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 China Burma India Theater (CBI) was the United States military designation during World War II for the China and Southeast Asian or India–Burma (IBT) theaters. Operational command of Allied forces (including U.S. forces) in the CBI was officia ...

and his command of the Sixth United States Army.

Early life

A member of Utah's prominent Cannon family, 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, before transferring to the United States Military Academy. He graduated in 1925, received a commission as a

second lieutenant Second lieutenant is a junior commissioned officer military rank in many armed forces, comparable to NATO OF-1 rank. Australia The rank of second lieutenant existed in the military forces of the Australian colonies and Australian Army until ...

in the

Field Artillery Field artillery is a category of mobile artillery used to support armies in the field. These weapons are specialized for mobility, tactical proficiency, short range, long range, and extremely long range target engagement. Until the early 20t ...

branch, and was initially assigned to Fort D.A. Russell, Wyoming. In 1927 Cannon completed the Army Air Corps Primary Flying School. He attended the Battery Officers Course in 1931, and graduated from the Army Command and General Staff College in 1938. Prior to World War II Cannon served as an instructor at the Army's Fort Sill, Oklahoma Field Artillery School.

World War II

Robert Milchrist Cannon questions Japanese

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.

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. He also served as Assistant Chief of Staff for Logistics, G-4 for Sixth United States Army. In 1948 Cannon attended the Basic Airborne Course in preparation for his assignment to the

82nd Airborne Division The 82nd Airborne Division is an Airborne forces, airborne infantry division (military), division of the United States Army specializing in Paratrooper, parachute assault operations into denied areasSof, Eric"82nd Airborne Division" ''Spec Ops ...

, afterwards taking command of the Division Artillery. Cannon served as commander of the U.S. Army Advisory Group in Turkey from 1951 to 1952. From 1952 to 1953 Cannon was head of the Army Audit Agency. 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. Following his Philippines assignment, Cannon was appointed Service Special Assistant to the Joint Chiefs of Staff for Mutual Defense Advisory Pact Affairs.

Later military career

Cannon served as deputy commander and chief of staff for United States Army Pacific, receiving promotion to lieutenant general. 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. From 1959 until his 1961 retirement General Cannon served as commander of the Sixth United States Army.

Awards and decorations

Cannon's awards included the

Army Distinguished Service Medal The Distinguished Service Medal (DSM) is a military decoration of the United States Army that is presented to soldiers who have distinguished themselves by exceptionally meritorious service to the government in a duty of great responsibility. Th ...

, the

Legion of Merit The Legion of Merit (LOM) is a military award of the United States Armed Forces that is given for exceptionally meritorious conduct in the performance of outstanding services and achievements. The decoration is issued to members of the eight ...

and the

Bronze Star Medal The Bronze Star Medal (BSM) is a United States Armed Forces decoration awarded to members of the United States Armed Forces for either heroic achievement, heroic service, meritorious achievement, or meritorious service in a combat zone. Wh ...

Retirement and death

Cannon retired to San Francisco. He died in

Norwalk, Connecticut , image_map = Fairfield County Connecticut incorporated and unincorporated areas Norwalk highlighted.svg , mapsize = 230px , map_caption = Location in Fairfield County, Connecticut, Fairfield County and ...

on September 3, 1976, after being stricken while visiting his daughter JoAnne Schwartz in Wilton, Connecticut. He was buried in San Francisco National Cemetery, Plot H-35.

Personal

While stationed at Fort Sheridan, Illinois in 1928 Cannon married Josephine Riter (1902–1991), a member of another family prominent in Utah.Social Security Death Index entry, Josephine R. Cannon

References

External links

Find A Grave page
Robert Milchrist Cannon. Retrieved February 19, 2011
Find A Grave page
Josephine R. Cannon. Retrieved February 19, 2011
Robert Milchrist Cannon Papers
Hoover Institution,

Stanford University Stanford University, officially Leland Stanford Junior University, is a private research university in Stanford, California. The campus occupies , among the largest in the United States, and enrolls over 17,000 students. Stanford is consider ...

Biography and memorabilia of Robert Milchrist Cannon
Harold B. Lee Library, Brigham Young University
Generals of World War II
{{DEFAULTSORT:Cannon, Robert Milchrist 1901 births 1976 deaths United States Army Field Artillery Branch personnel Cannon family Military personnel from Salt Lake City People from San Francisco Recipients of the Distinguished Service Medal (US Army) Recipients of the Legion of Merit United States Army Command and General Staff College alumni United States Military Academy alumni American people of Manx descent Burials in California United States Army generals of World War II United States Army generals