Robert Owen Canada, Jr.
Rear Admiral, U.S. Navy

Robert Owen Canada, Jr. was born on 16 July 1913 in Grottoes, VA. He graduated from Augusta Military Academy, Fort Defiance, VA, in 1931 and received his M.D. degree from the University of Virginia in 1937. He served as an Intern at the University of Virginia Medical Center from 1937-38, and was then commissioned as a Lieutenant (jg) in the U.S. Navy in 1938.

He served as Medical Officer on USS Salinas, 1940-41; as Senior Medical Officer on USS Pasadena, 1944-45; and at shore assignments at the Naval Hospitals at Charleston, SC, Oakland, CA, Sampson, NY, Fitzsimmons Hospital in Denver, CO, and was Commander of the Naval Hospital at Jacksonville, FL, in 1961-62.

In 1962 he became Commander of the Bethesda Naval Hospital and, during that assignment, was promoted to Rear Admiral in 1964. Many will recall that he was commander of Bethesda Naval Hospital at the time that President John F. Kennedy's autopsy was conducted there and that he was involved in the controversy that surrounded that procedure.

Other assignments included: Deputy Surgeon General, U.S. Navy, 1965-68; Commander, National Naval Medical Center, Bethesda, MD, 1968-69.

He retired from the Navy in 1969. During his career, he received the Legion of Merit.

In Retirement

After retiring from the Navy, he served on the staff of the Greenbrier Clinic at White Sulphur Springs, WV. He resided at Lewisburg, WV, until his death.

Death and Burial

Rear Admiral Robert Owen Canada, Jr. died on 6 December 1972 in Lewisburg, WV. He is buried at Arlington National Cemetery in Arlington, VA.