Robert Milchrist Cannon

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]

Cannon questions Japanese commander, Miyake Island, Japan, September 1945

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]

• 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