Serving as a soldier in the U.S. Army, Technical Sergeant Beauford Theodore Anderson received the Medal of Honor for his actions on April 13, 1945 in Okinawa, Ryukyu Islands during World War II. At the time he was serving with Weapons Platoon, Company A, 1st Battalion, 381st Infantry, 96th Infantry Division. Anderson was 22 years old.
One other service member also received the Medal of Honor for actions on the same day. The medal was presented on June 14, 1946. He later rose to the rank of First Lieutenant.
Anderson was born on July 6, 1922 in Eagle, Waukesha County, Wisconsin. His Medal of Honor is credited to Soldiers Grove, Crawford County, Wisconsin. Anderson died on November 7, 1996 in Salinas, California, at the age of 74. He is buried at Arlington National Cemetery. His medal is held by Wisconsin Veterans Museum, Madison, WI.
Anderson is one of 474 Medal of Honor recipients from World War II and one of 50 credited to Wisconsin.
Official Medal of Honor 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 one magazine at point-blank 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 a severe shrapnel wound, he made his way to his company commander to report the action. TSgt. Anderson's intrepid conduct in the face of overwhelming odds accounted for 25 enemy killed and several machine guns and knee mortars destroyed, thus singlehandedly removing a serious threat to the company's flank.
Citation text: U.S. Government, public domain.
Other decorations and honors
Besides the Medal of Honor, Beauford Theodore Anderson received:
Source: Wikidata. Gold chips link to our guide to that decoration.
Battles and campaigns
Also served in: World War II.
Life beyond the battlefield
- Offices held: mayor of a place in California
- Occupations: politician
Source: Wikidata.
Places
Veteran resources, cemeteries and meeting places in Wisconsin →
Timeline
- July 6, 1922Born in Eagle, Waukesha County, Wisconsin
- April 13, 1945Act of valor — Okinawa, Ryukyu IslandsAge 22. Weapons Platoon, Company A, 1st Battalion, 381st Infantry, 96th Infantry Division
- June 14, 1946Medal of Honor presented
- November 7, 1996Died in Salinas, CaliforniaAge 74.
- Resting placeArlington National Cemetery
Biography
Beauford Theodore "Andy" Anderson (July 6, 1922 – November 7, 1996) was a United States Army soldier who received the Medal of Honor for his actions during World War II.
From the Wikipedia article “Beauford T. Anderson”, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Read the full article →
