Odell E. Cannon, 82, Sarasota, died April 19, 2004.
He was born July 10, 1921, in Cairo, Ga., and came to Sarasota 57 years
ago from Largo. He was an Army veteran of World War II and a member of
the VFW and DAV, both in Sarasota. He was a Methodist.
Survivors include daughters Sharon Kehn of Sarasota and Joy Smith of
Myakka City; brothers Charles of Inverness, Clyde of Dunedin and Billy
of Ocala; four grandchildren; five great-grandchildren; and a
great-great-grandchild.
Services were private. Hawkins Funeral Home was in charge.
(Sarasota Herald-Tribune, Sarasota, FL, 25 Apr
2004, Page BS12 - courtesy of Tedd Cocker)
Note: Odell's remain were cremated at the
Hawkins Crematory, Sarasota (Sarasota), FL. Disposition of his ashes is
unknown.
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Odell registered for the draft in Clearwater, FL on 16
February 1942.
On 27 June 1942, he married Jula [sic] P. Wright in
Hillsborough, FL.
He was inducted into the Army at Camp Blanding, FL on
14 October 1942 and volunteered for parachutist duty. He was
probably amongst the first to report to the 508th when it was activated
8 days later. He was assigned to Company E but the morning reports
for that month are unavailable so the specific date of his arrival is
unknown..
By August 1954 Odell was promoted to the grade of T/5
and was later elevated to SSgt on 30 July 1944.
SSgt Cannon was awarded the
Silver Star
for gallantry in action on 18 September 1944 and was wounded in action
in Belgium on 26 December 1944.
SSgt Cannon was transferred to the 513th PIR, 17th
Airborne Division on 18 August 1945 and discharged on 23 September 1945.
His first wife passed away in 1973 and he married
Frances Azzolina in Sarasota, FL on 2 April 1977. Unfoirtuately
that marriage was disoed on 12 July 1978, also in Sarasota, FL, |
