James Anderson Jr.

Private first class James Anderson jr (January 22, 1947-febuary 28, 1967)

James Anderson jr was a United States marine who posthumously received the Medal of Honor for heroism while serving in Vietnam in February 1967. When his Medal of Honor was awarded on August 21, 1968, he became the first African American U.S. Marine recipient of the medal.

Joining the U.S Marine Corps in 1966, Anderson took part in Operation Prairie II. During this operation, Anderson’s platoon was advancing through the jungle near Cam Lo Combat Base when they were ambushed by North Vietnamese forces. Anderson jumped on a grenade thrown by a Vietnamese soldier and was killed in action. This action saved other Marines’ lives, and Anderson was awarded the medal of Honor posthumously for his deed.

The leaflet above was passed out and posted in McComb, Mississippi in July 1965. It was written by a group of African American’s in the community who met together after learning a classmate of theirs, John D Shaw, had been killed in action in Vietnam. Shaw, who was 23 years old, had participated in the 1961 demonstrations in McComb.

In the memory of James Anderson Jr.

The United States Navy prepositioning ship, USNS PFC James Anderson Jr, (T-AK 3002) is named in Honor of Medal of Honor recipient James Anderson Jr.

The name James Anderson Jr. Is inscribed on the Vietnam Veterans Memorial (“The Wall”) on panel 15E-Row 112.

James Anderson Jr. Memorial Park in Carson, California, at the corner of Wilmington and University was named after James Anderson Jr.

Anderson Avenue in Compton, California, is named after him.

The Downlow Saga, a 2017 novel by author Sheldon McCormick, is dedicated in memory of James Anderson Jr.

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