World War II Honoree

Herman R. Anderson

Branch of Service

U.S. Marine Corps

Hometown

Madera, California

Honored By

Orville L. Kline

RANK: COLONEL. JAPANESE PRISONER OF WAR FOR 32 MONTHS. HE WAS A UNITED STATES MARINE, WHO SERVED AS COMMANDER OF THE 2ND BATTALION, 4TH MARINE REGIMENT STATIONED AT MARIVELES BATAAN, PHILIPPINE ISLANDS. WHILE ENGAGED IN COMBAT DURING THE DEFENSE OF LUZON AND IN RETREAT TO THE BATAAN PENINSULA, THE JAPANESE INVADING FORCES CAPTURED HIM APRIL 9, 1942 DURING THE INVASION OF THE PHILIPPINE ISLANDS. FORCED TO PARTICIPATE IN THE BATAAN DEATH MARCH AND HELD CAPTIVE AT THE PRISONER OF WAR CAMP #1 CABANATUAN, TARLAC LUZON. ON DECEMBER 13, 1944 HE BOARDED THE JAPANESE ‘HELL SHIP’ ORYOKU MARU ALONG WITH HUNDREDS OF OTHER PRISONERS OF WAR DESTINED FOR JAPAN VIA FORMOSA. WHILE ANCHORED IN THE SUBIC BAY HARBOR, THE TRANSPORT WAS ATTACKED AND SUNK DECEMBER 15, 1944 BY U.S. NAVAL AIRCRAFT FIGHTERS FROM THE AIRCRAFT CARRIER, USS HORNET. AFTER SURVIVING THE ATTACK, HE AND OTHER SURVIVORS WERE LOADED ON ANOTHER ‘HELL SHIP’, THE BRAZIL MARU ON CHRISTMAS DAY, ARRIVING TAKAO (FORMOSA) ON NEW YEAR’S EVE. REPORTED AS MISSING IN ACTION, LOST AT SEA SUNDAY, DECEMBER, 31, 1944 AND HE IS MEMORIALIZED IN THE TABLETS OF THE MISSING LOCATED AT MANILA AMERICAN CEMETERY, FORT BONIFACIO, PHILIPPINE ISLANDS. DECORATIONS AND CITATIONS: SILVER STAR, LEGION OF MERIT, PURPLE HEART, COMBAT ACTION RIBBON, PRISONER OF WAR MEDAL, CHINA SERVICE MEDAL, AMERICAN CAMPAIGN MEDAL, ASIATIC-PACIFIC CAMPAIGN MEDAL WITH ONE BRONZE BATTLE STAR AND THE PHILIPPINE DEFENSE RIBBON.