James Anderson Jr.

Pfc. James Anderson Jr., a 20-year-old Marine from Compton, California, became the first Black Marine to receive the Medal of Honor for his actions during the Vietnam War.

James Anderson Jr. was born on Jan. 22, 1947, in Los Angeles. He grew up in nearby Compton, the first boy in a family that already included five daughters. He also had a younger brother, Jack. His parents, Aggiethine and James Anderson Sr., raised their children in a household rooted in faith.

Those who knew Anderson described him as gentle, caring and deeply religious. He played clarinet in the band at Centennial High School and sang in the church choir. He graduated 10th in his class in 1964.

After high school, Anderson enrolled at Los Angeles Harbor Junior College to study pre-law. He spent a year and a half there before making a different choice. 

With the Vietnam War escalating, Anderson enlisted in the Marine Corps on Feb. 17, 1966. Mary also mentioned that her brother once said he couldn't kill anyone. Yet he signed up anyway.

Anderson reported to the 1st Recruit Training Battalion at Marine Corps Recruit Depot San Diego. He earned a promotion to private first class upon graduating boot camp in August of 1966. He then moved to Camp Pendleton for advanced infantry training.

By December 1966, Anderson was in the Republic of Vietnam. He was assigned as a rifleman with Company F, 2nd Battalion, 3rd Marines, 3rd Marine Division, operating in Quang Tri Province. The area sat just south of the Demilitarized Zone separating North and South Vietnam. It was among the most dangerous areas to be stationed in the entire war.

The 3rd Marine Division had been battling elements of the North Vietnamese Army's 324B Division in the region since the previous summer. Operation Prairie, a six-month campaign launched in August 1966, had cost 226 Marine lives while inflicting an estimated 1,700 enemy casualties. 

When that operation ended on Jan. 31, 1967, Operation Prairie II picked up immediately. Its mission was the same. Find and destroy enemy forces infiltrating south across the DMZ.

Brig. Gen. Michael P. Ryan commanded the forward element of the 3rd Marine Division during Prairie II. He had three infantry battalions, two reconnaissance companies and supporting arms at his disposal. The early weeks of the operation were quiet. That changed sharply at the end of February.

On the morning of Feb. 27, 1967, a Marine reconnaissance patrol operating roughly five kilometers northwest of Cam Lo Combat Base stumbled into the enemy. The patrol tried to ambush two North Vietnamese soldiers. Those soldiers turned out to be the lead element of a company from the 812th Regiment, 324B Division. The enemy force quickly surrounded the recon Marines, who called for assistance.

Multiple Marine units, including elements of 2nd Battalion, 3rd Marines, moved to help them before the fighting escalated. Anderson's unit, Company F, was among them. On the morning of Feb. 28, the North Vietnamese launched a massive attack on Marine positions with over 150 mortar rounds and ground assaults from three directions

The company had pushed through dense jungle, trying to reach the besieged reconnaissance patrol. Anderson's platoon led the advance. They made it roughly 200 meters before enemy small arms and automatic weapons fire tore into them.

The platoon scrambled to return fire in the thick vegetation. Anderson found himself on his stomach, packed shoulder to shoulder with fellow Marines barely 20 meters from the North Vietnamese positions. Several Marines had already been hit. The jungle was so dense the men could hardly move.

Then a grenade landed in the middle of the group. It rolled right alongside Anderson's head.

There was no time to throw it back. Anderson reached out, grabbed the grenade and pulled it tight against his chest. He curled his body around it just before it detonated. The blast killed him instantly. Several nearby Marines caught shrapnel, but Anderson's body absorbed the brunt of the explosion. 

Many members of his platoon survived because of his actions. Anderson had just turned 20 a few weeks prior to his death.

Maj. William T. Macy delivered the news to Anderson's parents. 

This narrative was derived from a profile done by Allen Frazier for MIlitary.com. CLICK HERE to read the full story of PFC James Anderson Jr.