Captain Edwin Alexander Anderson was a sailor in the U.S. Navy who received the Medal of Honor for his actions on April 22, 1914 in Vera Cruz, Mexico during the 1914 Veracruz expedition. At the time he was serving with 2d Regiment of Bluejackets. Anderson was 53 years old.
13 other service members also received the Medal of Honor for actions on the same day. He later rose to the rank of Admiral.
Anderson was born on July 16, 1860 in Wilmington, New Hanover County, North Carolina. Anderson died on September 23, 1933 in Washington, District of Columbia, at the age of 73. He is buried at Arlington National Cemetery in Arlington, Virginia. His medal is held by North Carolina Museum of History, Raleigh, NC.
Anderson is one of 56 Medal of Honor recipients from the 1914 Veracruz expedition and one of 22 credited to North Carolina.
Official Medal of Honor citation
For extraordinary heroism in battle, engagement of Vera Cruz, 22 April 1914, in command of the 2d Seaman Regiment. Marching his regiment across the open space in front of the Naval Academy and other buildings, Capt. Anderson unexpectedly met a heavy fire from riflemen, machine guns and one-pounders, which caused part of his command to break and fall back, many casualties occurring amongst them at the time. His indifference to the heavy fire, to which he himself was exposed at the head of his regiment, showed him to be fearless and courageous in battle.
Citation text: U.S. Government, public domain.
Other decorations and honors
Besides the Medal of Honor, Edwin Alexander Anderson received:
Source: Wikidata. Gold chips link to our guide to that decoration.
Battles and campaigns
Also served in: World War I, Mexican Revolution, Philippine–American War, Spanish–American War.
Life beyond the battlefield
- Education: United States Naval Academy, Naval War College
Source: Wikidata.
Places
Veteran resources, cemeteries and meeting places in North Carolina →
Timeline
- July 16, 1860Born in Wilmington, New Hanover County, North Carolina
- April 22, 1914Act of valor — Vera Cruz, MexicoAge 53. 2d Regiment of Bluejackets
- September 23, 1933Died in Washington, District of ColumbiaAge 73.
- Resting placeArlington National CemeteryArlington, Virginia
Biography
Edwin Alexander Anderson Jr. (16 July 1860 – 23 September 1933) was a United States Navy officer who received the Medal of Honor for actions during the 1914 American intervention at Veracruz. He retired from the Navy in 1924, as an admiral.
From the Wikipedia article “Edwin Anderson Jr.”, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Read the full article →
