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A Life Dedicated to Military Service
A Life Dedicated to Military Service
Tom Cannava graduated from Clermont Northeastern High School in 1964. He went on to The Ohio State University, earning a degree in Animal Sciences and participating in the ROTC program. Upon graduation, Tom was commissioned as an officer and entered active duty in the United States Army. Tom became an expert in Field Artillery holding numerous positions and leading varying groups of soldiers. Tom led soldiers in Vietnam, Germany, and the United States. He retired from military service in 1994 after serving as commander of Fort Chaffee in Arkansas.
Tom’s distinguished military career includes being awarded multiple medals including the Silver Star, Defense Superior Service Medal, Distinguished Flying Cross, Bronze Star with two Oak Leaf Clusters, Meritorious Service Medal with four Oak Leaf Clusters, Army Commendation Medal with five Oak Leaf Clusters, and the Vietnam Cross with Bronze Star.
After retiring from the Army, Tom sold real estate in Fort Smith, Arkansas. While there he continued his life of service as a member of the Chamber of Commerce and the local County Grievance Committee.
Upon graduation from The Ohio State University in 1968 with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Animal Science and receiving a commission through ROTC, Tom served extensively in Field Artillery troop leadership assignments in the Continental United States, Vietnam and Germany. They include Forward Observer, Fire Support Officer and Battery Executive Officer in Vietnam, commanded two Firing Batteries; Battalion Operations Officer, Battalion Executive Officer, and then in 1985 commanded the 1st Battalion, 10th Field Artillery in Schweinfurt, Germany. Tom also had two tours in the Pentagon. Colonel Cannava served as the Deputy Commander of III Corp Artillery at Fort Sill, Oklahoma, and commanded Fort Chaffee, Arkansas until his retirement in June 1994.
His military schooling included the Field Artillery Basic and Advanced Courses, the U. S. Army Command and General Staff College, and the National War College. He also held a Master of Arts Degree in Business Management from Webster University.
Tom’s military awards include the Silver Star, Defense Superior Service Medal, Distinguished Flying Cross, Bronze Star with two Oak Leaf Clusters (one for valor), Meritorious Service Medal with four Oak Leaf Clusters, Air Medical with six Oak Leaf Clusters (one for valor), Army Commendation Medal with five Oak Leaf Clusters (two for valor), and the Vietnam Cross with Bronze Star.
Tom was an honest, straight forward, principled leader who believed in “the harder right versus the easier wrong”. He loved animals (except cats) and was suspicious of anyone who did not, and, without second thought, shared his food and ice cream with his dogs.
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