Joe Glen Canon was born June 29, 1926 in Megargel, Texas. He was the sixth of seven children born to John Handy and Barbara McWhorter Canon. His early childhood was not a happy one; the family was poor and moved a great deal. John Handy Canon soon abandoned the family, leaving Joe’s mother to support the family the best way she could. This resulted in Joe being raised primarily by his grandparents and later attending high school in Capitan, N.M. by staying with good friends.
He received his draft notice on July 17, 1944 just after his 18th birthday. After basic training, he was sent overseas to the Philippines. By the middle of April, 1945 he still hadn’t seen any action, but that would soon change. During the period of 6-9 May, Joe’s 128th Regiment of the 32nd Division was assigned the task completing action on the Villa Verde Trail on Luzon. Later War Department Citations would describe this area as “some of the bloodiest fighting in the history of the United States Army.” Joe carried the platoon’s BAR which meant he was required to lead the assault on any enemy position. He was severely wounded in action just a few days later on 10 May 1945. Later, he was awarded the Bronze Star and the Purple Heart plus 10 other service medals.
After recovering from his wounds, Joe returned home to assist his mother in building low cost housing for returning servicemen. Through mutual friends he met Dorothy Cunningham. She was from a strict family background and she admitted that the fun loving ex-GI was very much a welcomed change in her life. They were married on 11 June 1948 and soon they had a beautiful daughter, and Joe got a teaching job even before receiving his official degree from college.
Joe was greatly influenced by his grandparents and his oldest sister, Johnnie Delle Canon. In fact, she is credited with a positive influence over several of her siblings that she led to the teaching profession. Joe went to college on the GI Bill even though he really never graduated from high school. Following several siblings, he received an undergraduate degree in teaching from New Mexico State and later would complete his Masters of Education from Western New Mexico University. In over 40 years of teaching elementary school in Roswell, Joe Canon was responsible for the early education of 3 generations of students, many remembering him later as a teacher who taught far more than just school work. He laid the foundation for success by giving them confidence in their own abilities. His grandkids would always joke that you couldn’t go anywhere in Roswell, without running into several of Mr. Canon’s former students.
Strong leadership from him and his wife Dorothy provided direction for not only their immediate family, but also for many of Dorothy’s siblings. After retiring from teaching, Joe devoted himself to his grandchildren. He tried to pass on to them the same values of success he taught, to many generations of children in Roswell. Even more joy was in store for Joe, when those grandchildren provided him with several great grandchildren.
Joe Canon was an avid outdoorsman, who enjoyed camping, back-packing and hunting. Joe was at home in the Pecos Wilderness of northern New Mexico and certainly, one of his most memorable trips was taking his son and grown grandson hunting in western New Mexico.
He received his draft notice on July 17, 1944 just after his 18th birthday. After basic training, he was sent overseas to the Philippines. By the middle of April, 1945 he still hadn’t seen any action, but that would soon change. During the period of 6-9 May, Joe’s 128th Regiment of the 32nd Division was assigned the task completing action on the Villa Verde Trail on Luzon. Later War Department Citations would describe this area as “some of the bloodiest fighting in the history of the United States Army.” Joe carried the platoon’s BAR which meant he was required to lead the assault on any enemy position. He was severely wounded in action just a few days later on 10 May 1945. Later, he was awarded the Bronze Star and the Purple Heart plus 10 other service medals.
After recovering from his wounds, Joe returned home to assist his mother in building low cost housing for returning servicemen. Through mutual friends he met Dorothy Cunningham. She was from a strict family background and she admitted that the fun loving ex-GI was very much a welcomed change in her life. They were married on 11 June 1948 and soon they had a beautiful daughter, and Joe got a teaching job even before receiving his official degree from college.
Joe was greatly influenced by his grandparents and his oldest sister, Johnnie Delle Canon. In fact, she is credited with a positive influence over several of her siblings that she led to the teaching profession. Joe went to college on the GI Bill even though he really never graduated from high school. Following several siblings, he received an undergraduate degree in teaching from New Mexico State and later would complete his Masters of Education from Western New Mexico University. In over 40 years of teaching elementary school in Roswell, Joe Canon was responsible for the early education of 3 generations of students, many remembering him later as a teacher who taught far more than just school work. He laid the foundation for success by giving them confidence in their own abilities. His grandkids would always joke that you couldn’t go anywhere in Roswell, without running into several of Mr. Canon’s former students.
Strong leadership from him and his wife Dorothy provided direction for not only their immediate family, but also for many of Dorothy’s siblings. After retiring from teaching, Joe devoted himself to his grandchildren. He tried to pass on to them the same values of success he taught, to many generations of children in Roswell. Even more joy was in store for Joe, when those grandchildren provided him with several great grandchildren.
Joe Canon was an avid outdoorsman, who enjoyed camping, back-packing and hunting. Joe was at home in the Pecos Wilderness of northern New Mexico and certainly, one of his most memorable trips was taking his son and grown grandson hunting in western New Mexico.
Joe Glen Canon was born June 29, 1926 in Megargel, Texas. He was the sixth of seven children born to John Handy and Barbara McWhorter Canon. His early childhood was not a happy one; the family was poor and moved a great deal. John Handy Canon soon abandoned the family, leaving Joe’s mother to support the family the best way she could. This resulted in Joe being raised primarily by his grandparents and later attending high school in Capitan, N.M. by staying with good friends.
He received his draft notice on July 17, 1944 just after his 18th birthday. After basic training, he was sent overseas to the Philippines. By the middle of April, 1945 he still hadn’t seen any action, but that would soon change. During the period of 6-9 May, Joe’s 128th Regiment of the 32nd Division was assigned the task completing action on the Villa Verde Trail on Luzon. Later War Department Citations would describe this area as “some of the bloodiest fighting in the history of the United States Army.” Joe carried the platoon’s BAR which meant he was required to lead the assault on any enemy position. He was severely wounded in action just a few days later on 10 May 1945. Later, he was awarded the Bronze Star and the Purple Heart plus 10 other service medals.
After recovering from his wounds, Joe returned home to assist his mother in building low cost housing for returning servicemen. Through mutual friends he met Dorothy Cunningham. She was from a strict family background and she admitted that the fun loving ex-GI was very much a welcomed change in her life. They were married on 11 June 1948 and soon they had a beautiful daughter, and Joe got a teaching job even before receiving his official degree from college.
Joe was greatly influenced by his grandparents and his oldest sister, Johnnie Delle Canon. In fact, she is credited with a positive influence over several of her siblings that she led to the teaching profession. Joe went to college on the GI Bill even though he really never graduated from high school. Following several siblings, he received an undergraduate degree in teaching from New Mexico State and later would complete his Masters of Education from Western New Mexico University. In over 40 years of teaching elementary school in Roswell, Joe Canon was responsible for the early education of 3 generations of students, many remembering him later as a teacher who taught far more than just school work. He laid the foundation for success by giving them confidence in their own abilities. His grandkids would always joke that you couldn’t go anywhere in Roswell, without running into several of Mr. Canon’s former students.
Strong leadership from him and his wife Dorothy provided direction for not only their immediate family, but also for many of Dorothy’s siblings. After retiring from teaching, Joe devoted himself to his grandchildren. He tried to pass on to them the same values of success he taught, to many generations of children in Roswell. Even more joy was in store for Joe, when those grandchildren provided him with several great grandchildren.
Joe Canon was an avid outdoorsman, who enjoyed camping, back-packing and hunting. Joe was at home in the Pecos Wilderness of northern New Mexico and certainly, one of his most memorable trips was taking his son and grown grandson hunting in western New Mexico.
He received his draft notice on July 17, 1944 just after his 18th birthday. After basic training, he was sent overseas to the Philippines. By the middle of April, 1945 he still hadn’t seen any action, but that would soon change. During the period of 6-9 May, Joe’s 128th Regiment of the 32nd Division was assigned the task completing action on the Villa Verde Trail on Luzon. Later War Department Citations would describe this area as “some of the bloodiest fighting in the history of the United States Army.” Joe carried the platoon’s BAR which meant he was required to lead the assault on any enemy position. He was severely wounded in action just a few days later on 10 May 1945. Later, he was awarded the Bronze Star and the Purple Heart plus 10 other service medals.
After recovering from his wounds, Joe returned home to assist his mother in building low cost housing for returning servicemen. Through mutual friends he met Dorothy Cunningham. She was from a strict family background and she admitted that the fun loving ex-GI was very much a welcomed change in her life. They were married on 11 June 1948 and soon they had a beautiful daughter, and Joe got a teaching job even before receiving his official degree from college.
Joe was greatly influenced by his grandparents and his oldest sister, Johnnie Delle Canon. In fact, she is credited with a positive influence over several of her siblings that she led to the teaching profession. Joe went to college on the GI Bill even though he really never graduated from high school. Following several siblings, he received an undergraduate degree in teaching from New Mexico State and later would complete his Masters of Education from Western New Mexico University. In over 40 years of teaching elementary school in Roswell, Joe Canon was responsible for the early education of 3 generations of students, many remembering him later as a teacher who taught far more than just school work. He laid the foundation for success by giving them confidence in their own abilities. His grandkids would always joke that you couldn’t go anywhere in Roswell, without running into several of Mr. Canon’s former students.
Strong leadership from him and his wife Dorothy provided direction for not only their immediate family, but also for many of Dorothy’s siblings. After retiring from teaching, Joe devoted himself to his grandchildren. He tried to pass on to them the same values of success he taught, to many generations of children in Roswell. Even more joy was in store for Joe, when those grandchildren provided him with several great grandchildren.
Joe Canon was an avid outdoorsman, who enjoyed camping, back-packing and hunting. Joe was at home in the Pecos Wilderness of northern New Mexico and certainly, one of his most memorable trips was taking his son and grown grandson hunting in western New Mexico.
Family Members
Sponsored by Ancestry
Advertisement
Explore more
Sponsored by Ancestry
Advertisement
