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.
Cann's swimming career began while he was still a teenager. He attended the High School of Commerce in New York City where he was captain of the basketball and swimming teams and competed in the New York Championships. Like his older brother he became a member of the Epsilon Chapter of the Omega Gamma Delta Fraternity. At age 17 he defeated Hawaiian swimmer Duke Kahanamoku, an event which he later declared was a greater thrill than being awarded the Medal of Honor. While a student at New York University, Cann also excelled in track and field, basketball, and football, where he played halfback as well as becoming a member of the Fraternity of Phi Gamma Delta.
Military service
He served in the Navy Reserve during World War I, initially as a Seaman. On November 5, 1917, while he was a member of the crew of the patrol vessel USS May(SP-164), Seaman Cann voluntarily swam into a flooded compartment and repeatedly dived beneath the surface until he had located and closed the leak that endangered the ship. He was awarded the Medal of Honor for this act.
In April 1918, Cann was commissioned as an ensign in the Reserves, continuing to serve on the USS May into July. He spent the rest of World War I as an officer on the USS Noma(SP-131) and left the service shortly after the conflict's end.
Post-war life
Cann resumed his swimming career after the war. Coached by Matt Mann, Cann swam with The New York Athletic Club and later the Detroit Athletic Club. On April 10, 1920 in Detroit, Michigan, he set the world record in the 200 meter freestyle (then called the 220 yard freestyle) with a time of 2:19.8, breaking the previous record of 2:21.6 set by Norman Ross in 1916. His record would stand until 1922, when Johnny Weissmuller swam the distance in 2:15.6. Also in 1920, Cann won the Amateur Athletic Union National Championships in the 50, 100 and 200 meter races, becoming the first person to win all three of those titles in a single year.
He had qualified for and was preparing to participate in the 1920 Summer Olympics in Antwerp when he was involved in a serious car accident. Early in the morning of May 11, 1920, Cann and two other Olympic-hopefuls were in a taxicab in New York City, returning home from a late night out, when the driver crashed into an elevated railroad pillar. One of Cann's fellow passengers was fatally injured, and Cann's leg was broken in six places. He missed the Olympics due to his injury, which required him to use crutches for more than a year and left him with a permanent limp. Although he was never able to swim as fast as he had before the accident, Cann took up water polo with much success. He participated in the 1924 Summer Olympics in Paris and played with The New York Athletic Club national champion polo team up to the early 1930s.
Rank and organization: Seaman, U.S. Navy. Born: September 3, 1897, Bridgeport, Conn. Accredited to: New York. G.O. No.: 366, 1918.
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.
"Tedford Cann (USA) – 1967 Honor Swimmer". International Swimming Hall of Fame. Retrieved October 28, 2007.
"Tedford Harris Cann, Ensign, United States Navy" (PDF). New York Times. May 12, 1920. Retrieved October 22, 2007.
"Olympic Aspirants Hurt in Taxi Crash" (PDF). New York Times. May 12, 1920. Retrieved October 22, 2007.
External links
Tedford Harris Cann, Ensign, United States Navy, ArlingtonCemetery.net, 7 November 2022, an unofficial website
February 01, 2023
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This article includes a list of general references but it lacks sufficient corresponding inline citations Please help to improve this article by introducing more precise citations April 2009 Learn how and when to remove this template message 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 Tedford H CannEnsign Tedford H Cann c 1918Personal informationBorn 1897 09 03 September 3 1897Bridgeport Connecticut USDiedJanuary 26 1963 1963 01 26 aged 65 Port Chester New York USSportSportSwimmingStrokesfreestyleClubThe New York Athletic ClubDetroit Athletic ClubMedal record Men s swimmingAmateur Athletic Union National Championships1920 50 m freestyle1920 100 m freestyle1920 200 m freestyleMilitary careerBuriedArlington National CemeteryAllegianceUnited StatesService wbr branchUnited States Naval ReserveYears of service1916 1918RankEnsignUnitUSS May SP 164 USS Noma SP 131 Battles warsWorld War IAwardsMedal of Honor Contents 1 Early life 2 Military service 3 Post war life 4 Medal of Honor citation 5 See also 6 References 7 External linksEarly life EditCann was born in Bridgeport Connecticut into a family of accomplished sportsmen His father Frank Cann was the director of physical education at New York University NYU which both Tedford and his older brother Howard Cann attended Howard was an Olympic shot putter a college basketball and football player and the NYU men s basketball coach for 35 years Cann s swimming career began while he was still a teenager He attended the High School of Commerce in New York City where he was captain of the basketball and swimming teams and competed in the New York Championships Like his older brother he became a member of the Epsilon Chapter of the Omega Gamma Delta Fraternity At age 17 he defeated Hawaiian swimmer Duke Kahanamoku an event which he later declared was a greater thrill than being awarded the Medal of Honor While a student at New York University Cann also excelled in track and field basketball and football where he played halfback as well as becoming a member of the Fraternity of Phi Gamma Delta Military service EditHe served in the Navy Reserve during World War I initially as a Seaman On November 5 1917 while he was a member of the crew of the patrol vessel USS May SP 164 Seaman Cann voluntarily swam into a flooded compartment and repeatedly dived beneath the surface until he had located and closed the leak that endangered the ship He was awarded the Medal of Honor for this act In April 1918 Cann was commissioned as an ensign in the Reserves continuing to serve on the USS May into July He spent the rest of World War I as an officer on the USS Noma SP 131 and left the service shortly after the conflict s end Post war life EditCann resumed his swimming career after the war Coached by Matt Mann Cann swam with The New York Athletic Club and later the Detroit Athletic Club On April 10 1920 in Detroit Michigan he set the world record in the 200 meter freestyle then called the 220 yard freestyle with a time of 2 19 8 breaking the previous record of 2 21 6 set by Norman Ross in 1916 His record would stand until 1922 when Johnny Weissmuller swam the distance in 2 15 6 Also in 1920 Cann won the Amateur Athletic Union National Championships in the 50 100 and 200 meter races becoming the first person to win all three of those titles in a single year He had qualified for and was preparing to participate in the 1920 Summer Olympics in Antwerp when he was involved in a serious car accident Early in the morning of May 11 1920 Cann and two other Olympic hopefuls were in a taxicab in New York City returning home from a late night out when the driver crashed into an elevated railroad pillar One of Cann s fellow passengers was fatally injured and Cann s leg was broken in six places He missed the Olympics due to his injury which required him to use crutches for more than a year and left him with a permanent limp Although he was never able to swim as fast as he had before the accident Cann took up water polo with much success He participated in the 1924 Summer Olympics in Paris and played with The New York Athletic Club national champion polo team up to the early 1930s Cann died at age 65 and is buried with his wife Marguerite 1897 1985 in Arlington National Cemetery Arlington County Virginia 1 Four years after his death in 1967 he was posthumously inducted into the International Swimming Hall of Fame for his accomplishments as a swimmer Medal of Honor citation EditRank and organization Seaman U S Navy Born September 3 1897 Bridgeport Conn Accredited to New York G O No 366 1918 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 See also Edit Biography portal World War I portalList of Medal of Honor recipients List of Medal of Honor recipients for World War I World record progression 200 metres freestyleReferences Edit Burial Detail Cann Tedford H ANC Explorer US People Cann Tedford H Online Library Naval History amp Heritage Command January 22 2002 Retrieved August 5 2006 Tedford Cann USA 1967 Honor Swimmer International Swimming Hall of Fame Retrieved October 28 2007 Tedford Harris Cann Ensign United States Navy PDF New York Times May 12 1920 Retrieved October 22 2007 Olympic Aspirants Hurt in Taxi Crash PDF New York Times May 12 1920 Retrieved October 22 2007 External links EditTedford Harris Cann Ensign United States Navy ArlingtonCemetery net 7 November 2022 an unofficial website Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Tedford H Cann amp oldid 1123817209, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
