Corporal Cannon

August 1, 2022
Cannon holds nothing back in this raw, gut-wrenching account of her stint in the Marine Corps. Twenty years old when she was deployed in 2010, Cannon worked as a “data dink” setting up the internet for troops moving through combat zones. Bored by the work, she volunteered for a transfer to Delaram Base and a spot on a team working with a Georgian battalion (one hoping to prove its country’s worthiness to NATO). This new venture was rife with sexism and harsh treatment; upon arrival, the major told her “You’re a girl... you’re not supposed to be here,” and admonished Cannon to “not bother the men.” (Meanwhile, the men aggressively hit on her.) At the same time, she was in an uneasy open marriage with a fellow Marine, and jealousy about his flings tempted her into a dalliance with a contractor, William, which yielded an unwanted pregnancy. Cannon concealed her condition, out of fear of dishonorable discharge. While William urged her to keep the baby and became increasingly controlling, her turmoil led her to almost commit suicide. Back with her husband in California, she got an abortion, a decision she regrets. Cannon began writing as “a form of self-therapy,” and she eventually finds a way to healing, through painful, detailed recountings, which are searing and sometimes overwhelming to take in. It’s a dramatic, sobering account of prejudice and the mistreatment of women in combat zones. (Oct.)Correction: An earlier version of this review misstated how long the author was in the Marines, and also misstated the branch of service in which her husband served.

August 26, 2022

This memoir tells the story of one woman's experience in a 2010 Afghanistan combat zone as a U.S. Marine and its aftereffects on her life. The book begins with Cannon considering suicide and dealing with a positive pregnancy test. It then, in largely chronological order, unfolds the backstory of how she got to this point, primarily focusing on her military training in data communications and the physical strain she experienced in the Marines. The author states directly that this book was written as a form of self-therapy, to share her experiences as a way of unburdening herself, and to let others in similar situations know that there can be hope. For those readers who have never experienced war firsthand, Cannon's memoir is a visceral account; its value to those audiences lies in listening to her voice, rather than making moral judgments about her choices. The author does not claim to represent all women in the U.S. military, or to represent all experiences of the war in Afghanistan; instead, she offers her tale as an individual story of pain, bitterness, regret, and finally some acceptance. VERDICT Highly recommended for all public libraries.--Karen Bordonaro

Copyright 2022 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

October 1, 2022
In 2010, nearly a decade into the U.S.-led war in Afghanistan, Cannon was a marine working as a Tactical Data Networking Specialist, troubleshooting internet issues among other jobs. Her arrival at Camp Delaram was not met with enthusiasm by superior officers. Segregated from any male colleagues, Cannon was diligent in her work while navigating the often sexist and predatory behavior of fellow soldiers. The frustrating nature of enduring hostilities was illustrated by the distrust and hatred of Afghan soldiers towards Cannon and other marines. Though Corporal Cannon's deployment sent her under fire, the toughest part of her tour would be when she was in an unexpected situation that could cost her everything. This candid depiction of the day-to-day life of a female marine serving overseas is not confined to the everyday skirmishes fought in the "forever war." Cannon's writing is a therapeutic cleansing of a pivotal and emotionally scarring period in her life, and her important book is honest, poignant, and courageous.

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