The Good Life – May-June 2023

LOCAL HERO | CURT CANNON
“We’re advocates for our county veterans that deal with
state or federal benefits, and we offer the resources to
try to direct (the veterans) in the right path,” he said. “In
my opinion, you just have to find the person or the people
that have the answers. And in Clay County, that’s us. We’re
a one-stop shop, and we know and have access to the
resources available to them. We have the answers, and if
we don’t know (the answer), we know people that we can
call and get it.”
Cannon and his team Jennifer and Bonnie create a support
network for veterans who need it.
But they don’t do it alone. In this area, finding help is
sometimes a short drive or phone call across the river.
“We work closely with Chris Deery, the VSO in Cass
County, and his team,” he said. “We flip-flop answers
and we take care of each other, and we take care of each
other’s vets. We couldn’t be a better team.”
LIFE IN THE FORCES
Cannon’s life with the military started before he was even
born. His father served in the Air Force.
It was while he was attending Valley City State University
in 1989 that he got his chance to join the military.
“I wanted to join the Air Force, but that was in Fargo and
I didn't have a good car to make it,” he said with a laugh.
“So I had to walk up the hill to the Army National Guard
Armory.”
Cannon enlisted as a combat medic for the field artillery
company as a Private First Class. He went through
basic and advanced individual training and eventually
became a specialist. In 1992 he attended the Minnesota
Military Academy (OCS Class 37) to become an officer.
He graduated in 1993 as a second lieutenant, and stayed
in the medical field as a platoon leader where he was in
charge of 40 to 50 soldiers. He worked his way up the
ranks to executive officer and company commander of
the medical unit, Charlie Med. He also served as the rear
Battalion Commander at the end of his 26-year military
career.
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