Robert Milchrist Cannon
| Robert Milchrist Cannon | |
|---|---|
 General Cannon as Deputy Commander of U.S. Army Pacific, 1957 | |
| Born |
August 16, 1901 Salt Lake City, Utah |
| Died |
September 3, 1976 (aged 75) Norwalk, Connecticut |
| Place of burial | San Francisco National Cemetery |
| Allegiance | United States of America |
| Service/branch | United States Army |
| Years of service | 1925-1961 |
| Rank |
 Lieutenant General |
| Commands held |
82nd Airborne Division Artillery U.S. Army Advisory Group, Turkey Army Audit Agency Joint U.S. Military Advisory Group, Philippines Sixth United States Army |
| Battles/wars | World War II |
| Awards |
Distinguished Service Medal Legion of Merit Bronze Star Medal |
Robert Milchrist Cannon was a United States Army Lieutenant General. He was notable for his World War II service in the China Burma India Theater and his command of Sixth United States Army.
Early life
A member of Utah's prominent Cannon family,[1] Robert Milchrist Cannon was born on August 16, 1901 in Salt Lake City, Utah.
Start of military career
Cannon attended the University of Utah for two years[2][3] before transferring to the United States Military Academy. He graduated in 1925, received a commission as a Second Lieutenant in the Field Artillery branch, and was initially assigned to Fort D.A. Russell, Wyoming.[4]
In 1927 Cannon completed the Army Air Corps Primary Flying School.[5]
Cannon attended the Battery Officers Course in 1931.[6]
In 1938 Cannon graduated from the Army Command and General Staff College.[7]
Prior to World War II Cannon served as an instructor at the Army's Fort Sill, Oklahoma Field Artillery School.[8]
World War II
In World War II Cannon served in the China-Burma-India Theater, advancing to brigadier general and chief of staff for the Northern Combat Area Command.[9][10][11][12][13][14][15][16]
Post World War II
After World War II Cannon served as chairman of an Army board which interviewed and made recommendations on applicants for commissions as officers.[17] He also served as Assistant Chief of Staff for Logistics, G-4 for Sixth United States Army.[18]
In 1948 Cannon attended the Basic Airborne Course in preparation for his assignment to the 82nd Airborne Division, afterwards taking command of the Division Artillery.[19]
Cannon served as commander of the U.S. Army Advisory Group in Turkey from 1951 to 1952.[20][21][22]
From 1952 to 1953 Cannon was head of the Army Audit Agency.[23]
Cannon then served as Chief of the Joint U.S. Military Advisory Group which advised the Philippine government during its effort to stop the Hukbalahap insurgency.[24][25][26][27][28][29]
Following his Philippines assignment, Cannon was appointed Service Special Assistant to the Joint Chiefs of Staff for Mutual Defense Advisory Pact Affairs.[30]
Later military career
Cannon served as Deputy Commander and Chief of Staff for United States Army Pacific, receiving promotion to Lieutenant General.[31][32][33]
In 1958 Cannon was a participant in the ceremony used by the Army to select World War II and Korean War remains for placement in the Tomb of the Unknowns.[34][35][36][37]
From 1959 until his 1961 retirement General Cannon served as commander of the Sixth United States Army.[38][39][40][41][42][43][44]
Awards and decorations
Cannon's awards included the Distinguished Service Medal, the Legion of Merit and the Bronze Star Medal.[45][46]
Retirement and death
General Cannon retired to San Francisco. He died in Norwalk, Connecticut on September 3, 1976 after being stricken while visiting his daughter JoAnne Schwartz in Wilton, Connecticut.[47][48] He was buried in San Francisco National Cemetery, Plot H-35.[49][50]
Personal
While stationed at Fort Sheridan, Illinois in 1928 Cannon married Josephine Riter (1902–1991), a member of another family prominent in Utah.[51][52]
References
- ↑ Newsletter, Descendants of George Cannon and Ann Quayle serving in the Armed Forces of the United States of America in World War II, by George Cannon Family Association, October 1, 1944
- ↑ List of Past recipients, Distinguished Alumni Award, University of Utah Alumni Association, 2010
- ↑ Newspaper article, General Robert Cannon to Visit Ogden Area, Ogden Standard-Examiner, November 9, 1959
- ↑ Biographical Register of the Officers and Graduates of the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, by George Washington Cullum and the United States Military Academy Association of Graduates, Volume 7, 1930, page 1962
- ↑ Official U.S. Army Register, published by U.S. Army Adjutant General, 1949
- ↑ Who was Who in America With World Notables, published by Marquis Who's Who, 1981, page 96
- ↑ Official U.S. Army Register, published by U.S. Army Adjutant General, 1957
- ↑ Newspaper article, New Wahiawa Ward Bishop Attains Rank as Full Colonel, Deseret News, August 8, 1959
- ↑ Newspaper article, Allies Prepare For Burma Trek, by Bill Mcaffin, Associated Press, published in C.B.I. Roundup military newspaper, October 8, 1942
- ↑ Newspaper article, Many-Tongued Army Burma Bound, Hartford Courant, January 9, 1944
- ↑ Newspaper article, Drive To Clear Burma Rolls On, Baltimore Sun, December 9, 1944
- ↑ Photo caption, Remembering the Forgotten Theater, China-Burma-India on the Internet, by Carl Warren Weidenburner, undated, accessed February 19, 2011
- ↑ Newspaper article, Gen. Stilwell Honored; Dam, Lake at West Point Are Named for War Commander, New York Times, July 27, 1949
- ↑ Book excerpt, First Convoy Over Ledo Road, by Carl Warren Weidenburner, undated, accessed february 19, 2011
- ↑ Plans and Preparations for the North Burma Campaign: October-December 1943, United States Army in World War II: China-Burma-India Theater, by Charles F. Romanus and Riley Sunderland, 1954, Part One, Chapter I
- ↑ Newspaper article, Cannon Named General, Ogden Standard-Examiner, August 18, 1944
- ↑ Newspaper article, Two Boards Appointed at Fort to Interview reenlisting Officers, Deseret News, January 22, 1946
- ↑ Newspaper article, Armistice Fete Stirs Missoula, Spokane Spokesman-Review, November 12, 1947
- ↑ Newspaper article, Army Transfers Four Generals, V.M.I. Cadet, the newspaper of the Virginia Military Institute, April 12, 1948
- ↑ Army, Navy, Air Force Journal, Volume 89, Issues 27-52, 1952, page 1458
- ↑ Newspaper article, Turks Pick Up US Methods Speedily, Los Angeles Times, September 11, 1951
- ↑ Newspaper article, Cannon to Leave Turk Post, by United Press International, Stars and Stripes, Pacific Editions, July 24, 1952
- ↑ Appendix B, Principal Officials of the War Department and Department of the Army, 1900-1963 Special Studies From Root to McNamara, Army Organization and Administration, by, James E. Hewes, Jr., U.S. Army center of Military History, 1975
- ↑ Newspaper article, U.S. Aide Accused on Vote by Quirino; Defeated Philippine Chief Says General Cannon Ordered Officers to Interfere, New York Times, November 19, 1953
- ↑ Newspaper article, Manila Meddling is Denied by U.S; Embassy Cites Order Barring Interference by 26 Officers Assigned to Observe Vote, New York Times, November 20, 1953
- ↑ The Philippines: The People's Choice, TIME Magazine, November 23, 1953]
- ↑ The quiet warrior: a biography of Admiral Raymond A. Spruance, by Thomas B. Buell, 1987, page 452
- ↑ In the Midst of Wars: an American's Mission to Southeast Asia, by Edward Geary Lansdale, 1991, page 121
- ↑ List of Visiting Dignataries, The Cavalier, published by the Philippine Military Academy Alumni Association], January–February, 2008, page 53
- ↑ Assembly, published by United States Military Academy Association of Graduates, Volumes 36-37, 1977, page 125
- ↑ Newspaper photo caption, New Pacific Commander, Associated Press, Charleston (South Carolina) News and Courier, June 2, 1957
- ↑ Newspaper article, Gen. Cannon Given Post In Pacific Area, Baltimore Sun, June 1, 1957
- ↑ Newspaper article, Heads U.S. Army in Pacific Area, by Associated Press, Youngstown Vindicator, June 1, 1957
- ↑ Newspaper article, Unknown Korean Veteran To Be Selected Today, Hartford Courant, May 15, 1958
- ↑ Magazine article, Tomb of the Unknown Soldiers, The Quartermaster Review, January–February 1964
- ↑ Internet article, History of the Tomb, Korean War: The Selection, Web site, History of the Tomb, Society of the Honor Guard - Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, 2003
- ↑ Newspaper article, Hero to Select Unknown American of Korean War, United Press International, Victoria (Texas) Advocate, May 15, 1958
- ↑ Stilwell's personal file -- China, Burma, India, 1942-1944, by Joseph Warren Stilwell, Volume 5, 1976, page 2576
- ↑ Newspaper article, 5 Top Generals to Address Army Unit Meet, Deseret News, September 8, 1960
- ↑ Newspaper article, Army Group to Honor Three Utahns, Deseret News, October 13, 1960
- ↑ Newspaper article, Paraders Ready to Step Out, Spokane Daily Chronicle, May 19, 1960
- ↑ Newspaper article, Kennedy Lists Shifts in U.S. ARMY in Korea, Chicago Tribune, March 25, 1961
- ↑ Newspaper article, Last Troops Join "Battle" at Yakima, R.E. Mitchell, Spokane Spokesman-Review, May 10, 1961
- ↑ Newspaper article, Lt. Gen. Cannon Retires After 40 Army Years, Deseret News, August 31, 1961
- ↑ Newspaper article, Legion of Merit for Stilwell, Jr., Windsor (Ontario) Daily Star, December 19, 1944
- ↑ Official U.S. Army Register, published by U.S. Army Adjutant General, 1961
- ↑ Social Security Death Index entry, Robert M. Cannon
- ↑ Newspaper article, Gen. R.M. Cannon dies in Norwalk, The Hour (Norwalk, Connecticut), September 7, 1976
- ↑ Newspaper article, S.F. Rites Scheduled for Lt. Gen. R. M. Cannon, 75, Los Angeles Times, September 8, 1976
- ↑ Nationwide Gravesite Locator, U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs
- ↑ Newspaper article, Rites Honor 3 Utah Soldiers, Deseret News, February 17, 1978
- ↑ Social Security Death Index entry, Josephine R. Cannon
External links
- Find A Grave page, Robert Milchrist Cannon, accessed February 19, 2011
- Find A Grave page, Josephine R. Cannon, accessed February 19, 2011
- Robert Milchrist Cannon Papers, Hoover Institution, Stanford University
- Biography and memorabilia of Robert Milchrist Cannon, Harold B. Lee Library, Brigham Young University
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