . 11:35.219 --> 11:36.219 Yeah , 12:12.770 --> 12:14.419 platform ready 13:31.679 --> 13:33.960 platform , ready to 13:37.700 --> 13:39.989 advance the colors , 14:26.359 --> 14:29.159 platform and salute 16:22.469 --> 16:23.539 the colors 16:57.239 --> 17:00.119 platform ready to . 17:04.348 --> 17:05.348 Yeah , 17:08.979 --> 17:11.229 ladies and gentlemen , chaplain Crabb 17:11.239 --> 17:13.369 will now deliver the invocation . 17:22.900 --> 17:26.660 Let us pray God . Please 17:26.670 --> 17:29.780 hear our prayer today at this 17:29.790 --> 17:32.560 commissioning of the US S John L Canley 17:32.569 --> 17:36.260 ESB six , we acknowledge Lord that your 17:36.270 --> 17:38.910 spirit is unfurled to every breeze from 17:38.920 --> 17:41.959 dawn to setting sun and in every climb 17:41.969 --> 17:45.000 and place we acknowledge to Lord that 17:45.010 --> 17:47.170 infused within the spirit of these 17:47.180 --> 17:49.630 ceremonies today are the echoes of 17:49.640 --> 17:51.989 ferocious battles and violent combats 17:52.000 --> 17:55.839 of 1968 Way City when gunnery sergeant 17:55.849 --> 17:57.939 John Conley in the Navy Marine Corps 17:57.949 --> 18:01.739 combat team of alpha 11 stood in full 18:01.750 --> 18:04.689 battery against a desperate foe . The 18:04.699 --> 18:06.979 ship's motto , courage under fire 18:06.989 --> 18:09.900 declares a tradition of things endured 18:09.910 --> 18:12.819 and things accomplished such as 18:12.829 --> 18:15.619 regiments hand down forever for these 18:15.630 --> 18:18.359 reasons . And so many more . God , we 18:18.369 --> 18:20.036 ask for your blessings on our 18:20.036 --> 18:22.800 proceedings just now grant the current 18:22.810 --> 18:25.329 and future crews and embark warriors in 18:25.339 --> 18:27.699 all ships , company , grant them strong 18:27.709 --> 18:30.719 minds , great hearts , true courage and 18:30.729 --> 18:33.410 high competence . And when their time 18:33.420 --> 18:36.900 comes , Lord , as it surely must to 18:36.910 --> 18:38.799 enter the crucible of testing and 18:38.799 --> 18:40.849 challenge . Inspire them with the 18:40.859 --> 18:43.140 actions of gunnery sergeant Canley 18:43.170 --> 18:45.729 under fire . Be not far from them in 18:45.739 --> 18:47.959 times of trouble and war . Be their 18:47.969 --> 18:50.290 strength in times of fatigue and 18:50.300 --> 18:52.522 distraction . Be their fortress , their 18:52.522 --> 18:55.099 high tower , their shield in times of 18:55.109 --> 18:58.479 combat and violence be their hope and 18:58.489 --> 19:01.109 vision in times of peace . Please dear 19:01.119 --> 19:04.849 God bless their families too . Most of 19:04.859 --> 19:07.719 all holy God , let them always be 19:07.729 --> 19:11.550 faithful as you Lord are Semper Fidelis . 19:12.459 --> 19:13.180 Amen . 19:16.250 --> 19:17.861 Thank you , Chaplain Crabb . 19:20.030 --> 19:22.086 We would like to thank the Navy Band 19:22.086 --> 19:25.609 Southwest , First Marine Division Band 19:25.939 --> 19:28.310 and the First Battalion 11th Marine 19:28.319 --> 19:30.719 saluting Battery and the Troy High 19:30.729 --> 19:33.569 School NJOTC color guard for their 19:33.579 --> 19:36.459 support this morning . Will the guests 19:36.469 --> 19:37.699 please be seated , 19:42.380 --> 19:45.400 ship's company , parade , rest , 19:47.910 --> 19:51.010 ladies and gentlemen , Mr David Carver , 20:01.670 --> 20:05.520 good morning , Secretary Del Toro flag 20:05.530 --> 20:07.586 and general officers , distinguished 20:07.586 --> 20:09.910 guests and ladies and gentlemen . It is 20:09.920 --> 20:12.199 my honor to represent the 4800 20:12.209 --> 20:15.150 shipbuilders of General Dynamics NA Sco 20:15.380 --> 20:18.329 at this commissioning ceremony to the 20:18.339 --> 20:20.339 commissioning committee . Thank you 20:20.339 --> 20:22.650 very much for your hard work and making 20:22.660 --> 20:26.319 this a very special day . The NSCO team 20:26.329 --> 20:27.940 consists of some of the most 20:27.940 --> 20:30.520 experienced shipbuilders in America and 20:30.530 --> 20:33.010 we are truly honored and humbled to 20:33.020 --> 20:35.439 have built this incredible ship . The 20:35.449 --> 20:37.780 US S John L can's remarkable 20:37.790 --> 20:40.310 capabilities will allow our servicemen 20:40.319 --> 20:43.400 and women to carry out a wide variety 20:43.410 --> 20:46.199 of missions including to name a few 20:46.689 --> 20:49.180 mine countermeasures , counter piracy 20:49.189 --> 20:51.520 operations , maritime security 20:51.530 --> 20:54.599 operations , human humanitarian aid , 20:54.609 --> 20:57.219 disaster relief missions , special 20:57.229 --> 20:59.520 operation and Marine Corps crisis 20:59.530 --> 21:01.959 response . The ship is designed to 21:01.969 --> 21:04.400 support nearly every rotary wing 21:04.410 --> 21:07.439 aircraft in the dod inventory including 21:07.449 --> 21:11.180 H 53 and H 60 helicopters MV , 21:11.189 --> 21:14.739 22 tilt rotor aircraft as well as 21:14.989 --> 21:18.609 allied aircraft all while serving off 21:18.619 --> 21:21.219 the fleet's third largest flight deck . 21:21.510 --> 21:23.540 She's also equipped with upgraded 21:23.550 --> 21:25.680 forward accommodations area that can 21:25.689 --> 21:29.560 support over 250 embarked personnel . 21:29.619 --> 21:31.760 The first ship in the class to have 21:31.770 --> 21:34.739 this expanded capability , Canley has 21:34.750 --> 21:37.599 substantial residual space weight and 21:37.609 --> 21:40.469 power to accommodate a wide range of 21:40.479 --> 21:43.400 current and future manned and unmanned 21:43.410 --> 21:46.619 surface aerial and undersea systems 21:46.630 --> 21:49.180 across multiple warfighting functions . 21:49.650 --> 21:52.680 In summary , displacing nearly 100,000 21:52.689 --> 21:55.609 tons . This is a massive capable 21:55.619 --> 21:58.069 flexible warship that gives the fleet 21:58.079 --> 22:01.010 commanders the decision space they need 22:01.020 --> 22:03.131 throughout their operating theaters . 22:03.510 --> 22:05.810 What makes this ship extra special is 22:05.819 --> 22:08.400 its namesake and what he represents as 22:08.410 --> 22:11.390 an American and a marine . Today , we 22:11.400 --> 22:13.622 are not only commissioned in the ship . 22:13.622 --> 22:15.733 We are honoring Sergeant Major Canley 22:15.733 --> 22:17.619 for his lifetime of service and 22:17.630 --> 22:19.579 dedication to the United States of 22:19.589 --> 22:22.339 America . For those who knew Sergeant 22:22.349 --> 22:24.579 Major Canley , he lived and breathed 22:24.589 --> 22:27.000 the Marine Corps . Nothing made him 22:27.010 --> 22:29.790 happier than being around young sailors 22:29.800 --> 22:32.180 and marines , hearing their stories and 22:32.189 --> 22:34.780 getting to know them Sergeant Major 22:35.000 --> 22:36.778 Kelley's story demonstrates the 22:36.778 --> 22:39.660 American ideas , courage 22:39.719 --> 22:43.099 sacrifice , patriotism , citizenship , 22:43.109 --> 22:46.380 integrity and commitment , not just for 22:46.390 --> 22:48.760 his heroics in Vietnam . It's the way 22:48.770 --> 22:50.989 he lived his life . What we are 22:51.000 --> 22:53.500 commissioning today is not just a ship , 22:53.619 --> 22:55.563 it's an embodiment of the American 22:55.563 --> 22:57.890 unity and purpose , a beacon of hope 22:57.900 --> 23:00.122 and freedom to those in need around the 23:00.122 --> 23:03.160 world . To captain Hanbury and captain 23:03.170 --> 23:05.819 Mays and the future crew of the US S 23:05.829 --> 23:08.849 John L Cany , the men and women , men 23:08.859 --> 23:11.050 and women of general dynamics . Nasco 23:11.060 --> 23:13.338 wish you fair winds and following seas . 23:13.338 --> 23:16.780 Thank you . Thank you , Mr Carver , 23:20.829 --> 23:23.400 ladies and gentlemen , Sergeant , Major , 23:23.410 --> 23:24.469 Carlos A ru . 23:30.719 --> 23:33.199 I hope it's ok to take off my cover so 23:33.209 --> 23:35.420 I can see your beautiful faces . Ura . 23:35.449 --> 23:38.339 Good morning that you knew that that 23:38.349 --> 23:40.571 was your car alarm is very impressive . 23:41.520 --> 23:43.742 That's , that's pretty quick and pretty 23:43.742 --> 23:45.909 awesome . Um I think I'd like to start 23:45.909 --> 23:48.619 out with uh Miss Sergeant . Um Thank 23:48.630 --> 23:51.939 you for allowing me to be here uh very 23:51.949 --> 23:53.782 special day and to represent the 23:53.782 --> 23:55.893 service here today , the marines that 23:55.893 --> 23:57.893 are here and that are watching . Uh 23:57.893 --> 24:00.290 just thrilled and thank you and uh 24:00.300 --> 24:03.160 quickly Mr Secretary . Thank you , sir . 24:03.219 --> 24:05.330 Thank you for bringing this beautiful 24:05.330 --> 24:07.275 shift to our beautiful navy . It's 24:07.275 --> 24:09.660 awesome and just a personal note from 24:09.670 --> 24:11.760 me . Uh Thank you for allowing me to 24:11.770 --> 24:14.939 speak on behalf of a man for a man that 24:14.949 --> 24:17.171 wore the chevrons that a lot of us here 24:17.280 --> 24:19.770 have worn in decades of service . So 24:19.780 --> 24:22.160 thank you , sir and uh General Dunford , 24:22.170 --> 24:24.079 distinguished guest , ladies and 24:24.089 --> 24:26.256 gentlemen , it's a beautiful morning . 24:26.256 --> 24:28.459 Can I get a URA ? Yeah , that was 24:28.469 --> 24:30.469 pretty close . You thought you were 24:30.469 --> 24:32.580 gonna get away with it , didn't you ? 24:32.580 --> 24:35.560 Can I get a oorah ? I love it . Uh 24:36.579 --> 24:40.540 Some Cantley . He , uh , he 24:40.550 --> 24:43.140 earned this medal of honor over seven 24:43.150 --> 24:46.989 days , but he had 24:47.000 --> 24:50.109 15 years of building marines before 24:50.119 --> 24:53.660 these seven days started 15 years of 24:53.670 --> 24:55.819 making warriors getting him ready for 24:55.829 --> 24:59.420 the fight . And then on the back end of 24:59.430 --> 25:01.680 the seven days , he's been another 25:01.689 --> 25:05.140 decade plus , continue to serve in 25:05.150 --> 25:08.989 uniform . So the seven days is what , 25:09.069 --> 25:12.530 why the name is on this ship . But it's 25:12.540 --> 25:15.780 the 30 years of service in a uniform 25:15.790 --> 25:18.459 that brings most of us here today . But 25:18.469 --> 25:21.219 just like it was just mentioned 25:22.270 --> 25:24.270 that after the 30 years , there are 25:24.270 --> 25:27.949 people here who knew John Canley never 25:27.959 --> 25:30.300 wore a uniform , but he showed all of 25:30.310 --> 25:33.479 us how to move , how to walk , how to 25:33.489 --> 25:35.767 show courage how to do the right thing . 25:35.959 --> 25:38.070 If you were listening to the citation 25:38.070 --> 25:40.410 earlier this morning , the summary of 25:40.420 --> 25:42.531 actions speaks of the many times that 25:42.531 --> 25:45.229 he would put himself in danger , one to 25:45.239 --> 25:47.350 identify the enemy so his marines can 25:47.350 --> 25:50.589 close with and destroy Ura . And then 25:50.599 --> 25:53.750 two , he would walk with such 25:53.760 --> 25:56.949 calmness to pull his marines out of 25:56.959 --> 26:00.209 danger , those who were wounded to get 26:00.219 --> 26:02.859 them out . But where did he learn this 26:02.869 --> 26:05.319 stuff from ? Because that's not 26:05.329 --> 26:07.880 technically what we teach . We teach 26:07.890 --> 26:10.880 cover , we teach maneuver when the 26:10.890 --> 26:13.619 conditions are set . You see there's 26:13.630 --> 26:16.400 this generation that keeps building on 26:16.410 --> 26:18.719 each other and they do some of the very 26:18.729 --> 26:20.959 similar things that John Connolly did 26:22.189 --> 26:24.356 and that's care for each other that it 26:24.356 --> 26:27.349 overtakes the procedure what you're 26:27.359 --> 26:30.589 supposed to do because marines service 26:30.599 --> 26:34.319 members are in danger . And so when you 26:34.329 --> 26:37.040 think about that and you're like , here 26:37.050 --> 26:38.994 is the gunnery sergeant of marines 26:38.994 --> 26:41.579 putting himself in complete and utter 26:41.589 --> 26:43.900 danger to get after it . And you fast 26:43.910 --> 26:46.859 forward two generations . And not that 26:46.869 --> 26:49.180 long ago , you saw marines being 26:49.760 --> 26:52.060 exactly like John Conley taught them to 26:52.069 --> 26:55.510 do , standing on top of walls closing 26:55.520 --> 26:58.890 in on the long war . Doing the same 26:58.900 --> 27:01.079 thing that John Kelly did looking 27:01.089 --> 27:03.260 through a sea of people trying to find 27:03.319 --> 27:05.739 anyone else that they can save and pull 27:05.750 --> 27:07.750 it to the other side of that wall . 27:09.770 --> 27:11.826 Where do we find these people ? They 27:11.826 --> 27:14.089 come from ? You , they come from these 27:14.099 --> 27:17.630 communities from us . Isn't that 27:17.640 --> 27:20.369 awesome ? And so 27:21.520 --> 27:24.239 now what now , what do we do , 27:25.520 --> 27:28.780 John Conley gets to live forever and 27:28.790 --> 27:30.623 that's exactly what it should be 27:30.623 --> 27:32.568 because we , people like us get to 27:32.568 --> 27:34.920 spend the rest of our careers trying to 27:34.930 --> 27:38.430 live up to that fast amazing 27:38.439 --> 27:40.569 career that he had in a life that he 27:40.579 --> 27:42.880 had and we keep falling short and 27:42.890 --> 27:45.290 although we wore the same chevrons , we 27:45.300 --> 27:47.522 were equal , but we were not the same , 27:48.319 --> 27:51.630 we're not even close . And so to the 27:51.640 --> 27:55.069 crew . And so to the audience that's 27:55.079 --> 27:57.459 here , this morning , whether you wore 27:57.469 --> 28:01.260 a uniform today or you have ever wore a 28:01.270 --> 28:04.310 uniform today , we all will find 28:04.319 --> 28:07.109 ourselves in our own version of John 28:07.119 --> 28:10.709 Conley's seven days . But he has taught 28:10.719 --> 28:13.719 us how to go through that , that if 28:13.729 --> 28:16.170 it's about them , that if it's not 28:16.180 --> 28:19.339 about you , that if it means taking 28:19.349 --> 28:21.699 care of marines and sailors , then 28:21.709 --> 28:25.609 courage follows Ura and he 28:25.619 --> 28:27.680 shows up at the right place at the 28:27.689 --> 28:31.329 right time . So to the crew , to 28:31.339 --> 28:33.283 anyone who had anything to do with 28:33.283 --> 28:35.395 building this ship , for those of you 28:35.395 --> 28:37.617 who would carry this ship forward , the 28:37.617 --> 28:39.728 marines are ready to get on it and do 28:39.728 --> 28:41.950 some great stuff from it . Have a great 28:41.950 --> 28:44.117 rest of your morning . U ra simplify . 28:47.400 --> 28:49.520 Thank you , Sergeant Major Louise , 28:52.790 --> 28:55.810 ladies and gentlemen , General Joseph F 28:55.819 --> 28:57.986 Dunford , United States Marine Corps , 28:57.986 --> 28:58.986 retired . 29:04.140 --> 29:06.196 Hey , ladies and gentlemen , it's an 29:06.196 --> 29:08.029 honor to join this morning as we 29:08.029 --> 29:10.251 commission the US S John Canley . And , 29:10.251 --> 29:12.473 and I'm particularly humbled to be here 29:12.473 --> 29:14.696 with our medal of honor recipients . Um 29:14.696 --> 29:16.973 Secretary Del Toro Sergeant Major Ruiz , 29:16.973 --> 29:18.751 our Vietnam veterans , and most 29:18.751 --> 29:20.751 importantly , Patricia sergeant and 29:20.751 --> 29:22.973 Victoria and the entire Canley family . 29:23.410 --> 29:25.466 I'd like to begin by recognizing the 29:25.466 --> 29:27.521 workforce here at Nasco and , and Mr 29:27.521 --> 29:29.743 Carver , thanks to you and the team for 29:29.743 --> 29:31.910 building an American made ship that is 29:31.910 --> 29:35.890 worthy of the name John Conley . I'm 29:35.900 --> 29:37.900 here today because of requests that 29:37.900 --> 29:39.956 Sergeant Major Canley made before he 29:39.956 --> 29:42.067 passed away . I was the chairman when 29:42.067 --> 29:44.178 Serge Major Canley received the medal 29:44.178 --> 29:46.233 of honor in the White House . And we 29:46.233 --> 29:48.400 spent some time together in Washington 29:48.400 --> 29:50.567 DC . We also crossed paths on a number 29:50.567 --> 29:52.678 of other occasions as he continued to 29:52.678 --> 29:54.622 go out and visit marines , inspire 29:54.622 --> 29:56.622 marines and lead marines around the 29:56.622 --> 29:58.844 corps . I feel really fortunate to have 29:58.844 --> 30:01.500 met a true marine legend and I learned 30:01.510 --> 30:03.732 more about Sergeant Major Canley from a 30:03.732 --> 30:05.954 good friend , Bob Shaw who's here today 30:05.954 --> 30:08.010 as a member of the official party in 30:08.010 --> 30:10.177 the late 19 seventies , he served with 30:10.177 --> 30:12.177 Sergeant Major Canley and the Third 30:12.177 --> 30:14.177 Marines in the decade before that , 30:14.177 --> 30:16.399 Bob's father served with staff Sergeant 30:16.399 --> 30:19.239 Canley in an onto company . Both Bob 30:19.250 --> 30:21.910 and his dad describes Major Canley as 30:21.920 --> 30:24.189 the epitome of a marine leader . And 30:24.199 --> 30:26.310 that's of course , the sentiment that 30:26.310 --> 30:28.532 is shared by anyone who has ever served 30:28.532 --> 30:30.609 with S Major John Canley . In our 30:30.619 --> 30:33.109 initial engagement , I was struck by 30:33.119 --> 30:35.219 Sergeant Major Conley's sincerity in 30:35.359 --> 30:38.329 his humility . I was also struck by his 30:38.339 --> 30:40.172 level of fitness and his command 30:40.172 --> 30:42.339 presence . At 80 years old , he looked 30:42.339 --> 30:44.500 completely ready to deploy with an 30:44.510 --> 30:46.788 infantry battalion at that very moment . 30:46.788 --> 30:48.843 And I found myself when he was in my 30:48.843 --> 30:51.066 office looking down at my waistline and 30:51.066 --> 30:53.177 wondering was I ready to go and I was 30:53.177 --> 30:56.250 still in uniform ? But in time I gained 30:56.260 --> 30:58.371 an appreciation for his commitment to 30:58.371 --> 31:01.449 service in his character as well . And 31:01.459 --> 31:03.515 I would also learn how he viewed his 31:03.515 --> 31:05.660 medal of honor . His perspective was 31:05.670 --> 31:07.614 captured in an interview after the 31:07.614 --> 31:09.503 medal of honor ceremony . And the 31:09.503 --> 31:11.726 interviewer asked Sergeant Major Canley 31:11.726 --> 31:13.781 about his extraordinary heroism . At 31:13.781 --> 31:16.410 Way City . The Sergeant Major responded 31:16.420 --> 31:18.709 and I quote , my troops would follow me 31:18.719 --> 31:21.160 through their death . So if they might 31:21.170 --> 31:24.780 die , what am I supposed to do from 31:24.790 --> 31:26.901 Sergeant Major Conley's perspective , 31:26.939 --> 31:30.079 what he did at Way City in Kan was in 31:30.089 --> 31:32.319 the sticker price of a marine gunnery 31:32.329 --> 31:34.819 sergeant . In addition to being 31:34.829 --> 31:37.229 understated sergeant Major Canley was 31:37.239 --> 31:39.680 uncomfortable being singled out for his 31:39.689 --> 31:42.349 actions in Vietnam . And he was also 31:42.359 --> 31:44.359 offended by the lack of recognition 31:44.359 --> 31:46.630 Vietnam veterans received when they 31:46.640 --> 31:49.099 returned home . It's something that we 31:49.109 --> 31:52.079 spoke about at length . So today , in 31:52.089 --> 31:54.180 addition to recognizing ser major 31:55.369 --> 31:57.949 heroism , I'd like to recognize the 31:57.959 --> 32:00.510 broader legacy of John Canley and his 32:00.520 --> 32:03.459 fellow Vietnam veterans . If S Major 32:03.469 --> 32:06.099 Canley was with us today , I know he 32:06.109 --> 32:09.119 would deliver a similar message . As 32:09.130 --> 32:11.241 everyone knows , our Vietnam veterans 32:11.241 --> 32:13.352 fought an unpopular war during a very 32:13.352 --> 32:15.630 turbulent time in our nation's history . 32:15.630 --> 32:17.852 And when they came home , there were no 32:17.852 --> 32:20.019 speeches , there was no ceremonies and 32:20.019 --> 32:22.130 there were no parades . The Hollywood 32:22.130 --> 32:24.297 caricature of a Vietnam veteran was of 32:24.297 --> 32:26.463 a draftee serving against his will who 32:26.463 --> 32:28.630 came home and didn't quite fit in . Of 32:28.630 --> 32:30.686 course , the facts tell us something 32:30.686 --> 32:34.050 completely different . 75% of veterans 32:34.060 --> 32:35.727 in Viet Vietnam veterans were 32:35.727 --> 32:38.400 volunteers who served simply because 32:38.410 --> 32:40.577 they thought it was the right thing to 32:40.577 --> 32:43.000 do in their record of honor , courage 32:43.010 --> 32:45.380 and commitment at places like Way City 32:45.390 --> 32:48.339 in Kan . That record speaks for itself . 32:49.089 --> 32:51.200 And when Vietnam veterans came home , 32:51.200 --> 32:53.311 they became political leaders , chief 32:53.311 --> 32:55.145 executive officers , policemen , 32:55.145 --> 32:57.311 firemen , teachers . And for decades , 32:57.311 --> 32:59.200 they were our scout leaders , our 32:59.200 --> 33:01.439 coaches and our mentors . In a personal 33:01.449 --> 33:03.420 note , I grew up in the shadow of 33:03.430 --> 33:06.969 Vietnam veterans for me , men like John 33:06.979 --> 33:09.146 Canley were the big kids on the corner 33:09.146 --> 33:11.257 growing up in the 19 seventies , they 33:11.257 --> 33:13.368 were my off my instructors at officer 33:13.368 --> 33:15.590 candidate school . They were my platoon 33:15.590 --> 33:17.312 sergeants when I was a platoon 33:17.312 --> 33:19.423 commander and they were my confidants 33:19.423 --> 33:22.739 when I needed leadership advice across 33:22.750 --> 33:24.583 the core , John Conley and those 33:24.583 --> 33:26.806 marines who stayed in uniform after the 33:26.806 --> 33:28.861 war helped us overcome the readiness 33:28.861 --> 33:30.949 and social challenges of the 19 33:30.959 --> 33:33.300 seventies . They assume positions of 33:33.310 --> 33:36.060 leadership and they built the core that 33:36.069 --> 33:38.560 won the Cold War and Desert Storm . 33:40.180 --> 33:42.124 And I'm equally confident that the 33:42.124 --> 33:44.069 lessons learned from way city save 33:44.069 --> 33:46.300 lives in places like Fallujah and 33:46.310 --> 33:48.989 Ramadi . Ladies and gentlemen , it took 33:49.000 --> 33:51.056 our nation a while to recognize it . 33:51.056 --> 33:53.278 But our Vietnam veterans have left us a 33:53.278 --> 33:56.530 very proud and rich legacy , John 33:56.540 --> 33:58.750 Conley and his fellow Vietnam veterans 33:58.760 --> 34:01.093 guided our military through tough times . 34:01.510 --> 34:03.910 They helped the country mature and they 34:03.920 --> 34:06.050 reminded us that freedom requires 34:06.060 --> 34:08.629 sacrifice and that service to our 34:08.639 --> 34:12.350 nation is honorable . Both points that 34:12.360 --> 34:14.249 are good to remember during these 34:14.249 --> 34:17.158 challenging times . So the John Conley 34:17.168 --> 34:19.208 and the Alpha 11 Marines that are 34:19.218 --> 34:21.385 gathered here today and to all Vietnam 34:21.385 --> 34:23.551 veterans . Thank you . And I hope that 34:23.551 --> 34:25.662 among other things , this ship behind 34:25.662 --> 34:27.829 me reminds me that you are , in fact , 34:27.829 --> 34:30.320 welcome home in closing . I have a 34:30.330 --> 34:32.709 simple message for the captain and the 34:32.719 --> 34:35.300 crew . We've named this ship to Canley 34:35.310 --> 34:37.310 in honor of gunnery sergeant , John 34:37.310 --> 34:40.139 Conley's actions from 31 January to 6th 34:40.149 --> 34:43.209 February 1968 . And I know that you'll 34:43.219 --> 34:45.163 ensure future generations of young 34:45.163 --> 34:47.386 sailors and marines are inspired by his 34:47.386 --> 34:49.552 selfless and courageous leadership . I 34:49.552 --> 34:51.780 have no doubt about that , but don't 34:51.790 --> 34:53.739 let Sardon Major Conley's life be 34:53.750 --> 34:56.189 reduced to one brief period of his 34:56.199 --> 34:59.060 service . However heroic , this ship 34:59.070 --> 35:01.292 should sustain the memory of SARD Major 35:01.292 --> 35:03.403 Can's nearly three decades of service 35:03.403 --> 35:06.340 in uniform in his continued service 35:06.350 --> 35:08.860 leadership and example , after taking 35:08.870 --> 35:11.600 off the uniform , this ship should 35:11.610 --> 35:13.666 sustain the memory of a humble civil 35:13.666 --> 35:15.832 ser , a humble servant leader who left 35:15.832 --> 35:18.320 the le legacy of marines some here 35:18.330 --> 35:20.239 today that are proud to be called 35:20.250 --> 35:22.979 Canley trained and this ship should 35:22.989 --> 35:25.045 remind us of Sergeant Major Can Le's 35:25.045 --> 35:27.267 last message to Captain Mays , those of 35:27.267 --> 35:29.267 you who know him know he was pretty 35:29.267 --> 35:31.489 economical in the use of words . And he 35:31.489 --> 35:33.767 simply turned to Captain Mays and said , 35:33.767 --> 35:36.340 take care of the troops and that's what 35:36.350 --> 35:38.461 this ship ought to remind us to do to 35:38.461 --> 35:40.628 take care of the troops . Once again . 35:40.628 --> 35:42.794 Thank you so much for the privilege of 35:42.794 --> 35:44.906 being here except for Dali and to the 35:44.906 --> 35:47.699 crew , the US S John L Canley . And to 35:47.709 --> 35:49.765 those that will sail the border fair 35:49.765 --> 35:51.459 winds in following seas . 35:56.270 --> 35:57.937 Thank you , General Dunford . 36:00.010 --> 36:02.169 Ladies and gentlemen , our principal 36:02.179 --> 36:05.399 speaker , the honorable Carlos Del Toro , 36:05.600 --> 36:08.409 the 78th Secretary of the Navy . 36:13.500 --> 36:17.139 Good morning , San Diego . First . Let 36:17.149 --> 36:19.780 me start off by thanking the chaplain 36:20.090 --> 36:22.257 for providing us all perfect weather . 36:24.300 --> 36:26.411 You know , the sergeant major thanked 36:26.411 --> 36:28.522 me for allowing him to speak today as 36:28.522 --> 36:30.689 if somehow that was not going to be an 36:30.689 --> 36:32.729 option . But I will assure you that 36:32.739 --> 36:34.683 this is the last time that I speak 36:34.683 --> 36:36.906 behind the sergeant major of the Marine 36:36.906 --> 36:39.072 Corps , as well as the former chairman 36:39.072 --> 36:41.128 of the Joint Chiefs of Staff . Thank 36:41.128 --> 36:42.906 you both for your extraordinary 36:42.906 --> 36:45.699 impactful words . Uh For all of you 36:45.709 --> 36:49.340 here today , it is a great honor for 36:49.350 --> 36:52.389 me to be your 78 Secretary of the Navy 36:52.899 --> 36:55.629 in service to all the men and women who 36:55.639 --> 36:57.917 serve in our Navy and our Marine Corps . 36:57.917 --> 37:01.129 Today before I begin my speech , let me 37:01.139 --> 37:03.989 just simply say , courage under fire 37:05.610 --> 37:08.709 every American today here at this 37:08.719 --> 37:11.669 ceremony and across this great land 37:11.679 --> 37:15.000 that we call America has to be proud 37:15.540 --> 37:17.651 of the men and women who serve in our 37:17.651 --> 37:20.469 navy and our Marine Corps . Because if 37:20.479 --> 37:23.270 we honor the sergeant major for 37:23.280 --> 37:25.949 everything he did throughout those 37:25.959 --> 37:28.126 seven days . And throughout his entire 37:28.126 --> 37:30.310 life , we have to recognize that he 37:30.320 --> 37:33.510 served as an inspiration to the over 37:33.520 --> 37:35.879 40,000 marines that are deployed today 37:35.889 --> 37:38.409 around the globe . One third of our 37:38.419 --> 37:42.409 fleet is underway and in the Red Sea , 37:42.419 --> 37:46.229 over the last 90 days , our sailors 37:46.389 --> 37:50.209 and our marines have acted bravely 37:50.419 --> 37:53.709 with courage under fire . The way that 37:53.719 --> 37:56.360 I think Sergeant Major would have 37:56.370 --> 37:59.129 wanted them to do so , I'm extremely 37:59.139 --> 38:01.250 proud of each and every one of them . 38:01.250 --> 38:03.570 You should be as well . And I thank on 38:03.580 --> 38:05.802 behalf of the president , the Secretary 38:05.802 --> 38:07.858 of Defense and myself , all of you , 38:07.858 --> 38:09.969 the American people . And I encourage 38:09.969 --> 38:12.136 you to continue supporting these brave 38:12.136 --> 38:14.358 men and women . And I encourage you all 38:14.358 --> 38:16.580 to reach out to your own members in the 38:16.580 --> 38:18.691 House of Representatives and ask them 38:18.691 --> 38:20.636 to pass the supplementals that are 38:20.636 --> 38:22.979 necessary over the next few weeks to 38:22.989 --> 38:25.239 keep the government open , to keep all 38:25.250 --> 38:27.417 these brave men and women employed and 38:27.417 --> 38:29.639 supported the way they deserve to be as 38:29.639 --> 38:31.861 well as our fellow brothers and sisters 38:31.861 --> 38:34.199 in Ukraine who are so bravely today 38:34.209 --> 38:36.760 fighting for democracy , not just for 38:36.770 --> 38:39.219 themselves , but for all of us around 38:39.229 --> 38:42.330 the world so that democracy will always 38:42.340 --> 38:45.129 reign free everywhere . Thank you . 38:46.600 --> 38:48.600 It's great to be here in Colorado . 38:49.139 --> 38:52.949 Thank you at the 38:52.959 --> 38:54.959 commissioning of this . Our fleet's 38:54.959 --> 38:57.699 newest expeditionary sea base us S John 38:57.709 --> 38:59.765 Conley . And I'll tell you that when 38:59.765 --> 39:02.179 this ship was first being thought of 39:02.550 --> 39:04.739 nearly 30 years ago or so . I wasn't 39:04.750 --> 39:07.120 necessarily the biggest fan of it . And 39:07.129 --> 39:09.351 I will tell you that over these past 20 39:09.360 --> 39:12.159 years , I have become the biggest fan 39:12.169 --> 39:14.391 of these expeditionary sea base ships . 39:14.659 --> 39:16.881 So to you , David , and you know that I 39:16.881 --> 39:19.048 built a ship of our own and a shipyard 39:19.048 --> 39:21.479 down south and lived in a shipyard for 39:21.489 --> 39:24.030 a year and a half . This is hard work 39:24.270 --> 39:26.326 and there's not enough ways to thank 39:26.326 --> 39:28.270 your workers here at NAS O for the 39:28.270 --> 39:30.739 spectacular job that they've done . So , 39:30.750 --> 39:32.861 it's all the shipyard workers . Thank 39:32.861 --> 39:33.917 you so very much . 39:37.139 --> 39:40.000 I extend again a warm welcome to our 39:40.010 --> 39:42.320 ship sponsor and Sergeant Major Candy's 39:42.330 --> 39:44.497 daughter , Miss Patricia Sergeant , as 39:44.497 --> 39:46.639 well as you know , according to navy 39:46.649 --> 39:48.871 tradition , the ship's sponsor , Spirit 39:48.871 --> 39:51.093 and presence guides the sailors and the 39:51.093 --> 39:53.330 marines and the merchant Mariners that 39:53.340 --> 39:56.485 live and work and fight on board these 39:56.495 --> 39:58.824 great ships . And I am confident from 39:58.834 --> 40:01.604 all that I know about your father and 40:01.614 --> 40:04.205 yourself and your granddaughter that 40:04.215 --> 40:06.395 you all his granddaughter , that you 40:06.405 --> 40:08.804 all will be spectacular sponsors and 40:08.814 --> 40:10.870 maid of honors for the brave men and 40:10.870 --> 40:14.149 women who serve on this ship . I 40:14.159 --> 40:16.679 also want to welcome the rest of 40:16.689 --> 40:18.522 Sergeant Major Kelley's family , 40:18.522 --> 40:20.411 including Victoria Sergeant who I 40:20.411 --> 40:22.578 mentioned , but his sister , Annie and 40:22.578 --> 40:24.689 all of his grandchildren , nieces and 40:24.689 --> 40:26.578 nephews here with us today . It's 40:26.578 --> 40:28.856 wonderful to be with you all . Welcome . 40:28.856 --> 40:30.800 Also to our distinguished guests , 40:30.800 --> 40:32.800 including Mr Carver again , General 40:32.800 --> 40:34.967 Dunford , sir . Your leadership of our 40:34.967 --> 40:37.199 military service when you served in our 40:37.209 --> 40:39.098 Marine Corps , when you served as 40:39.098 --> 40:41.042 commandant was truly spectacular . 40:41.580 --> 40:42.580 Thank you , sir . 40:48.459 --> 40:52.429 Hm . And 40:52.439 --> 40:54.383 to Sergeant Major Kennedy's Marine 40:54.383 --> 40:56.328 Corps Company during Vietnam Alpha 40:56.328 --> 40:59.439 Company who are able to join us today . 41:00.090 --> 41:02.409 Thank you for your presence , for your 41:02.419 --> 41:04.739 selfless service to our country and 41:04.750 --> 41:06.972 protection of the freedoms that we hold 41:06.972 --> 41:10.199 most dear . Vietnam veterans are 41:10.209 --> 41:12.760 particularly important to me . I came 41:12.770 --> 41:15.399 here as a Cuban American refugee and my 41:15.409 --> 41:17.242 first home was in a rat infested 41:17.242 --> 41:19.370 tenement building on 42nd street 41:19.379 --> 41:21.379 between 11th and 12th Avenue in New 41:21.379 --> 41:24.310 York City . And my first memory of 41:24.320 --> 41:27.020 Vietnam when I was only four or five 41:27.030 --> 41:29.540 years old actually was this endless 41:29.550 --> 41:33.250 line of soldiers who stood across the 41:33.260 --> 41:35.610 street on 42nd street . And although I 41:35.620 --> 41:37.731 was too young to fully comprehend and 41:37.731 --> 41:39.842 understood what it was that they were 41:39.842 --> 41:42.009 doing there with their satchels , they 41:42.009 --> 41:44.176 always seem to be just waiting in line 41:44.176 --> 41:46.398 as marines , know how to do sometimes , 41:46.398 --> 41:49.250 right ? Um , but it was when I became 41:49.260 --> 41:51.540 older and when I became secretary just 41:51.550 --> 41:53.550 a couple of months ago , I asked my 41:53.550 --> 41:55.717 historian to actually look into that . 41:55.717 --> 41:57.717 Why was it that those soldiers were 41:57.717 --> 41:59.828 waiting in line and they were waiting 41:59.828 --> 42:02.379 in line to go to Vietnam on troop ships 42:02.389 --> 42:05.239 just like this as they had before 42:05.250 --> 42:07.830 during Korea and World War Two . That 42:07.840 --> 42:11.189 was my first understanding of what it 42:11.199 --> 42:14.729 meant to go to war . And throughout my 42:14.739 --> 42:17.570 life , I have vowed to honor their 42:17.580 --> 42:19.889 service first by joining the service 42:19.899 --> 42:22.010 myself , obviously . And I served for 42:22.010 --> 42:24.810 22 years by visiting joy twice as well 42:24.820 --> 42:28.189 too and seeing firsthand the struggles 42:28.199 --> 42:30.639 that they actually went through and not 42:30.649 --> 42:33.639 just to pay them tribute as we do here 42:33.649 --> 42:37.189 today , but to learn the lessons of 42:37.199 --> 42:39.709 what they went through , of what you 42:39.719 --> 42:43.580 went through and to vow to apply those 42:43.590 --> 42:46.199 lessons so that our men and women today 42:46.209 --> 42:48.389 in service in uniform , whether it be 42:48.399 --> 42:50.989 the Navy , the Marine Corps , the army , 42:51.010 --> 42:54.090 the Air Force will never again have to 42:54.100 --> 42:57.250 struggle in a similar fashion . So 42:57.260 --> 42:59.482 thank you . Thank you to all of you who 42:59.482 --> 43:01.770 served in Vietnam for your service . 43:09.209 --> 43:11.320 Commanding officer , Captain Mays and 43:11.320 --> 43:13.376 master , Captain Henry . You are the 43:13.376 --> 43:15.542 two luckiest people on the face of the 43:15.542 --> 43:17.709 earth today because you get to command 43:17.709 --> 43:19.876 this great ship and I know what that's 43:19.876 --> 43:21.987 all about . And it's an extraordinary 43:21.987 --> 43:24.209 experience as he's told you , take care 43:24.209 --> 43:26.265 of your troops , that's what matters 43:26.265 --> 43:28.431 most . And finally to the crew of us . 43:28.431 --> 43:30.487 S John Canley , the rest of our navy 43:30.487 --> 43:32.542 team and our partners and industry . 43:32.542 --> 43:34.765 Thank you for your unwavering support . 43:34.765 --> 43:37.949 As was said , behind me is 784 ft of 43:37.959 --> 43:40.409 warfighting steel named after an 43:40.419 --> 43:43.389 incredible warfighter sergeant major 43:43.399 --> 43:46.379 Kelley's philosophy was if today's my 43:46.389 --> 43:49.850 day , then come get me . And as you 43:49.860 --> 43:51.860 heard today , he certainly embodied 43:51.860 --> 43:54.360 that philosophy . This ship is a United 43:54.370 --> 43:57.270 States ship , a war fighting ship which 43:57.280 --> 43:59.502 may be called to sail into harm's way . 43:59.502 --> 44:02.469 One day us S John Canley increases the 44:02.479 --> 44:04.479 capability of our Navy , our Marine 44:04.479 --> 44:06.750 Corps , our military sea lift team , 44:06.760 --> 44:08.982 strengthening our maritime dominance in 44:08.982 --> 44:11.209 an uncertain time when the world looks 44:11.219 --> 44:13.709 to the United States more so than ever 44:13.719 --> 44:15.886 for guidance , strength and leadership 44:15.886 --> 44:18.108 and we must deliver that to the rest of 44:18.108 --> 44:20.409 the world . I want to take this time to 44:20.419 --> 44:22.475 talk about the importance of sharing 44:22.475 --> 44:25.149 stories as well , especially incredible 44:25.159 --> 44:27.629 stories of Sergeant Major John Canley , 44:27.639 --> 44:30.189 who represents the very best of America 44:30.530 --> 44:32.752 Black History Month . Of course , is an 44:32.752 --> 44:34.863 opportunity to tell those stories and 44:34.863 --> 44:36.808 pay tribute to the contribution of 44:36.808 --> 44:38.863 African American service members and 44:38.863 --> 44:40.808 civilians who selflessly dedicated 44:40.810 --> 44:44.070 their lives to this nation courageously . 44:44.080 --> 44:46.560 So while the legacy of African American 44:46.570 --> 44:48.570 service members in the sea services 44:48.570 --> 44:51.239 spanned centuries , their stories often 44:51.250 --> 44:54.239 went untold and they did not receive 44:54.250 --> 44:56.028 the recognition that they often 44:56.169 --> 44:58.590 deserved . This is certainly the case 44:58.600 --> 45:00.959 with Robert B Smalls and Charles J 45:00.969 --> 45:03.959 French , for whom I named a cruiser and 45:03.969 --> 45:06.409 a destroyer . This was also the case of 45:06.419 --> 45:08.197 Sergeant Major Canley , who was 45:08.197 --> 45:10.308 originally awarded the Navy Cross for 45:10.308 --> 45:12.350 his heroic actions at H city and 45:12.360 --> 45:14.679 thankfully following an alpha company 45:14.689 --> 45:16.911 reunion . Many years later , his fellow 45:16.919 --> 45:19.389 marines and friend John Legato embarked 45:19.399 --> 45:21.729 on a journey to ensure that this humble 45:21.739 --> 45:24.030 leader received the credit that he so 45:24.040 --> 45:26.889 deserved . This process of upgrading 45:26.899 --> 45:29.320 his award was arduous with seemingly 45:29.330 --> 45:31.441 unsurmountable administrative hurdles 45:31.441 --> 45:33.497 and miles of bureaucratic red tape . 45:33.497 --> 45:36.209 But in 2018 , 50 years after the battle 45:36.219 --> 45:38.679 of way City Sergeant Major John Canley 45:38.689 --> 45:40.699 receives the medal of honor and he 45:40.709 --> 45:42.598 became the first African American 45:42.598 --> 45:44.765 service member to receive the medal of 45:44.765 --> 45:46.598 honor while still living . We as 45:46.598 --> 45:48.709 Americans have the unique opportunity 45:48.709 --> 45:51.010 to tell the stories of Robert B Smalls , 45:51.020 --> 45:54.379 Charles J French and now John L Conley 45:54.489 --> 45:56.850 and an obligation to learn from them 45:57.229 --> 45:59.451 because we cannot only grow as a nation 45:59.451 --> 46:01.550 as a fighting force by learning from 46:01.560 --> 46:03.959 our history . Ultimately , our Navy , 46:03.969 --> 46:06.136 our Marine Corps , our nation are made 46:06.136 --> 46:08.358 stronger by their diversity , diversity 46:08.358 --> 46:10.136 of background of experience and 46:10.136 --> 46:12.500 diversity of thought which ensures that 46:12.510 --> 46:14.889 our ability to outthink outpace and 46:14.899 --> 46:18.020 outmaneuver our adversaries forever 46:18.030 --> 46:21.330 remain strong just as history matters . 46:21.439 --> 46:24.090 Representation matters too . African 46:24.100 --> 46:27.060 Americans make up 16% of our navy and 46:27.070 --> 46:29.379 over 10% of our Marine Corps . It is 46:29.389 --> 46:32.070 imperative that future generations see 46:32.080 --> 46:34.100 themselves in our sea services that 46:34.110 --> 46:35.979 they see a man from Caledonia , 46:35.989 --> 46:38.600 Arkansas grow up to become a war hero 46:38.610 --> 46:40.780 or a woman from Rochester , New York 46:40.790 --> 46:42.957 become the first female chief of naval 46:42.957 --> 46:45.012 operations or even an immigrant from 46:45.012 --> 46:48.139 Cuba to become the first Cuban American 46:48.149 --> 46:50.189 Secretary of the Navy . Because the 46:50.199 --> 46:52.421 next medal of honor recipient or CNO or 46:52.429 --> 46:54.570 sick nav might be in this audience 46:54.580 --> 46:57.300 today as the world's problems grow 46:57.310 --> 46:59.643 increasingly more complex and stability , 46:59.643 --> 47:01.719 more uncertain . We need to tap into 47:01.729 --> 47:04.080 America's most precious resource , all 47:04.090 --> 47:06.250 of its people to solve the issues of 47:06.260 --> 47:08.371 the future . And if any of you who've 47:08.371 --> 47:10.538 served before , want to come back into 47:10.538 --> 47:12.704 the service or any of any of you young 47:12.704 --> 47:14.982 men and women want to join the service , 47:14.982 --> 47:16.982 come see me after the ceremony . In 47:16.982 --> 47:19.260 fact , how about standing up right now ? 47:19.260 --> 47:21.316 And I issue you the oath of office ? 47:21.429 --> 47:24.100 I'd be happy to do so . Now . I know 47:24.110 --> 47:26.166 that it's the spouses of some of you 47:26.166 --> 47:28.388 veterans want you to come back into the 47:28.388 --> 47:30.610 service too , so we can accommodate you 47:30.610 --> 47:34.389 as well too now because 47:34.399 --> 47:36.510 better technology and more ships will 47:36.510 --> 47:38.455 go to waste without the courageous 47:38.455 --> 47:40.566 Americans who will answer the call of 47:40.566 --> 47:42.677 service to their country . The impact 47:42.677 --> 47:44.843 of Sergeant Major Conley's legacy , of 47:44.843 --> 47:47.010 course , will indeed extend far beyond 47:47.010 --> 47:49.010 Black History Month . It is my firm 47:49.010 --> 47:51.232 belief that us s John Canley will serve 47:51.232 --> 47:53.399 as an inspiration to all who follow in 47:53.399 --> 47:55.510 her wake . It is my sincere hope that 47:55.510 --> 47:57.677 for those who come aboard this ship in 47:57.677 --> 47:59.677 the United States Navy , the Marine 47:59.677 --> 48:01.919 Corps Military Command as they cross 48:01.929 --> 48:04.096 that bow , they are also challenged to 48:04.096 --> 48:06.262 live up to the unwavering devotion and 48:06.262 --> 48:08.207 duty of this ship's namesake and a 48:08.207 --> 48:10.090 special tribute to our merchant 48:10.100 --> 48:13.590 Mariners . More merchant Mariners died 48:13.979 --> 48:17.260 in world war two than anyone else . And 48:17.270 --> 48:19.159 Today , I'm proud that our United 48:19.159 --> 48:21.159 States Navy and Marine Corps is out 48:21.159 --> 48:23.409 there protecting not only the life of 48:23.419 --> 48:25.641 our own service members but the life of 48:25.641 --> 48:27.752 those innocent merchant Mariners from 48:27.752 --> 48:29.840 all over the world , we have a 48:29.850 --> 48:32.969 responsibility to protect them . I have 48:32.979 --> 48:36.110 no doubt that throughout his service us . 48:36.120 --> 48:38.870 S John Conley will display courage 48:38.919 --> 48:41.199 under fire . Ladies and gentlemen , 48:41.209 --> 48:43.899 today is a historic day , John Conley 48:43.909 --> 48:45.576 is joining the fleet and will 48:45.576 --> 48:47.742 fearlessly sail as part of the world's 48:47.742 --> 48:49.979 finest navy . The world's most powerful 48:49.989 --> 48:52.415 navy and marine corps . Don't let 48:52.425 --> 48:54.895 anybody ever tell you anything 48:54.905 --> 48:58.764 differently . I wish you all fair winds 48:58.774 --> 49:00.830 in following seas , especially these 49:00.830 --> 49:03.052 courageous men and women who will serve 49:03.052 --> 49:05.274 on board this ship . May God bless each 49:05.274 --> 49:07.330 and every one of you , your families 49:07.330 --> 49:09.274 and the United States of America . 49:09.274 --> 49:08.114 Thank you . 49:20.909 --> 49:24.040 Thank you , Secretary Del Toro . Sir . 49:24.050 --> 49:25.994 I'd be honored if you place John O 49:25.994 --> 49:28.050 Canley in commission . Captain Place 49:28.050 --> 49:30.217 John L Canley in commission . Hi sir , 49:31.659 --> 49:33.548 on behalf of the president of the 49:33.548 --> 49:35.715 United States and for the Secretary of 49:35.715 --> 49:37.603 the Navy , I hear by place United 49:37.603 --> 49:40.449 States ship John L Canley in commission . 49:40.629 --> 49:43.100 May God bless in God , this warship and 49:43.110 --> 49:44.729 all who should sail in her ? 49:52.610 --> 49:56.239 Thank you , sir . Executive 49:56.250 --> 49:58.350 executive officer hoist the Comers a 49:58.360 --> 50:01.209 commission pennant , sir . 50:03.770 --> 50:06.570 Ship's company attention . 50:10.229 --> 50:12.451 The commission pennant and professional 50:12.451 --> 50:14.870 national navies began to take form late 50:14.879 --> 50:17.669 in the 17 th century . All ships at 50:17.679 --> 50:20.179 that time were sailing ships and it was 50:20.189 --> 50:22.500 often difficult to tell a naval ship 50:22.510 --> 50:26.340 from a merchantman navies began to 50:26.350 --> 50:29.469 adopt long narrow pennants to be flown 50:29.479 --> 50:32.120 by their ships at the main mass head to 50:32.129 --> 50:34.185 distinguish themselves from merchant 50:34.185 --> 50:37.229 ships . The commission pennant will fly 50:37.239 --> 50:39.899 continuously until the ship is 50:39.909 --> 50:43.909 decommissioned . Ladies and gentlemen , 50:43.929 --> 50:47.250 please rise . I direct your 50:47.260 --> 50:50.310 attention to the large screens as we 50:50.320 --> 50:53.600 hoist the colors and commission pennant . 50:56.189 --> 50:59.310 Navigator hoist the colors and 50:59.320 --> 51:02.209 commission pennant . All right man . 51:23.969 --> 51:25.969 Captain , the colors and commission 51:25.969 --> 51:28.479 pennant are flying proudly over us . S 51:28.649 --> 51:29.959 John L . Can . 51:34.340 --> 51:36.840 Ladies and gentlemen , please be seated . 51:39.250 --> 51:41.600 I will now read my orders from 51:41.610 --> 51:43.388 commander of naval per military 51:43.388 --> 51:45.721 personnel . Command to Captain Thomas A , 51:45.721 --> 51:47.840 a United States navy subject . Beer's 51:47.850 --> 51:51.510 order number 95800 1 April 2023 51:51.669 --> 51:53.558 when directed by reporting senior 51:53.558 --> 51:55.669 detached from present duty and report 51:55.669 --> 51:57.780 to us S John L . Conley as commanding 51:57.780 --> 52:00.155 officer upon commissioning of us . S 52:00.165 --> 52:02.425 John o'hanley , report for duty as 52:02.435 --> 52:05.145 commanding officer , Captain Hanbury . 52:05.155 --> 52:06.377 I relieve you , sir . 52:09.145 --> 52:12.915 Captain Murphy . I am relieved by 52:12.935 --> 52:15.205 Senator mclean us S John mccanley is in 52:15.215 --> 52:17.048 commission and I am in command . 52:28.199 --> 52:31.870 Executive officer set the watch a sir 52:32.300 --> 52:34.320 detail or bar 52:49.169 --> 52:52.110 officer of the deck , set the first 52:52.120 --> 52:54.280 watch a man . 52:56.909 --> 52:58.649 The officer of the deck is the 52:58.659 --> 53:00.469 commanding officer's direct 53:00.479 --> 53:03.689 representative and while on watch is 53:03.699 --> 53:07.330 responsible for the safe operation of 53:07.340 --> 53:11.000 the ship and the crew . The long glass 53:11.010 --> 53:13.409 is the traditional symbol of an officer 53:13.419 --> 53:16.100 of the decks authority in a ship of the 53:16.110 --> 53:20.030 line . We are honored to have Mr Robert 53:20.040 --> 53:23.350 W Shaw with us today . A Marine Corps 53:23.360 --> 53:26.040 veteran former marine captain Shaw 53:26.050 --> 53:28.389 served with Sergeant Major Canley in 53:28.399 --> 53:30.790 the first battalion , third Marine 53:30.800 --> 53:34.479 regiment . His father also Robert Shaw 53:34.590 --> 53:37.080 served with Sergeant Major Canley on 53:37.090 --> 53:39.770 Okinawa from 1962 to 53:39.780 --> 53:43.530 1963 . Mr Shaw will pass the 53:43.540 --> 53:45.729 long glass to our first officer of the 53:45.739 --> 53:48.659 jet of the deck chief Bosun's mate , 53:48.820 --> 53:50.949 Katherine Rauschenberg from Whi Wa 53:51.409 --> 53:54.010 Hawaii . The petty officer of the watch 53:54.020 --> 53:56.250 is gunner's mate . Third class Sherry 53:56.260 --> 53:59.659 May Perez from Nast New Jersey . The 53:59.669 --> 54:01.959 messenger of the watch is aviation 54:01.969 --> 54:04.209 support equipment technician . Second 54:04.219 --> 54:06.939 class Bryton Croft from Monroe 54:06.949 --> 54:09.979 Louisiana and the Bosun's mate of the 54:09.989 --> 54:12.590 watch is Bosun's mate , first class 54:12.600 --> 54:15.659 Davin Arcy from Eva Beach , Hawaii . 54:28.310 --> 54:31.909 Check the watch on deck section . One 54:32.709 --> 54:35.840 ma'am , the watch is set very well . 54:35.850 --> 54:37.889 Detail , Lord Mar 54:51.110 --> 54:54.879 Captain , the watch 54:54.889 --> 54:57.040 is set very well . 55:00.229 --> 55:02.173 We are delighted today to have our 55:02.173 --> 55:04.219 sponsor with us , MS Patricia , a 55:04.229 --> 55:06.396 sergeant . She has opened her heart to 55:06.396 --> 55:08.451 this cruise imbued the ship with her 55:08.451 --> 55:10.469 spirit and devotion . Patricia . I 55:10.479 --> 55:12.590 would be honored if you would join me 55:12.590 --> 55:14.701 up here and give the order to man our 55:14.701 --> 55:18.639 ship . Thank you , Captain 55:18.649 --> 55:20.427 Mays . I would like to bring my 55:20.427 --> 55:22.699 daughter Victoria sergeant up to the 55:22.709 --> 55:24.820 podium . She's a maid in honor of the 55:24.820 --> 55:24.810 ship 55:32.449 --> 55:34.560 to be able to give the order , I need 55:34.560 --> 55:36.782 to give you some information in regards 55:36.782 --> 55:40.429 to my father and some insight into his 55:40.439 --> 55:42.560 thoughts and how he led . 55:44.189 --> 55:47.320 My father understood that 55:47.330 --> 55:50.120 greatness is not achieved by the 55:50.129 --> 55:53.790 individual . It is achieved by the 55:53.800 --> 55:56.250 courageous acts of the many 55:57.969 --> 56:01.459 the marines of Alpha Company . 56:02.000 --> 56:05.810 11 are an example of that 56:06.209 --> 56:08.550 in what they achieved in the Battle of 56:08.560 --> 56:12.469 Way City . And in that battle , 56:12.879 --> 56:16.389 my father earned their medal of honor 56:17.149 --> 56:20.850 which now resides on the US S 56:22.070 --> 56:25.949 John L Conley . This 56:25.959 --> 56:29.770 ship will achieve greatness , but it 56:29.780 --> 56:33.699 will only do that by the courageous 56:33.709 --> 56:37.409 actions of the many . It 56:37.479 --> 56:40.989 is in honor 56:41.000 --> 56:44.780 of my father , my 56:44.790 --> 56:45.729 family , 56:49.370 --> 56:51.780 members of the 11 56:53.179 --> 56:56.659 and the great people of the United 56:56.669 --> 57:00.600 States that I 57:00.649 --> 57:01.840 give the command 57:05.699 --> 57:09.479 officers and crew of the US 57:09.489 --> 57:13.209 S John L Canley 57:14.580 --> 57:18.270 man our ship and bring 57:18.280 --> 57:19.889 her to life . 01:04:18.679 --> 01:04:22.489 Ladies and gentlemen , the crew of us 01:04:22.500 --> 01:04:25.350 S John L Canley 01:04:25.760 --> 01:04:27.669 salutes you . 01:04:29.669 --> 01:04:33.360 We are proud to serve in America's Navy . 01:04:35.330 --> 01:04:38.729 John L Conley . Ready to , 01:04:41.270 --> 01:04:43.699 will the guests please be seated ? 01:04:58.040 --> 01:05:01.040 Ok . Yeah . Ok . 01:05:04.429 --> 01:05:07.659 Ok . Captain 01:05:08.370 --> 01:05:11.850 US S John L Canley is 01:05:11.860 --> 01:05:14.629 manned and ready very well . 01:05:16.310 --> 01:05:18.830 Faso mclean US . John Kelly has banded 01:05:18.840 --> 01:05:22.010 ready reports for duty . Secretary Del 01:05:22.020 --> 01:05:24.080 Toro Chris . Break your flag , sir . 01:05:24.090 --> 01:05:27.929 Break my flag , sir . Hi Xo . 01:05:27.939 --> 01:05:30.106 Break the flag of the Secretary of the 01:05:30.106 --> 01:05:33.989 Navy . Ay , sir . Navigator 01:05:34.000 --> 01:05:36.649 break the flag of the Secretary of the 01:05:36.659 --> 01:05:39.290 Navy . Hi ma 01:05:50.879 --> 01:05:53.429 captain the flag of The Secretary of 01:05:53.439 --> 01:05:56.360 the Navy is flying proudly over us . S 01:05:56.370 --> 01:05:59.120 John L Conley . Very well , 01:06:04.300 --> 01:06:06.840 ladies and gentlemen , Captain Thomas A 01:06:06.850 --> 01:06:09.370 Mays United States Navy commanding 01:06:09.379 --> 01:06:12.270 officer US S John L Conley 01:06:19.149 --> 01:06:21.729 ship's company parade . Rest , 01:06:24.129 --> 01:06:26.800 good morning , everyone . And it's a 01:06:26.810 --> 01:06:30.110 glorious morning . All right , I am 01:06:30.120 --> 01:06:32.699 Captain Tom Mays United States Navy 01:06:32.709 --> 01:06:36.699 commanding officer of us S John L Kley . 01:06:41.340 --> 01:06:43.229 Thank you so much to the designed 01:06:43.229 --> 01:06:45.118 representatives of our Navy , our 01:06:45.118 --> 01:06:47.284 community and industry who have joined 01:06:47.284 --> 01:06:49.396 us here today to the members who have 01:06:49.396 --> 01:06:49.169 joined me here on the platform R 01:06:49.439 --> 01:06:51.550 Anderson , Commodore Murphy , Captain 01:06:51.840 --> 01:06:55.429 Dubard , uh Commodore IA uh Commander 01:06:55.439 --> 01:06:57.840 Lauper Mr Carver and my good friend Tim 01:06:57.850 --> 01:07:01.070 Roberts . Thank you , Chaplain Crab . 01:07:01.080 --> 01:07:03.247 Thank you for your inspirational words 01:07:03.600 --> 01:07:05.767 to re Admiral Peck , Commodore Keillor 01:07:05.767 --> 01:07:07.822 and the Navy tribes and leadership . 01:07:07.822 --> 01:07:09.933 They have joined us today . Thank you 01:07:09.933 --> 01:07:11.989 for witnessing our elevation to your 01:07:11.989 --> 01:07:14.322 company to the veterans of the alpha 11 . 01:07:14.322 --> 01:07:16.929 I salute you and all you did to keep 01:07:16.939 --> 01:07:19.161 the guns legacy alive . To give him the 01:07:19.161 --> 01:07:21.649 recognition this nation owed him to 01:07:21.659 --> 01:07:23.770 Captain Brad Coletti , command master 01:07:23.770 --> 01:07:25.937 Chief Cruz de Los Santos and all those 01:07:25.937 --> 01:07:28.048 sailors who have been part of our pre 01:07:28.048 --> 01:07:30.270 comm unit and moved on the navy . Thank 01:07:30.270 --> 01:07:33.260 you , General Dunford , Colonel Moki , 01:07:33.760 --> 01:07:36.389 Colonel Vargas and Sergeant Major Ruiz . 01:07:36.949 --> 01:07:39.409 Your presence here cements our ship's 01:07:39.419 --> 01:07:41.530 tight and eternal bond to serving the 01:07:41.530 --> 01:07:43.863 needs of the United States Marine Corps . 01:07:43.863 --> 01:07:46.050 Thank you , Secretary Del Toro and 01:07:46.060 --> 01:07:48.116 Vices mclean I am blown away that we 01:07:48.116 --> 01:07:50.338 can garner your support , your time and 01:07:50.338 --> 01:07:52.840 your presence on this significant day 01:07:52.850 --> 01:07:55.770 in the life of our ship to my friends , 01:07:55.780 --> 01:07:58.500 mentors and family . Most especially my 01:07:58.510 --> 01:08:00.566 lovely wife , Kristen , my daughters 01:08:00.566 --> 01:08:02.840 Isabel and Gabrielle and my son , 01:08:02.889 --> 01:08:05.100 Gunner's mate , seaman , apprentice 01:08:05.110 --> 01:08:07.500 Dylan Mayes . I would not be here 01:08:07.510 --> 01:08:09.677 without you and all you've meant to my 01:08:09.677 --> 01:08:11.899 life . I owe you everything . Thank you 01:08:12.379 --> 01:08:14.435 to our sponsors , Trisha and maid of 01:08:14.435 --> 01:08:16.657 honor , Victoria . I can hardly express 01:08:16.657 --> 01:08:18.823 how much you've meant to me , to these 01:08:18.823 --> 01:08:20.935 crews . And what you will mean to all 01:08:20.935 --> 01:08:22.935 the sailors will crew your father's 01:08:22.935 --> 01:08:24.935 ship in all the years to follow our 01:08:24.935 --> 01:08:27.359 thanks will never be enough . Now with 01:08:27.370 --> 01:08:29.592 all the night that he's taken care of , 01:08:29.592 --> 01:08:31.592 I hope you'll excuse me as I have a 01:08:31.592 --> 01:08:33.703 personal conversation with my crews , 01:08:33.703 --> 01:08:35.759 please a little privacy . Cover your 01:08:35.759 --> 01:08:39.088 ears . No listening . Civilian Mariners , 01:08:39.099 --> 01:08:41.210 the military sea lift command and the 01:08:41.210 --> 01:08:44.398 US S John O Conley , officers , chiefs 01:08:44.409 --> 01:08:46.599 and sailors of blue and gold crews pay 01:08:46.619 --> 01:08:50.450 he 785 ft by 01:08:50.459 --> 01:08:54.149 164 ft . That is our vessel's footprint 01:08:54.160 --> 01:08:56.549 upon the seas , but it is not the 01:08:56.560 --> 01:08:58.727 extent of her reach nor the measure of 01:08:58.727 --> 01:09:01.069 her impact upon this world . The length 01:09:01.080 --> 01:09:03.136 breadth and endurance of that impact 01:09:03.136 --> 01:09:05.450 rests solely with you and I with how we 01:09:05.459 --> 01:09:07.626 back one another and how we handle our 01:09:07.626 --> 01:09:09.890 charge to care for this vessel . How we 01:09:09.899 --> 01:09:12.250 approach our sacred duty to defend 01:09:12.259 --> 01:09:15.720 these United States . Our h legacy was 01:09:15.729 --> 01:09:18.850 forged in Arkansas in 1937 . It was 01:09:18.859 --> 01:09:20.859 hammered into form alongside a very 01:09:20.859 --> 01:09:23.569 young , tall , imposing but humble John 01:09:23.580 --> 01:09:25.819 Lee Canley , and then shaped by the US 01:09:25.830 --> 01:09:27.663 Marine Corps and the travails of 01:09:27.663 --> 01:09:30.270 service . That legacy was tempered in 01:09:30.279 --> 01:09:33.799 fire at H in 1968 . It is 01:09:33.810 --> 01:09:35.866 finally annealed in the form of this 01:09:35.866 --> 01:09:38.140 ship today with the grace of God . Our 01:09:38.149 --> 01:09:40.339 legacy will extend decades into the 01:09:40.350 --> 01:09:41.930 future . With unknowable 01:09:41.939 --> 01:09:44.050 accomplishments and challenges etched 01:09:44.050 --> 01:09:46.350 into her home . Today , you are on the 01:09:46.359 --> 01:09:49.009 shining precipice of those days to come . 01:09:49.020 --> 01:09:51.242 And I want you to survey all the myriad 01:09:51.242 --> 01:09:53.740 possibilities with anticipation , hope 01:09:53.750 --> 01:09:56.029 and eagerness to do what you know is 01:09:56.040 --> 01:09:58.729 right . Y'all have just brought this 01:09:58.740 --> 01:10:01.470 ship to life . That's not just a 01:10:01.479 --> 01:10:03.759 metaphor to me . Her body is well and 01:10:03.770 --> 01:10:05.937 strongly built of American steel right 01:10:05.937 --> 01:10:08.359 here in San Diego . Her spirit lived 01:10:08.370 --> 01:10:11.140 upon this earth for 83 years before her 01:10:11.149 --> 01:10:14.080 first plank was laid imbued with honor , 01:10:14.089 --> 01:10:16.399 courage , and selfless sacrifice by her 01:10:16.410 --> 01:10:19.080 namesake . But the life blood that 01:10:19.089 --> 01:10:21.256 pumps through her veins that makes her 01:10:21.256 --> 01:10:23.422 move , that faces down the threats our 01:10:23.422 --> 01:10:25.645 nations is confronted by that lifeblood 01:10:25.645 --> 01:10:28.810 is you . None of this works without you . 01:10:29.390 --> 01:10:31.557 I want you to take pride from that but 01:10:31.557 --> 01:10:33.501 also appreciate the weight of that 01:10:33.501 --> 01:10:36.209 responsibility . Our story together did 01:10:36.220 --> 01:10:38.220 not start today for some of us that 01:10:38.220 --> 01:10:40.470 began more than two years ago . So I 01:10:40.479 --> 01:10:43.779 know , I know you now , I know how hard 01:10:43.790 --> 01:10:45.623 you've worked to make this day a 01:10:45.623 --> 01:10:47.679 reality . I know your courage , your 01:10:47.679 --> 01:10:50.250 dedication and your resiliency . I am 01:10:50.259 --> 01:10:52.315 both proud and humbled to be able to 01:10:52.315 --> 01:10:54.689 count myself among your ranks . But I 01:10:54.700 --> 01:10:56.919 know something you don't . I know 01:10:56.930 --> 01:10:58.930 you're each individually capable of 01:10:58.930 --> 01:11:01.770 even more and together like the stalks 01:11:01.779 --> 01:11:04.770 of bamboo that flank our crest together , 01:11:04.779 --> 01:11:06.830 we can accomplish feats far greater 01:11:06.839 --> 01:11:09.250 than the sum of our individual efforts . 01:11:09.270 --> 01:11:11.326 Looking back , you will be amazed at 01:11:11.326 --> 01:11:15.180 what we have done and will do ESP six . 01:11:15.430 --> 01:11:17.597 Everyone who knows me knows . I love a 01:11:17.597 --> 01:11:20.000 great story . We have it in us to add 01:11:20.009 --> 01:11:22.065 further . Still to the well deserved 01:11:22.065 --> 01:11:24.287 honors heaped upon the name of John L . 01:11:24.287 --> 01:11:26.569 Conley . Let us sail from here to serve 01:11:26.580 --> 01:11:28.636 our embarked forces and excel at our 01:11:28.640 --> 01:11:31.100 mission to not just do the job but to 01:11:31.109 --> 01:11:34.259 advance our story into epic history . 01:11:34.270 --> 01:11:35.270 Thank you 01:11:42.839 --> 01:11:45.680 chefs company attention . 01:11:46.750 --> 01:11:49.479 Will the guest please rise and remain 01:11:49.490 --> 01:11:52.669 standing for a musical tribute to our 01:11:52.680 --> 01:11:55.959 ship's namesake , Sergeant Major , John 01:11:55.970 --> 01:11:58.990 L Conley followed by the benediction . 01:12:51.770 --> 01:12:52.629 Let us pray 01:12:55.250 --> 01:12:58.120 almighty and most holy God and you we 01:12:58.129 --> 01:13:01.740 trust remind us all dear Lord that none 01:13:01.750 --> 01:13:04.160 of us got here by accident . Thank you 01:13:04.169 --> 01:13:06.439 Lord for the high skill and amazing 01:13:06.450 --> 01:13:08.879 ingenuity of all those dedicated 01:13:08.890 --> 01:13:11.129 workers and planners and designers and 01:13:11.140 --> 01:13:13.319 engineers and everyone who contributed 01:13:13.330 --> 01:13:16.540 to this day and the US S John L Canley 01:13:16.549 --> 01:13:20.290 ESB six , please . God bless this 01:13:20.299 --> 01:13:23.229 ship and all the men and women who now 01:13:23.240 --> 01:13:26.040 serve and will serve aboard its decks . 01:13:26.149 --> 01:13:30.100 Please watch over their families and 01:13:30.109 --> 01:13:34.080 now to the US S John L conley its crew , 01:13:34.229 --> 01:13:37.279 all embark personnel and to all 01:13:37.290 --> 01:13:39.560 gathered here today . Please receive 01:13:39.569 --> 01:13:42.140 the blessing . May the strength of God 01:13:42.149 --> 01:13:44.549 sustain you ? May the power of God 01:13:44.560 --> 01:13:46.720 inspire you , may the hands of God 01:13:46.729 --> 01:13:49.209 protect you , may the way of God direct 01:13:49.220 --> 01:13:52.120 you and may the presence of God go with 01:13:52.129 --> 01:13:54.770 you this day and forever . 01:13:55.700 --> 01:13:56.339 Amen .