Obituary, Florida Times-Union, February 5, 2012
Charles J. Canella, Sr. was born in Moline, IL February 27, 1919 to Joseph and Agnes Canella. Charles enlisted in the Army at the age of 17 with a wink and a nod from his local recruiter. One year later he was accepted as a plebe at West Point. Four years later, June 11, 1941 he graduated from the United States Military Academy and was commissioned an officer in the U.S. Army. He spent 27 years in the U.S. Army as an infantry officer; served in WWII as a 2nd Lieutenant, 1st Lieutenant and Captain; served in Korea as a Major; then served in South Vietnam as a full Colonel. He was known first and foremost as a leader. He took care of his men. He was not prone to small talk or boasting about his success.
The Colonel always had a wit and charm that matched his determination. His laugh was contagious and he could always tell a story. His war stories always ended in laughter. At the end of WWII he held off a line of 30 German troops near the Czech border standing atop a jeep with a jammed .50 caliber machine gun and managed to get them to drop their weapons. With a gleam in his eye he would later say, Boy I was lucky! The only reason they put down their weapons is because they didnt want to be captured by the Russians!
He married Evelyn Renth on his birthday, 1943 in Mineral Wells, TX. Next it was VE day, the end of WWII and twenty five years of moving from Army base to Army base then to overseas; Japan and Germany. It was a journey like so many others of that generation made. Some say it has shaped and secured our roots of today. In 1968 Colonel Canella retired from the U.S. Army. He immediately began another career as a successful investment advisor. His advice and counsel were continuously sought in the Washington D.C. area where he lived. Charles and Evelyn moved to Atlantic Beach, FL in 1994 when he finally retired. He enjoyed volunteering his time at Mayport NAS, FL, helping sailors with their tax returns.
Colonel Canella is survived by his spouse of 68 years, Evelyn Renth Canella, 3 sons, Charles, Jr., Michael and Anthony; 5 grandchildren and 3 great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his father, Joseph Canella; mother, Agnes Canella; and younger brother, Keith Canella, who was killed in action as a combat pilot in WWII. The dusty cigar box jammed full of medals found the morning after Colonel Canella passed away was a fitting reminder to what he had always told his sons, Boys, its nothing special. I was just another soldier doing my job. Donations may be sent to the McGraw Hospice Center in Jacksonville, FL.
Charles J. Canella, Sr. was born in Moline, IL February 27, 1919 to Joseph and Agnes Canella. Charles enlisted in the Army at the age of 17 with a wink and a nod from his local recruiter. One year later he was accepted as a plebe at West Point. Four years later, June 11, 1941 he graduated from the United States Military Academy and was commissioned an officer in the U.S. Army. He spent 27 years in the U.S. Army as an infantry officer; served in WWII as a 2nd Lieutenant, 1st Lieutenant and Captain; served in Korea as a Major; then served in South Vietnam as a full Colonel. He was known first and foremost as a leader. He took care of his men. He was not prone to small talk or boasting about his success.
The Colonel always had a wit and charm that matched his determination. His laugh was contagious and he could always tell a story. His war stories always ended in laughter. At the end of WWII he held off a line of 30 German troops near the Czech border standing atop a jeep with a jammed .50 caliber machine gun and managed to get them to drop their weapons. With a gleam in his eye he would later say, Boy I was lucky! The only reason they put down their weapons is because they didnt want to be captured by the Russians!
He married Evelyn Renth on his birthday, 1943 in Mineral Wells, TX. Next it was VE day, the end of WWII and twenty five years of moving from Army base to Army base then to overseas; Japan and Germany. It was a journey like so many others of that generation made. Some say it has shaped and secured our roots of today. In 1968 Colonel Canella retired from the U.S. Army. He immediately began another career as a successful investment advisor. His advice and counsel were continuously sought in the Washington D.C. area where he lived. Charles and Evelyn moved to Atlantic Beach, FL in 1994 when he finally retired. He enjoyed volunteering his time at Mayport NAS, FL, helping sailors with their tax returns.
Colonel Canella is survived by his spouse of 68 years, Evelyn Renth Canella, 3 sons, Charles, Jr., Michael and Anthony; 5 grandchildren and 3 great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his father, Joseph Canella; mother, Agnes Canella; and younger brother, Keith Canella, who was killed in action as a combat pilot in WWII. The dusty cigar box jammed full of medals found the morning after Colonel Canella passed away was a fitting reminder to what he had always told his sons, Boys, its nothing special. I was just another soldier doing my job. Donations may be sent to the McGraw Hospice Center in Jacksonville, FL.
Obituary, Florida Times-Union, February 5, 2012
Charles J. Canella, Sr. was born in Moline, IL February 27, 1919 to Joseph and Agnes Canella. Charles enlisted in the Army at the age of 17 with a wink and a nod from his local recruiter. One year later he was accepted as a plebe at West Point. Four years later, June 11, 1941 he graduated from the United States Military Academy and was commissioned an officer in the U.S. Army. He spent 27 years in the U.S. Army as an infantry officer; served in WWII as a 2nd Lieutenant, 1st Lieutenant and Captain; served in Korea as a Major; then served in South Vietnam as a full Colonel. He was known first and foremost as a leader. He took care of his men. He was not prone to small talk or boasting about his success.
The Colonel always had a wit and charm that matched his determination. His laugh was contagious and he could always tell a story. His war stories always ended in laughter. At the end of WWII he held off a line of 30 German troops near the Czech border standing atop a jeep with a jammed .50 caliber machine gun and managed to get them to drop their weapons. With a gleam in his eye he would later say, Boy I was lucky! The only reason they put down their weapons is because they didnt want to be captured by the Russians!
He married Evelyn Renth on his birthday, 1943 in Mineral Wells, TX. Next it was VE day, the end of WWII and twenty five years of moving from Army base to Army base then to overseas; Japan and Germany. It was a journey like so many others of that generation made. Some say it has shaped and secured our roots of today. In 1968 Colonel Canella retired from the U.S. Army. He immediately began another career as a successful investment advisor. His advice and counsel were continuously sought in the Washington D.C. area where he lived. Charles and Evelyn moved to Atlantic Beach, FL in 1994 when he finally retired. He enjoyed volunteering his time at Mayport NAS, FL, helping sailors with their tax returns.
Colonel Canella is survived by his spouse of 68 years, Evelyn Renth Canella, 3 sons, Charles, Jr., Michael and Anthony; 5 grandchildren and 3 great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his father, Joseph Canella; mother, Agnes Canella; and younger brother, Keith Canella, who was killed in action as a combat pilot in WWII. The dusty cigar box jammed full of medals found the morning after Colonel Canella passed away was a fitting reminder to what he had always told his sons, Boys, its nothing special. I was just another soldier doing my job. Donations may be sent to the McGraw Hospice Center in Jacksonville, FL.
Charles J. Canella, Sr. was born in Moline, IL February 27, 1919 to Joseph and Agnes Canella. Charles enlisted in the Army at the age of 17 with a wink and a nod from his local recruiter. One year later he was accepted as a plebe at West Point. Four years later, June 11, 1941 he graduated from the United States Military Academy and was commissioned an officer in the U.S. Army. He spent 27 years in the U.S. Army as an infantry officer; served in WWII as a 2nd Lieutenant, 1st Lieutenant and Captain; served in Korea as a Major; then served in South Vietnam as a full Colonel. He was known first and foremost as a leader. He took care of his men. He was not prone to small talk or boasting about his success.
The Colonel always had a wit and charm that matched his determination. His laugh was contagious and he could always tell a story. His war stories always ended in laughter. At the end of WWII he held off a line of 30 German troops near the Czech border standing atop a jeep with a jammed .50 caliber machine gun and managed to get them to drop their weapons. With a gleam in his eye he would later say, Boy I was lucky! The only reason they put down their weapons is because they didnt want to be captured by the Russians!
He married Evelyn Renth on his birthday, 1943 in Mineral Wells, TX. Next it was VE day, the end of WWII and twenty five years of moving from Army base to Army base then to overseas; Japan and Germany. It was a journey like so many others of that generation made. Some say it has shaped and secured our roots of today. In 1968 Colonel Canella retired from the U.S. Army. He immediately began another career as a successful investment advisor. His advice and counsel were continuously sought in the Washington D.C. area where he lived. Charles and Evelyn moved to Atlantic Beach, FL in 1994 when he finally retired. He enjoyed volunteering his time at Mayport NAS, FL, helping sailors with their tax returns.
Colonel Canella is survived by his spouse of 68 years, Evelyn Renth Canella, 3 sons, Charles, Jr., Michael and Anthony; 5 grandchildren and 3 great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his father, Joseph Canella; mother, Agnes Canella; and younger brother, Keith Canella, who was killed in action as a combat pilot in WWII. The dusty cigar box jammed full of medals found the morning after Colonel Canella passed away was a fitting reminder to what he had always told his sons, Boys, its nothing special. I was just another soldier doing my job. Donations may be sent to the McGraw Hospice Center in Jacksonville, FL.
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