Each February, Black Historical past Month shines a lightweight on African Individuals whose contributions and experiences formed the nation. A few of these tales come from battlefields 1000’s of miles from residence. One belongs to Pfc. James Anderson Jr., a 20-year-old Marine from Compton, California, who grew to become the primary Black Marine to obtain the Medal of Honor for his actions through the Vietnam Battle.
Anderson was killed on Feb. 28, 1967, after throwing himself on an enemy grenade to defend the Marines round him throughout a vicious firefight in Quang Tri Province. He had been in Vietnam for lower than three months.
A Child From Compton
Anderson was born on Jan. 22, 1947, in Los Angeles. He grew up in close by Compton, the primary boy in a household that already included 5 daughters. He additionally had a youthful brother, Jack. His dad and mom, Aggiethine and James Anderson Sr., raised their youngsters in a family rooted in religion.
Those that knew Anderson described him as mild, caring and deeply non secular. He performed clarinet within the band at Centennial Excessive College and sang within the church choir. He graduated tenth in his class in 1964. His niece, Denise Johnson-Cross, advised the Division of Protection in 2023 that Anderson took half in organizations just like the Boys and Women Golf equipment and was a wonderful dancer.
His sister Mary later advised the Los Angeles Occasions that Anderson’s future appeared clear.
“His complete life was centered on being a minister and dealing for the Lord,” she stated. “That was his function.”
After highschool, Anderson enrolled at Los Angeles Harbor Junior School to review pre-law. He spent a yr and a half there earlier than making a distinct selection.
With the Vietnam Battle escalating, Anderson enlisted within the Marine Corps on Feb. 17, 1966. Mary additionally talked about that her brother as soon as stated he could not kill anybody. But he signed up anyway.
Cross additionally recalled the choice a long time later. “This was a selection that he made,” she stated. “What strikes me now that I’m a grandmother is that he was solely 19.”
Earlier than leaving for the Marine Corps, Anderson drove a 1965 Chevrolet Impala painted Night Orchid, a uncommon shade solely supplied for a single mannequin yr. He would let Cross sit behind the wheel whereas he washed and polished it.
Shortly after he shipped out for Vietnam, somebody stole the automotive.
From San Diego to the DMZ
Anderson reported to the first Recruit Coaching Battalion at Marine Corps Recruit Depot San Diego. He earned a promotion to non-public firstclass upon graduating boot camp in August of 1966. He then moved to Camp Pendleton for superior infantry coaching.
By December 1966, Anderson was within the Republic of Vietnam. He was assigned as a rifleman with Firm F, 2nd Battalion, third Marines, third Marine Division, working in Quang Tri Province. The realm sat simply south of the Demilitarized Zone separating North and South Vietnam. It was among the many most harmful areas to be stationed in your complete warfare.
The third Marine Division had been battling components of the North Vietnamese Army’s 324B Division within the area for the reason that earlier summer time. Operation Prairie, a six-month marketing campaign launched in August 1966, had price 226 Marine lives whereas inflicting an estimated 1,700 enemy casualties.
When that operation ended on Jan. 31, 1967, Operation Prairie II picked up instantly. Its mission was the identical. Discover and destroy enemy forces infiltrating south throughout the DMZ.
Brig. Gen. Michael P. Ryan commanded the ahead aspect of the third Marine Division throughout Prairie II. He had three infantry battalions, two reconnaissance firms and supporting arms at his disposal. The early weeks of the operation had been quiet. That modified sharply on the finish of February.
Ambush Northwest of Cam Lo
On the morning of Feb. 27, 1967, a Marine reconnaissance patrol working roughly 5 kilometers northwest of Cam Lo Fight Base stumbled into the enemy. The patrol tried to ambush two North Vietnamese troopers. These troopers turned out to be the lead aspect of an organization from the 812th Regiment, 324B Division. The enemy drive rapidly surrounded the recon Marines, who known as for help.
A number of Marine items, together with components of 2nd Battalion, third Marines, moved to assist them earlier than the preventing escalated. Anderson’s unit, Firm F, was amongst them. On the morning of Feb. 28, the North Vietnamese launched an enormous assault on Marine positions with over 150 mortar rounds and floor assaults from three instructions
The corporate had pushed via dense jungle, attempting to achieve the besieged reconnaissance patrol. Anderson’s platoon led the advance. They made it roughly 200 meters earlier than enemy small arms and computerized weapons hearth tore into them.
The platoon scrambled to return hearth within the thick vegetation. Anderson discovered himself on his abdomen, packed shoulder to shoulder with fellow Marines barely 20 meters from the North Vietnamese positions. A number of Marines had already been hit. The jungle was so dense the lads might hardly transfer.
Then a grenade landed in the midst of the group. It rolled proper alongside Anderson’s head.
There was no time to throw it again. Anderson reached out, grabbed the grenade and pulled it tight towards his chest. He curled his physique round it simply earlier than it detonated. The blast killed him immediately. A number of close by Marines caught shrapnel, however Anderson’s physique absorbed the brunt of the explosion.
Many members of his platoon survived due to his actions. Anderson had simply turned 20 a number of weeks previous to his loss of life.
Maj. William T. Macy delivered the information to Anderson’s dad and mom.
“They took it effectively and bravely,” Macy stated. “They’re that form of household, proud and powerful and grateful for having such a son.”
The First Black Marine Medal of Honor Recipient
On Aug. 21, 1968, Secretary of the Navy Paul R. Ignatius posthumously awarded Anderson the Medal of Honor at Marine Barracks Washington, D.C. His dad and mom, James Sr. and Aggiethine, accepted the medal on behalf of their son.
The ceremony marked a major second in American army historical past. Anderson grew to become the primary Black Marine in historical past to obtain the nation’s highest award for valor.
It was a key second in Marine Corps historical past. Black males had not even been permitted to serve within the Marine Corps till 1942, when the primary Black recruits skilled on the segregated facility at Montford Level, North Carolina. Those who served in World Battle II and the Korean Battle had been typically mistreated, ignored for awards and handed over for promotions.
Anderson was certainly one of 23 African Individuals who earned the Medal of Honor through the Vietnam Battle. He was additionally certainly one of solely six Black Marines to ever obtain the ornament. Anderson incomes the medal signaled that the Marine Corps, an establishment with a protracted and complex historical past on race, was evolving for the higher.
Mary understood her brother’s sacrifice. He acted, she stated, “due to his religion and his perception in mankind. He all the time cared about different individuals.”
Anderson was buried at Lincoln Memorial Park in Carson, California. His identify is etched on Panel 15E, Row 112, of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington, D.C.
A Marine Corps Hero
In 1972, the Marine Corps devoted Anderson Corridor on Marine Corps Base Hawaii, residence to his former unit. In 1983, the Navy acquired a Danish service provider vessel and renamed it USNS Pfc. James Anderson Jr.
The ship carried gear to help a Marine expeditionary brigade from Diego Garcia within the Indian Ocean till 2009. A memorial park in Carson and Anderson Avenue in Compton additionally bears his identify.
In August 2024, the put up workplace at 101 S. Willowbrook Ave. in Compton was formally renamed the Pfc. James Anderson Jr. Put up Workplace Constructing after a invoice launched by Rep. Nanette Barragan was signed into regulation by President Joe Biden. Retired Sgt. Maj. Charles Cook dinner Jr. attended the ceremony.
“A 20-year-old Black man felt the necessity to shield his platoon of 35-40 Marines and in that he gave his life,” Cook dinner stated. “That is a Black man who had went via every kind of stuff earlier than he received there to do one thing larger than him. That is a Black veteran.”
The put up workplace renaming held a particular connection to the Anderson household’s previous. After the Medal of Honor was awarded in 1968, a whole bunch of condolence letters from Individuals of all races and backgrounds poured into Compton from throughout the nation.
Many did not know the household’s tackle. They merely wrote to “the mom of the Medal of Honor recipient” and the letters had been delivered. Cross stated these letters possible handed via the very put up workplace that now bears Anderson’s identify.
Even 59 years later, Anderson’s sacrifice stays an inspiration for all Marines. His identify is now on buildings, streets and memorials from Hawaii to Washington, D.C. The quiet child from Compton who wished to evangelise sermons ended up changing into the primary Black Marine to earn the Medal of Honor by sacrificing his life to avoid wasting others.
