World War II Honoree
Killed In Action
Joseph Adren Anderson
Branch of Service
U.S. Navy
Hometown
East Douglas, Massachusetts
Honored By
Robert S. Cox
ENLISTED IN MILITARY SERVICE ON MAY 21, 1943. ONE OF THE ‘BOYS OF DOUGLAS’ WHO SERVED DURING THE WAR. HIS SHIP SAILED FROM BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS IN JANUARY, 1944 TO PEARL HARBOR, HAWAII. SERVED OVERSEAS IN THE ASIATIC-PACIFIC THEATER ABOARD THE HEAVY CRUISER USS CANBERRA (CA-70). PARTICIPATED IN BOMBARDMENT SUPPORT OPERATIONS AT ENIWETOK ATOLL IN THE MARSHALL ISLANDS IN LATE FEBRUARY, 1944. IN MARCH-APRIL, 1944, SUPPORTED AIR RAIDS AT YAP, ULITHI ATOLL, WOLEAI ATOLL AND TRUK IN THE CAROLINE ISLANDS. IN APRIL-MAY 1944, SUPPORTED LANDINGS AT HOLLANDIA, WAKDE AND MOROTAI ISLANDS IN THE DUTCH EAST INDIES, AND AIR ATTACKS ON TRUK. IN MAY-JUNE, 1944, SUPPORTED RAIDS ON MARCUS AND WAKE ISLANDS IN THE NORTHWEST PACIFIC, TOOK PART IN THE ATTACKS IN THE MARIANA AND PALAU ISLANDS, PARTICIPATED IN THE BATTLE OF THE PHILIPPINE SEA, AND SHELLED JAPANESE BASES IN THE BONIN ISLANDS. IN AUGUST-SEPTEMBER, 1944, ENGAGED IN RAIDS ON THE PALAU AND PHILIPPINE ISLANDS. HIS SHIP WAS STRUCK BY AN AERIAL TORPEDO ON OCTOBER 13, 1944 OFF FORMOSA, KILLING 23 MEMBERS OF THE CREW. SEAMAN FIRST CLASS ANDERSON WAS KILLED IN ACTION ABOARD THE USS CANBERRA AND POSTHUMOUSLY AWARDED THE PURPLE HEART. ALSO AWARDED THE COMBAT ACTION RIBBON, GOOD CONDUCT MEDAL, ASIATIC-PACIFIC CAMPAIGN MEDAL, AND WWII VICTORY MEDAL. AWARDED THE PHILIPPINE LIBERATION MEDAL FOR SERVICE IN THE LIBERATION OF THE PHILIPPINES.