Richard Beatty Anderson (June 26, 1921 – February 1, 1944) was a United States Marine who sacrificed his life during World War II and received the Medal of Honor posthumously for his heroism.
Richard Beatty Anderson | |
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| Born | June 26, 1921 Tacoma, Washington, US |
| Died | February 1, 1944 (aged 22) Roi Island, Kwajalein Atoll, Marshall Islands |
| Buried | New Tacoma Cemetery, University Place, Washington |
| Allegiance | United States |
| Service | United States Marine Corps |
| Years of service | 1942–1944 |
| Rank | Private First Class |
| Unit | 2nd Battalion, 23rd Marines |
| Battles / wars | World War II |
| Awards | Medal of Honor Purple Heart |
Biography
editAnderson was born in Tacoma, Washington, on June 26, 1921, and was raised in Agnew, Washington. He attended Macleay School in Agnew before graduating from Sequim High School in the nearby city of Sequim.[1] He entered the Marine Corps on July 6, 1942, in Oakland, California, receiving his recruit training at Marine Corps Recruit Depot San Diego, California. Private Anderson then joined the Marine Barracks, Naval Receiving Station in San Diego in October 1942. Promoted to private first class on April 12, 1943, he was ordered to the Infantry Battalion, Training Center, Camp Elliott, San Diego, shortly afterwards.
He next joined his last unit, Company E, 2nd Battalion, 23rd Marines, and with his unit he departed from the United States in January 1944. The following month he participated in the invasion of Roi Island, the first pre-war Japanese territory to fall to US Forces.
PFC Anderson, a member of the invasion force, was hunting enemy snipers. He hurled himself on a live grenade in a shell hole to save the lives of three comrades, though he knew death for himself was almost certain. Anderson was evacuated to a ship, where he died of his wounds on February 1, 1944. He is buried at Lot #5 Block C Section 1 #182 at the New Tacoma Cemetery, 9212 Chambers Creek Road West, Tacoma, Washington. He posthumously received the Medal of Honor — the nation's highest military decoration — and the Purple Heart.
Awards and honors
editDecorations
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| Medal of Honor | ||
| Purple Heart | Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal | World War II Victory Medal |
Medal of Honor citation
editThe President of the United States takes pride in presenting the MEDAL OF HONOR posthumously to
UNITED STATES MARINE CORPS
for service as set forth in the following CITATION:
- For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty while serving with the Fourth Marine Division during action against enemy Japanese forces on Roi Island, Kwajalein Atoll, Marshall Islands, February 1, 1944. Entering a shell crater occupied by three other Marines, Private First Class Anderson was preparing to throw a grenade at an enemy position when it slipped from his hands and rolled toward the men at the bottom of the hole. With insufficient time to retrieve the armed weapon and throw it, Private First Class Anderson fearlessly chose to sacrifice himself and save his companions by hurling his body upon the grenade and taking the full impact of the explosion. His personal valor and exceptional spirit of loyalty in the face of almost certain death were in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service. He gallantly gave his life for his country.
Posthumous honors
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In 1945, the United States Navy destroyer USS Richard B. Anderson (DD-786) was named in honor of Medal of Honor recipient Anderson.[2] The Port Angeles Federal Building was renamed the Richard B. Anderson Federal Building in his honor on September 2, 2008. During the renaming ceremony, a letter written by Harry Pearce was read; Pearce was one of the three men that Anderson had saved.[1]
See also
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Notes
edit- ^ a b Gottlieb, Paul (2008-09-02). "Port Angeles Federal Building gets a hero's name". Peninsula Daily News. Retrieved 2008-09-17.
- ^ "Anderson", Dictionary of American Fighting Ships.
References
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This article incorporates public domain material from websites or documents of the United States Marine Corps.
- "Private First Class Richard Beatty Anderson, USMC". Who's Who in Marine Corps History. History Division, United States Marine Corps. Archived from the original on 2013-05-08. Retrieved 2007-10-08.
- "PFC Richard B. Anderson, Medal of Honor, 1944, 4th MarDiv, Roi Island, Pacific (Medal of Honor citation)". Marines Awarded the Medal of Honor. United States Marine Corps. Archived from the original on 1999-09-21. Retrieved 2006-03-22.
- "United States Ship Richard B. Anderson DD786". The Vietnam Project. Texas Tech University. Retrieved 2006-06-22.
- "DD-786 USS Richard B. Anderson". Destroyer Photo Archive. NavSource.org. Retrieved 2006-06-22.
- "Anderson". Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships. Naval History & Heritage Command, Department of the Navy. Archived from the original on 2014-02-24. Retrieved 2006-06-22.