BAKERSFIELD, CA-- It's been less than a month since a World War II veteran passed away.
Riley Cannon served as a Navy plane captain until he was severely injured in 1943.
However, his daughter feels like many veterans in Kern County aren't recognized, unless they are on the Kern County Honor Flight.
"He was a quiet man, but when he spoke, he spoke volumes," said Pat Johnson.
Cannon died last month at 87.
"Everybody that knew him spoke highly of him, very, very intelligent," said Johnson.
Cannon grew up in Bakersfield and dropped out of Bakersfield High School.
At 17, Cannon joined the Navy as a plane captain on the USS Lexington in 1943.
"When he got out of boot camp, they asked him what he could do and he says I could work on engines because that's what he was doing, racing hot rods and Model T's since he was 14 years old," continued Johnson.
But as he continued his work as a plane captain, he was severely injured after two years on deck.
"He was disabled 100% and discharged from the Navy as medically discharged, 100 percent disabled," said Johnson.
One day, as the ship abruptly moved, a propeller hit Cannon in several areas of his body, including his head.
Johnson says two years later, her dad recovered.
"He regained use of his left side, became a carpenter, got married, 66 years married, 4 children, 17 grandchildren, 2 great-great grandchildren, honorable man," said Johnson.
But Johnson doesn't feel that honor is going far.
"Not all of them are can travel and do something like the Honor Flight which I think is a extremely beautiful thing that people are doing for them. But what about the ones that are right here, they can't do that so why don't they get honored," said Johnson.
However, Kern County Honor Flight says volunteers do their best to accommodate every veteran, even if they can't travel to Washington D.C.
If you know a veteran who can't go on Honor Flight and would like to be honored, call 661-544-8387.
You can also visit www.honorflightkerncounty.org