Val H. Canon, Jr.

Val H. Canon, Jr. graduated from Texas A & M College in May, 1956 and was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant in the Army Reserves on the same day. Although his initial orders were for two years of active military service, his orders were later amended in response to a newly enacted law that established a program for service obligation involving six months of active duty for training followed by seven-an-a-half years of active reserve unit participation. 2LT Canon was trained at the Artillery School at Fort Sill OK in 1957, spending the remainder of the initial six months training obligation as a member of the staff of the 2nd Artillery Battalion (School Troop) at Fort Sill, primarily serving as Safety Officer for "shoots".

Returning to his hometown of Abilene, Texas he found a vacancy in the local National Guard unit suited to his MOS (Military Occupational Specialty). That unit was Battery "A", 131st Field Artillery Battalion, 36th Infantry Division. This required a "conditional" transfer from the Reserves into the National Guard. 2LT Canon attended three summer camps at North Fort Hood, Texas with the 36th•

In 1960, 1LT Canon and Mrs. Canon moved to San Angelo, Texas to join another architectural firm, and there found another artillery unit vacancy, except this time with Battery "D" of the 132nd Field Artillery (Composite) Battalion of the 49th Armored Division. This particular unit was being trained to fire the "Honest John" ballistic missile. Its prowess was rewarded. The 49th was activated to Federal active duty in September of 1961. After several months of training the Division was released and allowed to return to "home station". CPT and Mrs. Canon moved to Dallas, Texas in September, 1962.

In Dallas, CPT Canon joined the G-l Section of 49th Division Headquarters. After several reorganizations and re-assignments within the Personnel activities of the
49th AD, the 72nd Separate Infantry Division, and back into the 49th, covering promotions to Major and then Lieutenant Colonel, LTC Canon was assigned to the position of Division Adjutant General, with Headquarters in Austin.

In 1983, after having attended twenty-five annual training (summer camp) sessions at North Fort Hood, and having made "the list" for promotion to the rank of 0-6 (Colonel), LTC Canon relinquished his assignment as Division AG and requested a return to the Army Reserves in order to accept that promotion.

A retirement ceremony was provided in August, 1983 for COL Canon, where he was presented the Army Commendation Medal and a Gold Cup Edition of the famous Colt .45 sidearm. He is immensely proud of both.

COL Canon was discharged from the Army Reserves in 1987 after 31 years military service.