MAJOR-GENERAL CHARLES D.W. CANHAM

As our country pauses on another Memorial Day, history is replete with Americans who were incredible leaders under intense war time conditions. People such as George Washington, Andrew Jackson, Ulysses Grant, John Pershing, George Patton, and Dwight Eisenhower all have been cited as possessing extraordinary leadership skills. But, make no mistake about it, there were thousands of other lesser- known soldiers throughout history who stepped up when needed and delivered spark and direction to the troops under their command.

One such individual was Mississippi-born Charles D. W. Canham who enlisted in the Army in 1919. Canham demonstrated military proficiency and quickly climbed the enlisted ranks to sergeant. Interestingly, the Army was experiencing a shortage of officers at the time and Canham was selected to be a member of the Army’s first prep school to allow soldiers from the enlisted ranks to attend the United States Military Academy at West Point, graduating as a 1st Lt. in 1926.

From his enlisted service, Canham acquired a love and respect for the rank and file soldier and the idea that a soldier-leader never rests until he has done everything in his power to insure the survival of his men in battle. During the years before WW II Canham developed a reputation as a strict disciplinarian dedicated to troop training and reluctant to bend or compromise his own personal standards of conduct and decorum. It was this reputation that earned him that which he desired more than anything else — a World War II tactical command.

In the summer of 1942, Colonel Canham took command of the 116th Infantry which was training in England in preparation for the Normandy invasion. Colonel Canham’s regiment trained every day as if it were going into battle the next. Although untested in battle, the 116th was razor sharp in preparation and was chosen to go ashore on the third assault wave at Normandy’s bloodied Omaha Beach.

As Canham waded ashore at Omaha on D-Day he found his beloved regiment under the most desperate conditions imaginable, heavy enemy fire on the verge of driving the Americans back into the sea. Upon reaching the beach an enemy bullet slammed into Canham’s forearm, but he refused evacuation and immediately began leadership efforts to get the troops off the beach and away from the relentless enemy fire.

A war correspondent for the New York Times who was observing the battle from an offshore ship commented, “Although staggered and wounded from the hit, Colonel Canham walked upright and confident up and down the beach.” Brandishing his service .45 in his bloodied hand, he screamed to the men to fight back and move inland. Sgt. Bob Slaughter remembers Canham hollering at a young lieutenant who had taken refuge in a beach hole from German mortar fire, “Get your ass out of there and lead your men off this Godforsaken beach.”

After observing Canham pushing forward in the face of the ferocious fire, Pvt. Don McCarthy commented, “I got the hell off the beach. I was more afraid of Colonel Canham than I was of the Germans.”

For his actions at Omaha and leadership in the subsequent capture of the inland French city of St. Lo, Canham was awarded the second highest American award for valor in combat, The Distinguished Service Cross and promoted to Brigadier General of the 8th Division.

In August/September 1944, Canham’s 8th Division was involved in action against 30,000 battle-hardened German troops defending the French port city of Brest. The Germans were led by fanatical Nazi General Hermann-Bernhard Ramcke who vowed that his troops would resist the Americans to the last man.

Unable to stem the American offensive, Ramcke withdrew to his bunker where he was captured and taken prisoner. When General Canham entered the bunker for the formal German surrender, Ramcke boldly shouted, “A German officer does not surrender to an enemy officer of lower rank. If I am to surrender to you, where are your credentials?” Unfazed by Ramcke’s demeanor, Canham pointed to the doorway filled with unshaven, muddy, tired and hungry American soldiers he had brought along to witness the surrender, and simply said to Ramcke — “These are my Credentials!” Ramcke glanced at the American soldiers and then quietly said to Canham, “Very well, let’s get on with the details.”

General Canham survived the war and now rests at Arlington National Cemetery, his legacy living on with the idea that from the founding of America’s military to the present, leadership is the critical component for efficiency and success. As we celebrate another Memorial Day, it is incumbent to remember and appreciate all those Americans in the past who stepped up when the occasion called for leadership and courage in the face of adversity.