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Photo # NH 105688:  First Lieutenant George H. Cannon, USMC

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First Lieutenant George H. Cannon, USMC, (1915-1941)

George Ham Cannon was born on 5 November 1915 in Webster Groves, Missouri. He attended the University of Michigan at Ann Arbor, Michigan and was a member of the Reserve Officers Training Corps. During his last year, he was commissioned a Second Lieutenant in the U.S. Army. Cannon graduated in June 1938 and resigned from the Army. He was then appointed to the United States Marine Corps from Michigan as a Second Lieutenant. After completing Basic School at the Philadelphia Navy Yard, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in May 1939, he reported for sea duty on board the light cruiser Boise. In July 1940, he transferred to the Post Service Battalion at Marine Barracks, Quantico, Virginia, which was followed by an assignment to the Marine Corps Base at San Diego, California.

In February 1941, Cannon received orders to Battery H, Second Defense Battalion, with the Battery transferring to the Sixth Defense Battalion a month later. During the Summer, his unit relocated to Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, where he was promoted in August to First Lieutenant. In September, Cannon reported as Battery Commander of Battery H, Sixth Defense Battalion, Fleet Marine Force on Sand Island, Midway Islands. On 7 December, the Japanese attacked the island by surprise. Though severely wounded by an enemy shell, he remained at his post until all of his wounded men were evacuated. Despite his courage and dedication to his men, Cannon lost his own life due to a subsquent loss of blood from his wounds. For his "distinguished conduct in the line of his profession" on this occasion, he was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor. George H. Cannon is buried at the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific, Honolulu, Hawaii.

USS Cannon (DE-99), 1943-1944, was named in honor of First Lieutenant George H. Cannon.

This page features the only image we have concerning George H. Cannon.


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Photo #: NH 105688

First Lieutenant George H. Cannon, USMC


Halftone reproduction of a photograph, copied from the official publication "Medal of Honor, 1861-1949, The Navy", page 167.
George H. Cannon was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor for "distinguished conduct in the line of his profession" while serving as Battery Commander of Battery H, Sixth Defense Battalion on Sand Island, Midway Islands, during the 7 December 1941 bombardment by Japanese warships. Despite mortal wounds, Cannon remained at his post until all of his injured men were evacuated and communications restored.

U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

Online Image: 53KB; 580 x 765 pixels

 



Medal of Honor citation of First Lieutenant George Ham Cannon, USMC (as printed in the official publication "Medal of Honor, 1861-1949, The Navy", page 167):

"For distinguished conduct in the line of his profession, extraordinary courage and disregard of his own condition during the bombardment of Sand Island, Midway Islands, by Japanese forces on 7 December 1941. Lieutenant Cannon, Battery Commander of Battery H, Sixth Defense Battalion, Fleet Marine Force, United States Marine Corps, was at his Command Post when he was mortally wounded by enemy shellfire. He refused to be evacuated from his post until after his men who had been wounded by the same shell were evacuated, and directed the reorganization of his Command Post until forcibly removed. As a result of his utter disregard of his own condition he died from loss of blood."


If you want higher resolution reproductions than the "Online Library's" digital images, see: "How to Obtain Photographic Reproductions."


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Page made 10 June 2008