Page 24 - Senior Link Magazine Fall 2020- Online Magazine
P. 24
Mark Cannon The Ultimate
Sacrifice
by Sam Ayers, Ed. D.
When he arrived, Mark said he knew public service
was important to them, and it was time for him to
give back. Mark announced that he had enlisted
in the U.S. Navy and planned to put his medical
training to use in the military. Amarillo was the site
of his swearing-in; he completed his initial training at
Naval Station Great Lakes, Illinois.
The Navy considered assigning him to a submarine,
but at 6’5” and 240 pounds, a submarine assignment
was not appropriate for Mark. He was assigned to
the Navy Medical Clinic Pearl Harbor. In time, Mark
made it known that he was willing to be assigned to
a U.S. Marines unit as a Corpsman. He believed this
would best utilize his medical training.
Corpsman Mark Cannon was stationed in Hawaii
before completing his first tour of duty with a
Marines unit. There had been some dangerous
hen the U.S. Marines advance into combat, action, and his training was useful to the soldiers
they rely on the U.S. Navy for trained with whom he served. But he spent much of his time
Wmedical personnel. Chaos and casualties providing medical treatment to Afghan children who
were the results of a firefight in Afghanistan. The were wounded from shrapnel and mortar attacks.
embedded Navy medic was present to render He returned to Hawaii and waited for new orders.
emergency aid, but training cannot account for all As Mark was preparing to ship out for a second tour,
circumstances. his father called with tragic news. Becky Cannon,
Mark’s mother, had died unexpectedly. Tom wanted
Mark Russell Cannon was born and raised in his son home for support, and Mark wanted to be
Lubbock. He attended Wester Elementary School, home for the funeral.
Smylie Wilson Junior High School and graduated
from Coronado High School in 1994. Mark enjoyed The unit was scheduled to ship out to Iraq in six
football and loved basketball, but a knee injury days. Mark requested that his officers not reveal to
prevented him from competing in high school. the Marines in his unit why he was gone. If they
knew the personal circumstances, they might not
Mark continued his education at South Plains feel like they could count on him in Afghanistan. He
College and was trained in nursing. When the Twin made the trip to Lubbock and returned just a few
Towers tumbled down on 9/11, he was working days before a second tour in Afghanistan.
as a nurse’s aide at Covenant Medical Center. He
was emotionally affected and felt the need to do Corpsman Mark Cannon was assigned to the 3rd
something meaningful in response. Marine Regiment, 3rd Marine Division. He enjoyed
a positive relationship with those in his unit. They
In 2003, Mark called his parents, asking to meet with referred to him as “Doc” and knew him to be a
them to talk. This was an unusual request and left “tender giant.”
his parents curious about the upcoming meeting.
24 Senior Link
