Biographies from Troy Military Banners
EDITOR’S NOTE: The following is a weekly series that will appear in print every Sunday until Veterans Day. Each week, five military members featured on a Troy Military Banner will be highlighted.
1. John J. McCann, U. S. Navy
John J. McCann was born on October 20, 1916 in Troy, New York. John was one of three children born to Charles and Anna ( Power s) Mc - Cann, having one sister, Helen, a nd one brother, Charles.
John was educated at St. Michael’s School and Troy High School, both in Troy, New York. In April of 1935, John obtained employment with the Ford Motor Company in Green Island, New York, as a machine operator. He would work in his capacity until April of 1944, when he left his employment to enlist into the United States Navy.
On April 1, 1944, John enlisted into the United States Navy in Troy, New York. Seaman McCann received his basic training at the United States Naval Training Center in Sampson, New York, before being assigned to the destroyer escort USS Cross( DE- 448). While a member of the USS Cross, Seaman McCann participated in additional training at Pearl Harbor, prior to the USS Cross’s departure to escort a convoy to Ulithi. The USS Cross then continued to escort vital supply-laden convoys from Ulithi to Okinawa. It was during this time that the USS Cross went through a typhoon referred to as Admiral Halsey’s 2nd Typhoon. In preparation for Iwo Jima and Okinawa operations, Ulithi became the hub of almost all naval operations in the Pacific, earning the USS Cross one Battle Star for its service in World War II.
For his honorable service to his country, Water tender Third Class McCann was awarded the Combat Action Ribbon, the American Campaign Medal, the Asiatic Pacific Campaign Medal with one Bronze Service Star, the World War II Victory Medal, the Honorable Discharge Button, and the Honorable Service Lapel Pin (Ruptured Duck).
Upon his honorable discharge from the United States Navy, John settled into married life again with his wife, Mildred Mary Carey, whom he married on April 26, 1941 at Sacred Heart Church in Albany, New York. Of their union together, they had four children, two daughters, Joan and Jean, and two sons, Robert and Jack. John supported his growing family through his employment with Ford Motor company in Green Island, New York, where he worked for over 37 years as a plant protection guard.
John’s banner is located at 19 Manning Ave.
2. Robert J. McCann, U.S. Army
Staff Sergeant (E- 6) Robert J. McCann (1960-1966) was in the Headquarters Company 1st Battalion, 210 Armor Division, New Scotland Avenue, Albany, New York (National Guard).
Bob was a part of the