OT: First Marine to be awarded Medal of Honor in WW2 was a Wolverine.
First Lieutenant George Ham Cannon, Class of ‘38, posthumously won the award for remaining at his post while mortally wounded so all of his wounded comrades could be removed. The action took place at Midway Atoll, December 7th, 1941.He was the first US Marine to be awarded the Medal of Honor in the Second World War.
I only came upon this man because someone used “Ham Cannon” to describe Anthony Richardson’s Armand the Sickos Committee Twitter shared a screenshot of his Wiki page.
April 21st, 2023 at 10:54 PM ^
Same day as Pearl Harbor. Two Japanese destroyers bombarded the marines on the atoll shortly after the attack on Pearl.
I hadn't realized there was another attack on that day.
Yep, there were several attacks on December 7 (on our side of the date line) and December 8 (on the other side). Hawaii, Midway, the Philippines, Singapore, Malaya, Thailand, Hong Kong, Guam, Wake Island.
April 22nd, 2023 at 10:41 AM ^
Yep. It was definitely a coordinated, nearly simultaneous Pacific-wide attack by Japan.
Pearl Harbor was the first attack. The attacks weren't quite simultaneous --- Pearl Harbor commenced at 7:48 AM local time and the sun wasn't up in all those other places (it would have been just starting to get light at Midway).
So the American, British and local forces in those other places did know --- even if only for a few hours --- about Pearl Harbor beforehand. That helped a bit, but Japan still made a lot of gains, particularly in the Philippines. It was a "Day of Infamy" in places beyond just Hawaii.
April 22nd, 2023 at 11:20 AM ^
If I remember correctly, one of the destroyers was badly damaged by return fire and both destroyers had to retreat behind a smoke screen. The Japanese had expected to easily overcome any resistance and were were stunned by the failure of the attack. It was really the first time they had been stopped. They later came back with overwhelming force and prevailed but at least some of them may have had a slight suspicion that the whole thing might not be as easy as they had thought.
April 21st, 2023 at 10:56 PM ^
Should read “Richardson’s arm and the…”.
SMDH.
what a legend
It's great to be a Michigan Wolverine takes on a whole new meaning!
What a hero!
From Wikipedia:
He remained at his Command Post despite being mortally wounded by enemy shell fire. He refused to be evacuated until his men who had been wounded by the same shell were evacuated, and he continued to direct the reorganization of his Command Post until forcibly removed. He refused medical attention until he was assured communications were restored to his Command Post. As a result of his utter disregard of his own condition, he later died from loss of blood.
My dad and all four of his brothers fought in WW2... only 4 came home...balls of steel...that was the "greatest generation".. go blue.. and red and white...
First Lieutenant George Ham Cannon, Class of ‘38. Always faithful.
When I was a kid, I sorta shrugged off my dad's service in the Merchant Marines. Then I learned that they had the highest casualty toll.
Respect and honor to all who served. And serve.
April 22nd, 2023 at 12:51 PM ^
Yeah. They were out there with no or minimal ability to defend themselves. The father of one of my friends had 2 ships shot out from under him.
My Dad was a Marine and he was on the 2nd Wasp when it got hit.
What was done in 4 years to stop tyranny by largely 18 and 19 year olds was stunning. Having heard Audie Murphy's name often from this time and then him in movies but what he actually did as a small man on a grand scale is like getting hit by lightning twice after winning the lottery. Unbelievable and he did it multiple times.
April 22nd, 2023 at 10:51 AM ^
Actually the average age was 26 years old--- and most were not drafted --they were older men (lol) and a lot were married and fathers-- risking it all for the USA-- "Greatest Generation" -- gonna put on some Glenn Miller and shed a tear for those brave men and women
Those young men who accomplished so much really had minimal training before they were thrown into combat.
That was because just prior to WW2 all other major countries had large, well equipped, trained and professional armies . The US army was tiny (smaller than the army of Portugal (depending on source, it was between 13th and 19th in the world) and was not equipped with modern weapons.
(From it's inception the founders of the US were leery of standing armies and believed in the idea of citizen soldiers.)
My dad's father went up Gold Beach with the rest of the 50th Northumbrian. Several other family members were scattered across both theaters. That generation saw some shit and....they definitely earned the respect that they get, repelling fascism, sometimes building by building, like that.
April 22nd, 2023 at 10:36 AM ^
My grandfather (just passed in 2022) was 13 when Germany invaded his home country. He joined the Resistance. He told many stories of what it was like having germanys occupy their land, and having people you know turn to Nazi sympathizers all while he snuck around sabotaging what he could at such a young age.
I wish the Resistance got the same kind of public recognition the armed forces got. While he may not have fired a gun in battle, operating under Nazi oppression may have been even more dangerous.
RIP Grandpa
April 22nd, 2023 at 11:40 AM ^
While he may not have fired a gun in battle, operating under Nazi oppression may have been even more dangerous.
The work of the resistance was extremely valuable and dangerous. They weren't treated as enemy combatants or POWs if captured (not that POWs always received good treatment either). Most were just treated as criminals and shot or sent off to forced labor camps to work to death. RIP and thanks to your Grandpa for his service.
I never got the chance to talk to my grandpa about the war. He passed about 20 years ago but I know he fought in Europe.
That generation was heroes. I was fortunate enough to record some conversations with my grandpa the last week he was with us. He never spoke much about it and downplayed most of what he did. He talked more about his time in the military shortly after the war before he came to the us
April 22nd, 2023 at 11:23 AM ^
My Dad served on the USS Cowpens.
Nearly four years floating around the Pacific Ocean. Ended up next to the USS Missouri in Tokyo Bay.
RIP Dad, Mr Cannon and all of those that served and are no longer with us 🙏.
My father was an 18yo high school senior in Sparta, MI when Pearl Harbor was attacked. He felt the need to stay and help his grandfather run the farm so he did not volunteer at graduation in June of 1942. He was drafted into the regular Army in January of 1943. He went to a Military Police Escort Group in Mississippi and ended up going to Casablanca, Morocco in the summer of 1943 to pick up German and Italian POWs and escort them back to the US. Later, he transferred to the Army Air Corps and trained as a radar mechanic at TRUAX field outside Madison, WI. He was sent to the South Pacific in early 1945 as part of the 13th Army Air Force. He served on Morotai near New Guinea and Guiuan, Samar, Phillipines.
Put his picture in the James Earl Jones Big House intro.
This is what a real superhero looks like!
Thanks Salvie - nothing I would rather wake up to than WW2 history and Michigan.
Interesting note - he went to the same high school as my mom (she was there in the 60s).
Btw/ George would be a good candidate for favorite Wolverine of all time for Buckeye and Spartan fans 😀
Nit-picky, yes, but the United States didn’t officially enter World War II until December 11, 1941.
True, but WW2 entered the U.S. on December 7, 1941.
That’s correct. I know I’ve been negged for this, but history and accuracy is important and it wasn’t a retroactive declaration of war.
December 11th is when Germany declared war on the US and the US responded in kind that same day.
December 8th is when the US declares war on Japan.
April 22nd, 2023 at 10:47 AM ^
Technically, yes --- the US wasn't technically at war with both Germany and Japan until the 11th.
Kind of a fun fact: in the late evening hours of the 7th, Canada's cabinet voted to declare war on Japan. Our own declaration was on the afternoon of the 8th. Canada slightly beat us to the punch!
So are you saying that since he died before a bunch of politicians in Washington declared war that he wasn’t the first Marine to earn the MOH during WW2? Does that mean that the men who lost their lives on the USS Arizona, USS Oklahoma, etc. didn’t die during WW2 either? Just because it took a bunch of politicians four days to get off their asses?
Amazing story of a brave American. The article says he's buried in the National Cemetery of the Pacific (aka The Punchbowl) in Honolulu. I highly recommend it as a sight to see if you're there. Very awe inspiring to be standing in the middle of so many brave service oeople who gave their lives. My great uncle is buried there after they moved him from Tinian after the war.
Back in the 90's I was stationed on Guam for about a year as part of Marine Security Forces Company, Marianas Islands Detactment. We did jungle training on Tinian for a week. We trained at North field (old WW2 airfield) and I have to say it was very humbling being there. I stood on the very runway that Enola Gay and Bockscar departed to drop the atomic bombs. At the end of the runway was a sign depicting the historic moment yet was being encroached by the ever moving jungle. As I was standing there, 50 years removed, most of the airfield was overgrown and the asphalt runways had long since crumbled, I still felt the signifcance of that place and time. Much respect to your great uncle and all those that served
April 22nd, 2023 at 11:19 AM ^
Guam is currently being upgraded in a very big fashion, China is making Guam a significant place again.
April 22nd, 2023 at 12:58 PM ^
My grandfather(son of my avatar) was stationed on Tinian in the summer of 1945. He saw a heavily guarded B-29 sitting by itself on the tarmac.
Gramps was an aviation mechanic in the Marines.Pilots would occasionally take him on their practice runs. We still have one of the silk maps pilots used back then.
My Dad was a Marine crew chief for a corsair. He was on the 2nd Wasp when it got hit. He also was an early lander on Guam. (So that he could get to the airfield and they could start landing planes as soon as the airfield was captured.)
I have read a few history books that have essentially credited the state of Michigan, and the transitioning of the auto industry, with winning World War II.
When you look at the absolute mass of Sherman tanks, anti-aircraft artillery, and everything else you need to fight and win World War II. It was all Michigan. Check out this photo from inside Fisher Body in Grand Rapids. Sherman Tank final assembly was in Grand Blanc I believe. I know for a fact there were some huge Wolverines working at this plant. :)
"It was all Michigan."
Well, let's have a modicum of humility. I'd phrase it:
Michigan Wolverines, assisted at times by others, defeated the combined Axis powers in WWII.
April 22nd, 2023 at 10:06 AM ^
fair enough, let's go with that.
April 22nd, 2023 at 11:28 AM ^
Detroit, the "Arsenal of Democracy."
Detroit is the Motor City too, but if I had to pick one nickname, I'd pick the former. There's much to be proud of from that era.
Not to mention the B-24 Liberator.
"Not to mention the B-24 Liberator."
I kinda wish Henry would have insisted on building B-17s instead, but:
"Let's not go splitting hares!" -- B. Bunny
Edit: This wasn't snark about the excellent comment about the B-24 being built in massive numbers in Michigan. Truly amazing. Pilots seemed to prefer the B-17, and it seemed to be a tougher plane. That's all I meant.
Just read a bit on the B-24 and was reminded that Willow Run in Ypsilanti produced one B-24 every 59 minutes during the peak of the war.
1,300 cots at Willow Run slept pilots waiting for their B-24s to roll of the assembly line.
Absolutely amazing. Go Blue!
April 23rd, 2023 at 12:40 PM ^
There were some amazing pictures of heavily damaged B-17s that had completed their mission and landed safely.
If I had another +1 I would use it for your B Bunny reference.
April 22nd, 2023 at 10:26 AM ^
Semper Fidelis, Wolverine hero!
April 22nd, 2023 at 11:04 AM ^
My father's cousin moved to Michigan to look for a job during the great depression. He couldn't find anything so he signed with the marines. Then Pearl Harbor and he and over 200 others were dropped off on a Pacific island. (I heard this 3rd hand, so the details are a bit vague.)
Three days later a supply ship returned and asked who was in command. My dad's cousin said he guessed he was. He was 18 or 19 years old and one of just 7 survivors.
April 22nd, 2023 at 11:17 AM ^
Semper Fi.
My dad was on USS HONOLULU light cruiser in pacific theater... battle of Leyte Gulf.. taking back the Philippine island... jap plane dropped a torpedo that almost blew their bow off ... when GQ sounds everyone heads to battle stations ... dad was one of the last to make it to the deck ... later during damage control they found his best buddy on top of a cabinet dead must of went there to breath last of air before he died .. RIP
From Anthony Richardson to a Medal of Honor winner—that’s the serendipity of the internet. Great story about a true Michigan hero.
Admiration for First Lieutenant George Ham Cannon, Class of ‘38
Death Traps by Belton Y. Cooper inspired the movie Fury. Cooper was a Michigan ROTC engineer when called to action and documented (as maintenance officer) what his tank group did while rolling across France into Germany.
April 28th, 2023 at 10:56 AM ^
Can’t help but wonder what his life would have been like had he survived. Could have been one of our country’s great leaders.