World War II Honoree

Charles T. Anderson

Branch of Service

U.S. Navy

Hometown

Elsinore, California

Honored By

Orville L. Kline

RANK: CARPENTER’S MATE 2ND CLASS. SERVED ABOARD THE BATTLESHIP, USS ARIZONA, (BB-39). ON THE MORNING OF DECEMBER 7, 1941, AT 0800 HOURS, HE WAS KILLED IN ACTION WHEN JAPANESE NAVAL AIRCRAFT FROM 6 AIRCRAFT CARRIERS ATTACKED THE U.S. NAVAL PACIFIC FLEET AT PEARL HARBOR, THE ARMY AIRFIELDS, SCHOFIELD BARRACKS AND OTHER MILITARY INSTALLATIONS ON OAHU, HAWAII. HE WAS ONBOARD THE BATTLESHIP WHEN IT SUSTAINED SEVERAL BOMB STRIKES, WITH ONE BOMB PENETRATING THE DECK AND EXPLODED IN THE BLACK POWER MAGAZINE. HE EITHER DIED FROM THE EXPLOSION AND FIRE OR WAS TRAPPED BELOW DECK BY THE RAPID SINKING OF HIS SHIP. REPORTED TO BE BURIED AT SEA, INTERNED WITHIN THE ARIZONA’S HULL ALONG WITH OTHER SHIPMATES AND IS MEMORIALIZED AT THE HONOLULU MEMORIAL, HONOLULU, HAWAII. AWARDED THE PURPLE HEART.