[Congressional Record Volume 155, Number 129 (Monday, September 14, 2009)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E2249]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                     HONORING SGT RICHARD F. CANNON

                                 ______
                                 

                       HON. CHRISTOPHER JOHN LEE

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                       Monday, September 14, 2009

  Mr. LEE of New York. Madam Speaker, it is with great pride that I 
rise today to honor a WWII Veteran, SGT Richard F. Cannon. Sergeant 
Cannon recently passed away at the age of 84. A true patriot, Sergeant 
Cannon played an instrumental role in ending WWII. Sergeant Cannon was 
a member of U.S. Army Air Forces and was part of the mission that 
dropped the atomic bomb on Nagasaki on Aug. 9, 1945.
   Born and raised in Buffalo, Sergeant Cannon graduated from Bennett 
High School and earned a degree in accounting from Canisius College in 
1950. During World War II, he served in the Army Air Forces as a radar 
operator, attaining the rank of Sergeant. As part of the 509th 
Composite Group, Sergeant Cannon normally flew aboard a B-29 named 
Necessary Evil. His crew was reassigned to the Big Stink, a B-29 
Superfortress, to provide camera support to the Bockscar, a B-29 
bomber, as it dropped the A-bomb on Nagasaki on Aug. 9, 1945.
   After the war, Sergeant Cannon returned to Buffalo and started a 
food broker company, the R.F. Cannon Company, which he ran until his 
retirement in 2000. He was president of Buffalo Food Brokers 
Association and served as commissioner of Williamsville Junior Football 
for 8 years. He was also the president of the North Forest Civic 
Association.
   Mr. Cannon is survived by his wife of nearly 61 years, the former 
Marion Dauphinee; two daughters, Kathleen Lane and Maureen Chiofalo; 
four sons, Richard Jr., Timothy, Kevin and Gregory; one sister, Annette 
Marmion; and 17 grandchildren.
   Madam Speaker, in recognition this brave patriot, I ask this 
Honorable Body to join me in honoring the legacy of SGT Richard F. 
Cannon.

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