Facts:   - caption: ensign tedford h. cann , c. 1918    - battles: world war i    - death date: 26 january 1963    - allegiance: united states of america    - nickname: `` ted ''    - placeofburial: arlington national cemetery      - awards: medal of honor    - birth date: 3 september 1897    - serviceyears: 1916 -- 1918    - name: tedford harris cann    - branch: united states naval reserve    - unit: may sp-164 noma sp-131    - image: tedford h cann.jpg    - birth place: bridgeport , connecticut    - laterwork: world record holder in swimming , olympian    - rank: ensign   Based on these bullet points, write a short biography describing the life of tedford h. cann .
A:
tedford harris cann -lrb- september 3 , 1897 -- january 26 , 1963 -rrb- was a champion american swimmer and a recipient of the united states military 's highest decoration , the medal of honor .he served as an officer in the united states naval reserve during world war i and earned the medal for saving his sinking ship .