World War II Honoree

Beauford T. Anderson

Branch of Service

U.S. Army

Hometown

Eagle, Wisconsin

Honored By

Ralph Bozorth

AWARDED THE CONGRESSIONAL MEDAL OF HONOR. TECHNICAL SERGEANT U.S. ARMY, 381ST INFANTRY, 96TH INFANTRY DIVISION. PLACE AND DATE: OKINAWA, APRIL 13, 1945. ENTERED SERVICE AT: SOLDIERS GROVE, WISCONSIN. BIRTH: EAGLE, WISCONSIN. GO NUMBER 63, JUNE 27, 1946. CITATION: HE DISPLAYED CONSPICUOUS GALLANTRY AND INTREPIDITY ABOVE AND BEYOND THE CALL OF DUTY. WHEN A POWERFULLY CONDUCTED PRE-DAWN JAPANESE COUNTERATTACK STRUCK HIS UNIT'S FLANK, HE ORDERED HIS MEN TO TAKE COVER IN AN OLD TOMB, AND THEN, ARMED ONLY WITH A CARBINE, FACED THE ONSLAUGHT ALONE. AFTER EMPTYING 1 MAGAZINE AT POINTBLANK RANGE INTO THE SCREAMING ATTACKERS, HE SEIZED AN ENEMY MORTAR DUD AND THREW IT BACK AMONG THE CHARGING JAPANESE, KILLING SEVERAL AS IT BURST. SECURING A BOX OF MORTAR SHELLS, HE EXTRACTED THE SAFETY PINS, BANGED THE BASES UPON A ROCK TO ARM THEM AND PROCEEDED ALTERNATELY TO HURL SHELLS AND FIRE HIS PIECE AMONG THE FANATICAL FOE, FINALLY FORCING THEM TO WITHDRAW. DESPITE THE PROTESTS OF HIS COMRADES AND BLEEDING PROFUSELY FROM A SEVERE SHRAPNEL WOUND, HE MADE HIS WAY TO HIS COMPANY COMMANDER TO REPORT THE ACTION. HIS INTREPID CONDUCT IN THE FACE OF OVERWHELMING ODDS ACCOUNTED FOR 25 ENEMY KILLED AND SEVERAL MACHINE GUNS AND KNEE MORTARS DESTROYED, THUS SINGLE-HANDEDLY REMOVING A SERIOUS THREAT TO THE COMPANY'S FLANK.