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First Name: Beauford

Last Name: Anderson

Birthplace: Eagle, WI, USA

Gender: Male

Branch: Army (1784 - present)



Home of Record: WI
Middle Name: Theodore



Date of Birth: 06 July 1922

Date of Death: 07 November 1996

Rank: Second Lieutenant

Years Served: 1942-1952
Beauford Theodore Anderson
'Andy'

   
Engagements:
•  World War II (1941 - 1945)

Biography:

Beauford Theodore Anderson
Second Lieutenant, U.S. Army
Medal of Honor Recipient
World War II

Second Lieutenant Beauford Theodore "Andy" Anderson (6 July 1922 - 7 November 1996) was a U.S. Army soldier who received the Medal of Honor for his actions during World War II.

Beauford Theodore Anderson was born on 6 July 1922 in Eagle, WI, and moved to nearby Soldiers Grove before joining the Army.

Enlisting in the U.S. Army in 1942, Anderson was sent to the South West Pacific Theater in July 1944. He earned the Bronze Star while serving on the island of Leyte in the Philippines. On 13 April 1945, he was participating in the Battle of Okinawa as a technical sergeant in the 381st Infantry Regiment, 96th Infantry Division. During a Japanese counterattack at Kakazu Ridge on that day, he single-handedly held off a flanking force by alternately firing his carbine and throwing activated mortar shells. Although seriously wounded by shrapnel during the action, he refused medical evacuation until he had reported the situation to his commander.

Medal of Honor

Rank and organization: Technical Sergeant, U.S. Army, 381st Infantry, 96th Infantry Division.

Place and date: Okinawa, 13 April 1945.

Citation: He displayed conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity above and beyond the call of duty. When a powerfully conducted predawn 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 Japs, 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 severe shrapnel wound, he made his way to his company commander to report the action. T/Sgt. Anderson's intrepid conduct in the face of overwhelming odds accounted for 25 enemies killed and several machineguns and knee mortars destroyed, thus single-handedly removing a serious threat to the company's flank.

His Medal of Honor was presented to him by President Harry S. Truman on Memorial Day, 27 May 1946.

Anderson served in the United States Army Reserve after the war, eventually gaining a commission as a Second Lieutenant. He left the military on 30 September 1952, after ten years of service.

Post-Military Life

After returning from the war, Anderson lived in Beloit, WI, and later spent time in Mackinac Island, MI. Ultimately, he relocated to Monterey County, CA, where he served as mayor and city councilman of Seaside and as a Monterey County Supervisor. He lived on a cattle ranch near Hunter Liggett and spent the last years of his life in Salinas.

Medals and Awards

Medal of Honor
Bronze Star Medal

Death and Burial

Beauford Theodore Anderson died on 7 November 1996. His wife of 50 years, Phyllis, died the following month on 23 December. They are buried together in Arlington National Cemetery in Arlington, VA, in Section 44, Lot 292.



Honoree ID: 1270   Created by: MHOH

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