Quote:Retired Sgt. Maj. John Canley received the Navy Cross, two Bronze Stars, and a Purple Heart for his exemplary work in the military.

But that wasn't good enough for his fellow Marines who spent nearly 15 years pushing for him to receive the nation's highest military honor: the Medal of Honor.

“You followed him because he was a true leader — something you need in life-and-death situations,” John Ligato, a Marine who fought with Canley in Vietnam, told Military.com.

Although Ligato said he gave up at times to get Canley the Medal of Honor, he and his fellow 1st Battalion Marines endured more than 10 rejections.

“The Medal of Honor was rejected 10 times — never on the merits of what he did, it was always procedural,” he said.

“The irony is he's one of the most deserved Medal of Honor recipients ever in the history of our country,” Ligato said of Canley, whom he also described as “totally fearless.”

Canley, according to Stars and Stripes, jumped into a leadership position while serving as a gunnery sergeant.

With his commander seriously injured, Canley took over his fellow Marines during one of the Vietnam War's bloodiest battles and neutralized enemy combatants during a weeklong siege.

During that time, Canley suffered several injuries as well but was able to rescue injured Marines. He reportedly saved countless lives.