Robert Milchrist Cannon Explained

Robert Milchrist Cannon
Birth Date:16 August 1901
Birth Place:Salt Lake City, Utah
Death Place:Norwalk, Connecticut
Placeofburial:San Francisco National Cemetery
Allegiance:United States
Branch:United States Army
Serviceyears:1925–1961
Rank:Lieutenant General
Servicenumber:0-16163
Unit:Field Artillery Branch
Commands:Sixth United States Army
Joint United States Military Advisory Group, Philippines
Army Audit Agency
United States Army Advisory Group, Turkey
82nd Airborne Division Artillery
Battles:World War II
Awards:Army Distinguished Service Medal (2)
Legion of Merit
Bronze Star

Robert Milchrist Cannon (August 16, 1901 – September 3, 1976) 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 the 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.

Early 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] He attended the Battery Officers Course in 1931,[6] and graduated from the Army Command and General Staff College in 1938.[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 Army Distinguished Service Medal, the Legion of Merit and the Bronze Star Medal.[45] [46]

Retirement and death

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]

External links

Notes and References

  1. http://www.georgeqcannon.com/Family%20History%20Database/All%20Family%20History%20Files/Cannon%20Family/George%20Q%20Cannon%20Family/Documents/Cannons%20in%20WWII.pdf Newsletter, Descendants of George Cannon and Ann Quayle serving in the Armed Forces of the United States of America in World War II
  2. http://www.alumni.utah.edu/awards/docs/Distinguished_Past_Recips_10.pdf List of Past recipients, Distinguished Alumni Award
  3. News: General Robert Cannon to Visit Ogden Area . . 9 . November 9, 1959 . 2022-12-31 . NewspaperArchive.
  4. https://books.google.com/books?id=OCe5AAAAIAAJ&q=%22Robert+Milchrist+Cannon%22 Biographical Register of the Officers and Graduates of the U.S. Military Academy at West Point
  5. https://archive.org/stream/officialarmyregi1949unit/officialarmyregi1949unit_djvu.txt Official U.S. Army Register
  6. https://books.google.com/books?id=HXvhAAAAMAAJ&q=%22Cannon,+Robert+M%22+army Who was Who in America With World Notables
  7. https://archive.org/stream/officialarmyregi19571unit/officialarmyregi19571unit_djvu.txt Official U.S. Army Register
  8. Newspaper article, New Wahiawa Ward Bishop Attains Rank as Full Colonel, Deseret News, August 8, 1959
  9. http://cbi-theater-1.home.comcast.net/~cbi-theater-1/roundup/roundup100842.html Newspaper article, Allies Prepare For Burma Trek
  10. News: Many-Tongued Army Burma Bound . . 60 . January 9, 1944 . 2022-12-31 . Newspapers.com.
  11. News: Drive To Clear Burma Rolls On . . New Delhi, India . AP . 3 . December 9, 1944 . 2022-12-31 . Newspapers.com.
  12. http://cbi-theater.home.comcast.net/~cbi-theater/carl/my_cbi_story.html Photo caption, Remembering the Forgotten Theater, China-Burma-India on the Internet
  13. https://www.nytimes.com/1949/07/27/archives/gen-stilwell-honored-dam-lake-at-west-point-are-named-for-war.html "Gen. Stilwell Honored; Dam, Lake at West Point Are Named for War Commander"
  14. http://ledoroad.home.comcast.net/~ledoroad/Story_firstconvoy.html Book excerpt, First Convoy Over Ledo Road
  15. http://www.ibiblio.org/hyperwar/USA/USA-CBI-Command/USA-CBI-Command-1.html Plans and Preparations for the North Burma Campaign: October–December 1943
  16. Newspaper article, Cannon Named General, Ogden Standard-Examiner, August 18, 1944
  17. https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=q2BSAAAAIBAJ&sjid=x3oDAAAAIBAJ&pg=6839,2221440&dq=robert+cannon+army&hl=en Newspaper article, Two Boards Appointed at Fort to Interview reenlisting Officers
  18. https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=jjBWAAAAIBAJ&sjid=ZOUDAAAAIBAJ&pg=6868,4728787&dq=robert+cannon+sixth+army&hl=en Newspaper article, Armistice Fete Stirs Missoula
  19. http://www2.vmi.edu/thecadet/pdfs-hi/1948/The-Cadet_1948-04-12.pdf Newspaper article, Army Transfers Four Generals
  20. https://books.google.com/books?id=h1gZAQAAMAAJ&q=%22robert+m+cannon%22+turkey Army, Navy, Air Force Journal
  21. News: Turks Pick Up U.S. Methods Speedily . Robert T. . Hartmann . . Ankara . 2, 14 . September 11, 1951 . 2022-12-31 . Newspapers.com.
  22. Newspaper article, Cannon to Leave Turk Post, by United Press International, Stars and Stripes, Pacific Editions, July 24, 1952
  23. http://www.history.army.mil/books/root/appB.htm Appendix B, Principal Officials of the War Department and Department of the Army, 1900–1963
  24. https://select.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=FA0915FD3B55107B93CBA8178AD95F478585F9 "U.S. Aide Accused on Vote by Quirino; Defeated Philippine Chief Says General Cannon Ordered Officers to Interfere"
  25. https://www.nytimes.com/1953/11/20/archives/manila-meddling-is-denied-by-u-s-embassy-cites-order-barring.html "Manila Meddling is Denied by U.S; Embassy Cites Order Barring Interference by 26 Officers Assigned to Observe Vote"
  26. https://web.archive.org/web/20110628235745/http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,860117-2,00.html The Philippines: The People's Choice
  27. https://books.google.com/books?id=O09FRikxjhMC&dq=%22robert+m+cannon%22+army&pg=PA452 The quiet warrior: a biography of Admiral Raymond A. Spruance
  28. https://books.google.com/books?id=lqnRt8K4WnQC&dq=%22general+robert+m+cannon%22&pg=PA121 In the Midst of Wars: an American's Mission to Southeast Asia
  29. Web site: List of Visiting Dignataries. dead. The Cavalier. Philippine Military Academy Alumni Association. January–February 2008. 53.
  30. Book: Assembly . 36 . United States Military Academy Association of Graduates . 124–126 . 1977 . 2022-12-31 . Google Books.
  31. https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=eZFJAAAAIBAJ&sjid=OwwNAAAAIBAJ&pg=862,156597&dq=robert-cannon+army&hl=en Newspaper photo caption, New Pacific Commander
  32. News: Gen. Cannon Given Post In Pacific Area . . Washington . AP . 13 . June 1, 1957 . 2022-12-31 . Newspapers.com.
  33. https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=AoM_AAAAIBAJ&sjid=OFUMAAAAIBAJ&pg=5119,56849&dq=robert-cannon+army&hl=en Newspaper article, Heads U.S. Army in Pacific Area
  34. News: Unknown Korean Veteran To Be Selected Today . . Honolulu . AP . 2 . May 15, 1958 . 2022-12-31 . Newspapers.com.
  35. http://www.qmfound.com/tomb_of_the_unknown_soldiers_1964.htm Magazine article, Tomb of the Unknown Soldiers
  36. http://www.tombguard.org/koreaselection.html Internet article, History of the Tomb, Korean War: The Selection
  37. https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=whtQAAAAIBAJ&sjid=J1YDAAAAIBAJ&pg=7172,1639845&dq=robert-cannon+army&hl=en Newspaper article, Hero to Select Unknown American of Korean War
  38. https://books.google.com/books?id=y_0-AQAAIAAJ&q=robert+cannon+g-4+sixth+army Stilwell's personal file – China, Burma, India, 1942–1944
  39. https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=TKcKAAAAIBAJ&sjid=a0gDAAAAIBAJ&pg=5872,1555443&dq=robert-cannon+army&hl=en Newspaper article, 5 Top Generals to Address Army Unit Meet
  40. https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=08lOAAAAIBAJ&sjid=fkkDAAAAIBAJ&pg=5948,3073171&dq=robert-cannon+army&hl=en Newspaper article, Army Group to Honor Three Utahns
  41. https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=fB5YAAAAIBAJ&sjid=MvcDAAAAIBAJ&pg=4554,4817527&dq=robert-cannon+army&hl=en Newspaper article, Paraders Ready to Step Out
  42. News: Kennedy Lists Shifts in U.S. Army in Korea . . Washington . AP . 24 . March 25, 1961 . 2022-12-31 . Newspapers.com.
  43. https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=ETVWAAAAIBAJ&sjid=8-cDAAAAIBAJ&pg=3213,3148995&dq=robert-cannon+army&hl=en Newspaper article, Last Troops Join "Battle" at Yakima
  44. https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=8eVNAAAAIBAJ&sjid=I0oDAAAAIBAJ&pg=5001,5808811&dq=robert-cannon+army&hl=en Newspaper article, Lt. Gen. Cannon Retires After 40 Army Years
  45. https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=JxY_AAAAIBAJ&sjid=NE8MAAAAIBAJ&pg=3982,5611774&dq=robert-cannon+army&hl=en Newspaper article, Legion of Merit for Stilwell, Jr.
  46. https://archive.org/stream/officialarmyregi19611unit/officialarmyregi19611unit_djvu.txt Official U.S. Army Register
  47. Social Security Death Index entry, Robert M. Cannon
  48. https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=KOcpAAAAIBAJ&sjid=LG4FAAAAIBAJ&pg=1201,793954&dq=robert+cannon+army&hl=en Newspaper article, Gen. R.M. Cannon dies in Norwalk
  49. News: S.F. Rites Scheduled for Lt. Gen. R. M. Cannon, 75 . . San Francisco . UPI . 28 . September 8, 1976 . 2022-12-31 . Newspapers.com.
  50. http://gravelocator.cem.va.gov Nationwide Gravesite Locator
  51. https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=TrdSAAAAIBAJ&sjid=-n8DAAAAIBAJ&pg=4555,4682817&dq=robert-cannon+army&hl=en Newspaper article, Rites Honor 3 Utah Soldiers
  52. Social Security Death Index entry, Josephine R. Cannon

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