Robert Milchrist Cannon | |
---|---|
Born | Salt Lake City, Utah | August 16, 1901
Died | September 3, 1976 Norwalk, Connecticut | (aged 75)
Buried | |
Allegiance | United States |
Service/ | United States Army |
Years of service | 1925–1961 |
Rank | Lieutenant General |
Service number | 0-16163 |
Unit | Field Artillery Branch |
Commands held | 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/wars | 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.
A member of Utah's prominent Cannon family,[1] Robert Milchrist Cannon was born on August 16, 1901, in Salt Lake City, Utah.
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]
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]
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]
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]
Cannon's awards included the Army Distinguished Service Medal, the Legion of Merit and the Bronze Star Medal.[45][46]
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]
While stationed at Fort Sheridan, Illinois in 1928 Cannon married Josephine Riter (1902–1991), a member of another family prominent in Utah.[51][52]