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Michael Gannon (historian)
Encyclopedia
Michael V. Gannon is an American military historian, academic and former war correspondent. He was born in 1928.
During World War II, Gannon was a member of the American Field Service, in the 1950s he wrote on European military topics and in 1968, he was a war correspondent
in Vietnam
. In the early 1990s Gannon was a professor of history at the University of Florida
, where he taught the history of World War II, and became Distinguished Service Professor Emeritus of History.
Gannon is also known for his study of Spanish colonial history. Among numerous awards and honours, he is a Knight Commander of the Order of Isabel the Catholic
, granted by King Juan Carlos I
of Spain.
One well known work by Gannon is Operation Drumbeat (1990), sub-titled The dramatic true story of Germany's first u-boat attacks along the American coast in World War II. Although written, in large parts, as a dramatic story, Gannon had researched the subject extensively, travelling to Europe to view sites and interview surviving participants. Official documents, on both sides of the Atlantic, were obtained to provide further information and the work is supported by significant notations. It chronicles the u-boat cruise of in January 1942 under Reinhard Hardegen
to the American east coast and analyses the factors behind a major naval defeat for the United States which could have upset the western allies' war strategy.
Gannon's other works include:
During World War II, Gannon was a member of the American Field Service, in the 1950s he wrote on European military topics and in 1968, he was a war correspondent
War correspondent
A war correspondent is a journalist who covers stories firsthand from a war zone. In the 19th century they were also called Special Correspondents.-Methods:...
in Vietnam
Vietnam
Vietnam – sometimes spelled Viet Nam , officially the Socialist Republic of Vietnam – is the easternmost country on the Indochina Peninsula in Southeast Asia. It is bordered by China to the north, Laos to the northwest, Cambodia to the southwest, and the South China Sea –...
. In the early 1990s Gannon was a professor of history at the University of Florida
University of Florida
The University of Florida is an American public land-grant, sea-grant, and space-grant research university located on a campus in Gainesville, Florida. The university traces its historical origins to 1853, and has operated continuously on its present Gainesville campus since September 1906...
, where he taught the history of World War II, and became Distinguished Service Professor Emeritus of History.
Gannon is also known for his study of Spanish colonial history. Among numerous awards and honours, he is a Knight Commander of the Order of Isabel the Catholic
Order of Isabel the Catholic
The Order of Isabella the Catholic is a Spanish civil order granted in recognition of services that benefit the country. The Order is not exclusive to Spaniards, and many foreigners have been awarded it....
, granted by King Juan Carlos I
Juan Carlos I of Spain
Juan Carlos I |Italy]]) is the reigning King of Spain.On 22 November 1975, two days after the death of General Francisco Franco, Juan Carlos was designated king according to the law of succession promulgated by Franco. Spain had no monarch for 38 years in 1969 when Franco named Juan Carlos as the...
of Spain.
One well known work by Gannon is Operation Drumbeat (1990), sub-titled The dramatic true story of Germany's first u-boat attacks along the American coast in World War II. Although written, in large parts, as a dramatic story, Gannon had researched the subject extensively, travelling to Europe to view sites and interview surviving participants. Official documents, on both sides of the Atlantic, were obtained to provide further information and the work is supported by significant notations. It chronicles the u-boat cruise of in January 1942 under Reinhard Hardegen
Reinhard Hardegen
Lieutenant Commander Reinhard Hardegen is a German U-boat Commander who sank 22 ships, amounting to sunk, ranking him as the 24th most successful Commander in World War II. After the war, he spent a year in British captivity before running a successful oil company and serving in Bremen's...
to the American east coast and analyses the factors behind a major naval defeat for the United States which could have upset the western allies' war strategy.
Gannon's other works include:
- Pearl Harbor Betrayed
- Black May 1943, a chronicle of the major defeat of u-boats in May 1943
- Florida: A Short History
- The Cross in the Sand: The Early Catholic Church in Florida, 1513-1870
- Secret Missions
- Rebel Bishop: Augustin Verot, Florida's Civil War Prelate
- Florida's Menendez: Captain General of the Ocean Sea
Education
- Gannon studied theology at the Université de Louvain in BelgiumBelgiumBelgium , officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a federal state in Western Europe. It is a founding member of the European Union and hosts the EU's headquarters, and those of several other major international organisations such as NATO.Belgium is also a member of, or affiliated to, many...
and became a priest in 1959. He received his PhD in history from the University of FloridaUniversity of FloridaThe University of Florida is an American public land-grant, sea-grant, and space-grant research university located on a campus in Gainesville, Florida. The university traces its historical origins to 1853, and has operated continuously on its present Gainesville campus since September 1906...
in 1962.http://clasnews.clas.ufl.edu/clasnotes/alumninotes/03spring/profs.shtml