Missouri National Guard receives historic cannons

The Missouri National Guard received two historic cannons from past wars on Wednesday that will be preserved and displayed at the Ike Skelton Training Site. (Photo by Spc. Antony S. Lee/ 70th Mobile Public Affairs Detachment.)

By Spc. Antony S. Lee
Ngmo.pao@US.ARMY.MIL

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. - The Missouri National Guard received two historic cannons from past wars on Wednesday that will be preserved and displayed at the Ike Skelton Training Site here.

One of the cannons is a World War I weapon that was manufactured by the French, said Charles Machon, the director of the history museum for the Missouri National Guard. It was brought in from Fort Sill, Oklahoma, and is the type of cannon President Harry S. Truman used during his service as a Missouri National Guardsman.

The second weapon was a type of cannon used by a St. Louis unit during the Spanish-American war and was made in the 1890's. It was acquired by the Missouri National Guard from the Kemper Military School, which was located in Boonville before it shut down.

"The French cannon is significant because of its connection with President Truman, a Missouri Guardsman who went all the way to become President," said Machon, who arranged the process to receive the cannons. "The other cannon is significant because of its rarity and long connection being here in Missouri. It's good to have it back home."

The two cannons that arrived on Wednesday are the first of their kind the Missouri National Guard has acquired.

"It's very exciting to see something that would have been used by somebody as important as President Truman," said Greg Gardiner, an intern working with Machon. "To see anything used that long ago, especially something that big, it's cool to be a part of."

For more information about the Missouri National Guard, please call 1-800-GoGuard or visit www.moguard.com.