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This Week in Marine History: PFC James Anderson Jr.

This Week in Marine History: PFC James Anderson Jr.

August 21 marks an important day in Marine Corps history—the awarding of the first Medal of Honor to an African-American Marine, Private First Class James Anderson Jr.

PFC Anderson was born in 1947 in Los Angeles, California. After graduating from high school, PFC Anderson spent a year and a half at a Los Angeles-area junior college before enlisting in the Marines in early 1966.

After completing recruit training at MCRD San Diego, PFC Anderson was assigned to Camp Pendleton for further training before arriving in Viet Nam in December of 1966 to serve as a rifleman with the 2nd Platoon, Company F, 2nd Battalion, 3rd Marines, 3rd Marine Division.

Medal of Honor Action

On February 28, 1967, while on patrol outside of the village of Cam Lo, Quang Tri Province, PFC Anderson’s platoon came under heavy enemy fire. During the ensuing firefight, an enemy grenade landed near PFC Anderson and a number of other Marines. PFC Anderson pulled the grenade to his chest, curled around it, and absorbed the majority of the blast with his body, heroically saving the lives of the Marines around him at the cost of his own.

Legacy

On August 21, 1968, Secretary of the Navy Paul R. Ignatius posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor to PFC James Anderson Jr. for heroism in Vietnam, the first time an African-American Marine received this medal (and one of only five African-American Marines to ever be awarded this medal). The award was received by his parents, Mr. and Mrs. James Anderson, Sr., at Marine Barracks 8th & I, in Washington D.C. This event was also notable in that it indicated the Marine Corps was evolving and that some of the long-standing prejudices within the Corps (namely those against minority Marines) were being eroded.

In 1983, the United States Navy acquired the Danish merchant ship Emma Maersk under a long-term charter. The ship was placed in service under the direction of the Military Sealift Command and renamed USNS PFC James Anderson Jr in honor of PFC Anderson. USNS PFC James Anderson Jr. was subsequently based at Diego Garcia in the Indian Ocean and carried equipment to support a Marine expeditionary brigade until 2009, when it was sold for scrapping.

In addition to the Medal of Honor, PFC Anderson’s medals and decorations include: the Purple Heart, the National Defense Service Medal, the Vietnam Service Medal with one bronze star, the Vietnamese Military Merit Medal, the Vietnamese Gallantry Cross with Palm, and the Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal.

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Comments

Roger H Cox Cpl Lima 3 / 4 - May 4, 2020

Foxtrot 2 / 3 was attempting to come to the aid of Lima 3 /4 . The location was Hill 124 just to the SE of Camp Carrol. Lima had come to the aid of recon who had run into a Regiment of NVA in an ambush. They killed 4 in the ambush before realizing it was the point element of a Regiment. The call for help brought Lima after an all night forced March. Lima suffered heavy losses including all the tanks accompanying them in the next 36 hours. Three more Companies were dispatched to the area before the NVA retreated. Among the Marine dead was the Battalion Commander. It was a long night. Thanks to the relief effort we survived. I would repay the debt in operation Kingfisher. Semper fi.

Les Jemiola - May 4, 2020

Our chow hall was named after him at Kaneohe Bay. I was with Dragons Platoon Weapons Company 1/3. We saw his picture everyday! Brave Marine! Semper Fi my brother!

Joe calvet - May 4, 2020

Semper fi!

ferdie ingram - May 4, 2020

Semper Fi Hero, and rest in peace.

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