World War II Honoree

Carl Anderson

Branch of Service

U.S. Army

Hometown

Dorchester, Wisconsin

Honored By

Robert S. Cox

Relationship

Relationship Not Determined

ONE OF HIS MOST VIVID MEMORIES OF THE WAR TOOK PLACE WHILE HE WAS AT SEA ABOARD A TRANSPORT SHIP (HIS MAJESTY'S SHIP HMS CHESHIRE) TRANSPORTING TROOPS OF THE 66TH INFANTRY 'BLACK PANTHER' DIVISION TO MAINLAND EUROPE TO PROVIDE REINFORCEMNTS FOR THE BATTLE OF THE BULGE. WHILE EN ROUTE, ANOTHER SISTER TRANSPORT SHIP THAT WAS SAILING NEARBY, THE SS LEOPOLDVILLE, WAS TORPEDOED BY A GERMAN SUBMARINE WHILE CROSSING THE ENGLISH CHANNEL AND NEAR THE FRENCH COAST. THE SHIP SANK AND SOME 800 SOLDIERS AND CREW WERE KILLED. THIS SEA DISASTER WAS THE MOST SIGNIFICANT LOSS OF LIFE ON AN ALLIED TROOPSHIP IN THE WAR. HE SERVED OVERSEAS IN THE EUROPEAN-AFRICAN-MIDDLE EASTERN THEATER, IN THE EUROPEAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS (ETO) DURING THE WAR. PARTICIPATED IN THE NORTHERN FRANCE CAMPAIGN. AWARDED THE GOOD CONDUCT MEDAL, AMERICAN CAMPAIGN MEDAL, EUROPEAN-AFRICAN-MIDDLE EASTERN CAMPAIGN MEDAL, WWII VICTORY MEDAL, AND ARMY OF OCCUPATION MEDAL. HONORABLY DISCHARGED WITH THE RANK OF SERGEANT AND ISSUED THE HONORABLE SERVICE LAPEL BUTTON.