World War II Honoree

James W. Anderson

Branch of Service

U.S. Navy

Hometown

Troy, Mississippi

Honored By

A Grateful American

HE SERVED IN THE U.S. NAVY WHERE HE PARTICIPATED IN THE TOKYO RAID IN 1942, THE FIRST BATTLE OF THE SOLOMON ISLANDS AND OCCUPATION IN AUGUST OF 1942, THE BATTLE OF OMTONG JAVA IN AUGUST OF 1942, AND ENGAGEMENT WITH AN ENEMY SUBMARINE IN WHICH THE ENEMY SUBMARINE WAS SUNK; AND THE FOLLOWING OPERATIONS IN NEW GEORGIA GROUP: VELLA LAVELLA OCCUPATION, NIGHT ANTI BARGE SWEEP, TREASURE ISLAND BOUGAINVILLE, CARRIER STRIKE ON BIKE, AIR STRIKE ON RABOUG, AND THE MARCHILL CAMPAIGN. AS A MEMBER OF THE SKELETON CREW FROM THE USS GRAYSON, HE WAS PUT ON THE ABANDONED USS VERIO TO SALVAGE THAT VESSEL, AND A BARGE LOADED WITH BOMBS AND AVIATION GASOLINE. HE DISPLAYED THE HIGHEST QUALITIES OF INITIATIVE, JUDGMENT AND PROFESSIONAL SKILL. THROUGH HIS UNTIRING EFFORTS, THE VERIO AND HER ENTIRE CREW WERE BROUGHT SAFELY INTO PORT AFTER A HAZARDOUS 400 MILE PASSAGE THROUGH AN ACTIVE COMBAT AREA UNDER CONSTANT OBSERVATION OF THE ENEMY.