World War II Honoree

Robert Sterling Anderson

Branch of Service

U.S. Army

Hometown

Bremerton, Washington

Honored By

Orville L. Kline

Rank: Private. Inducted into the United States Army September 23, 1941 with induction at Camp Wolters, Texas. After completing the required training phases, he was deployed to the Philippine Islands, and based at Camp John Hay Location: Baguio City, Luzon Island. He served as a Rifleman, assigned to Hotel Company, Second Battalion, an element of the Thirty-First Infantry Regiment, attached to the Philippine Army Division. His regiment participated in the Battle of the Philippines, the conquest of the Philippine Islands by the Imperial Japanese Armed Forces. While in retreat to the Bataan Peninsula, he was captured Thursday, April 9, 1942 during the ensuing Bataan Battle. The enemy transferred him to the City of Puerto Princesa, Palawan Island, with incarceration at the Prisoner of War Camp. The Palawan Massacre took his life December 14, 1944, with burial in the Prisoner cemetery. In the post-war era, this Soldiers’ family requested that he be buried with Military Honors at Willamette National Cemetery, with interment August 9, 1951 in Portland, Oregon. In his Memory and Honor, this American Patriot was awarded the Purple Heart posthumously, for his Heroism and ultimate sacrifice.