Honor knows no color: the story of Pfc. Anderson

Story by Lance Cpl. Bill Waterstreet

Pfc. James Anderson, Jr., who was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor for heroism in Vietnam, was the first African-American Marine to receive the nation's highest award. He was born Jan. 22, 1947, in Los Angeles, and attended Centennial Senior High School in Compton, Calif. After graduating from senior high school, he attended Los Angeles Harbor Junior College for a year and a half.

Anderson left college to enlist in the U.S. Marine Corps on Feb. 17, 1966, and attended recruit training with 1st Recruit Training Battalion, Marine Corps Recruit Depot, San Diego. He was promoted to private first class upon graduation from recruit training in August, 1966. Transferred to Camp Pendleton, Calif., he received further training with the 2nd Battalion, 2nd Infantry Training Regiment.

In December 1966, Anderson arrived in the Republic of Vietnam, where he served as a rifleman with Company F, 2nd Battalion, 3rd Marines, 3rd Marine Division in the Quang Tri Province.

According to his Medal of Honor citation, while serving in Vietnam on Feb. 28, 1967, Company F was advancing in dense jungle northwest of Cam Lo in an effort to extract a heavily besieged reconnaissance patrol.

Anderson's platoon was the lead element and had advanced only about 200 meters when they were brought under extremely intense enemy small arms and automatic weapons fire. The platoon reacted swiftly, getting on line as best they could in the thick terrain, and began returning fire. Anderson found himself tightly bunched together with the other members of the platoon only 20 meters from the enemy positions.

As the fire fight continued, several of the men were wounded by the deadly enemy assault. Suddenly, an enemy grenade landed in the midst of the Marines and rolled alongside Anderson's head. Unhesitatingly, and with complete disregard for his own personal safety, he reached out, grasped the grenade, pulled it to his chest and curled around it as it went off. Although several Marines received shrapnel from the grenade, his body absorbed the major force of the explosion.

In this singularly heroic act, Anderson saved his comrades from serious injury and possible death. He gallantly gave his life for his country.

A complete list of his medals and decorations includes: the Medal of Honor, 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.