The Japanese shelled Midway Island on December 7, 1941, with two destroyers Sazanami and Ushio…
…and Lt. Cannon did what Marines do.
…His command post at the power plant was hit by heavy fire from a Japanese cruiser and destroyer, firing at very close range on a moonlit night with excellent visibility. At about 9:35 p.m., the mortar came screaming in through the air vent and exploded inside the station. Lieutenant Cannon was struck by shell fragments, crushing his pelvis, severing his femoral artery, and braking both the tibia and fibula in his left leg.
Cannon was among the first to be wounded in the attack, but refused to be evacuated, instead overseeing the evacuation of his wounded men, re-establishing command of his post in the face of his imminent death, and ensuring that communications were restored at the station, while the attack on the power station continued.
Finally, he was forcibly removed and given medical attention.
But because of the length of time he remained at his post with such severe arterial bleeding, he bled to death at about 10:15 p.m., about 40 minutes after the attack.
Marine Corps Lt George Cannon, for his refusal to evacuate until his men were safe, would be posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor.
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 December 7, 1941. Lieutenant Cannon, Battery Commander of Battery “H,” Sixth Defense Battalion, Fleet Marine Force, U. S. Marine Corps, was at his Command Post when he was mortally wounded by enemy shell fire. 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, and as a result of his utter disregard of his own condition he died from loss of blood.
/s/ Franklin D. Roosevelt
And on a terribly sad note, not only on a mother’s horrific loss – and there were legions of those yet to come – but on communication during that war and the fog of any war…
But wait -- there's more.
Matt Taibbi @mtaibbi - ...We can now tell you part of the reason why. On Tuesday, Twitter Deputy General Counsel (and former FBI General Counsel) Jim Baker was fired. Among the reasons? Vetting the first batch of "Twitter Files" -- without knowledge of new management.....You might ask, "How could this happen?"
