Veteran in crisis? Dial 988 then press 1 · Text 838255 Next observance: Navy Birthday · October 13
Honoring American TroopsMedal of Honor Archive

Seaman · U.S. Navy

Tedford Harris Cann

Seaman Tedford Harris Cann, Navy, received the Medal of Honor for actions on November 5, 1917 between Bermuda & the Azores, Atlantic Ocean during World War I.

World War I November 5, 1917

Seaman Tedford Harris Cann, a sailor in the U.S. Navy, received the Medal of Honor for gallantry on November 5, 1917 between Bermuda & the Azores, Atlantic Ocean during World War I. At the time he was serving with U.S.S. May. Cann was 20 years old.

He later rose to the rank of Ensign.

Cann was born on September 3, 1897 in Bridgeport, Fairfield County, Connecticut. His Medal of Honor is credited to New York. Cann died on January 26, 1963 in Port Chester, New York, at the age of 65. He is buried at Arlington National Cemetery in Arlington, Virginia. His medal is held by International Swimming Hall of Fame, Fort Lauderdale, FL.

Cann is one of 132 Medal of Honor recipients from World War I and one of 678 credited to New York.

Official Medal of Honor citation

For courageous conduct while serving on board the U.S.S. May, 5 November 1917. Cann found a leak in a flooded compartment and closed it at the peril of his life, thereby unquestionably saving the ship.

Citation text: U.S. Government, public domain.

Other decorations and honors

Besides the Medal of Honor, Tedford Harris Cann received:

International Swimming Hall of Fame

Source: Wikidata. Gold chips link to our guide to that decoration.

Battles and campaigns

Also served in: World War I.

Life beyond the battlefield

Source: Wikidata.

Places

  • Born: Bridgeport — map
  • Died: Port Chester — map
  • Buried: Arlington National Cemetery — map

Veteran resources, cemeteries and meeting places in New York →

Timeline

  1. September 3, 1897
    Born in Bridgeport, Fairfield County, Connecticut
  2. November 5, 1917
    Act of valor — between Bermuda & the Azores, Atlantic Ocean
    Age 20. U.S.S. May
  3. January 26, 1963
    Died in Port Chester, New York
    Age 65.
  4. Resting place
    Arlington National Cemetery
    Arlington, Virginia

Biography

Tedford Harris Cann (September 3, 1897 – January 26, 1963) was a champion American swimmer and a recipient of the United States military's highest decoration, the Medal of Honor. He served as an officer in the United States Naval Reserve during World War I and earned the medal for saving his sinking ship.

From the Wikipedia article “Tedford H. Cann”, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Read the full article →

Further reading

More World War I recipients from New York

WT William Bradford Turner First Lieutenant · Army World War I · 1918 ✦ William Shemin Sergeant · Army World War I · 1918 ✦ CH Charles F. Hoffman Gunnery Sergeant · Marine Corps World War I · 1918 William Joseph "wild bill" Donovan Lieutenant Colonel · Army World War I · 1918 CH Charles F. Hoffman Gunnery Sergeant · Marine Corps World War I · 1918 PD Parker Francis Dunn Private First Class · Army World War I · 1918 ✦
Sources. Service and award details compiled from the recipient record of the Congressional Medal of Honor Society, Wikidata and Wikipedia. The narrative summary is generated from these records. Spotted an error? Send a correction.