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group of Marines within about 20 meters of the enemy
and began firing back at them.

All of a sudden, a grenade landed within feet of
Anderson's head. Without hesitation, Anderson self-
lessly grabbed the grenade, pulled it into his chest and
wrapped himself around it before it detonated.

Anderson's body absorbed the blast. He was immedi-
ately killed. Thanks to his actions, though, the Marines
around him survived with just minor injuries.

Anderson's extraordinary valor and self-sacrifice
were a testament to his courage, and that's why he
received the Medal of Honor posthumously on Aug.
21, 1968. His parents accepted it on his behalf from
Navy Secretary Paul R. Ignatius during a ceremony
at Marine Barracks Washington. The honor made
Anderson the first Black Marine to receive the nation's
highest award for valor.

Anderson's sister, Mary, told the Los Angeles Times
that he did what he did in Vietnam "because of his
faith and his belief in mankind. He always cared about
other people."

Anderson's sacrifice has not been forgotten. In 1983,
the U.S. Navy showed its appreciation for his gallantry
by renaming a maritime prepositioning ship after him.
The USNS Pfc. James Anderson Jr. was based in the
Indian Ocean and carried equipment to support a
Marine expeditionary brigade until 2009. His name
also adorns Anderson Hall at Marine Corps Base
Hawaii.

More recently, a bill passed by Congress in December
2022 will rename a post office in Anderson's home-
town for the distinguished Marine. The bill was
introduced in 2020 by U.S. Rep. Nanette Barragan
of California, who first heard about Anderson from
Compton Mayor Emma Sharif. Johnson-Cross said
that Sharif was visiting Anderson's burial site at
Lincoln Memorial Park when she noticed he didn't
have the appropriate headstone for a Medal of Honor
recipient. Sharif brought it to Barragan's attention,
who got the ball rolling on the post office legislation.

A park in Carson, California, near Anderson's home,
was also named in his honor.

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Mariner Spring 2023 Volume 66 Issue 051823.indd 17