World War II Honoree

Vincent A. Anderson

Branch of Service

U.S. Coast Guard

Hometown

Central Islip, New York

Honored By

Michael McTiernan

He enlisted in the U.S. Coast Guard on August 21, 1940. He received his training at Ellis Island, New York, and then reported to the Great Lakes Station, where he served on a patrol boat for 18 months. After the outbreak of the war he was placed aboard the Coast Guard manned Maritime Training Ship on the East coast. Late in 1942 he was transferred to a small craft for duty in the 5th Naval District and in 1943 to the West coast, where he served aboard the USS Hoquiam PF-5 and promoted to Chief Machinist's Mate. He served on this vessel in the north and west Pacific for 17 months, then after a leave in the U.S., was assigned to the USS Wm. Black, a transport, which took him to India, Arabia, Egypt, Ceylon and Africa. He also served aboard the Coast Guard Cutter Hawthorne at New London, Connecticut. he was awarded the American Defense Ribbon, the American Theatre Ribbon, the Asiatic-Pacific Ribbon, the European Theatre Ribbon, the WWII Victory Medal, and the Coast Guard Good Conduct Medal. On August 23, 1946, he received his discharge.