|
Cherokee County WWII War Stories
|
JOHN ANDERSON
WOUNDED
AT TARAWA - Marine Private John Anderson was wounded during the battle
for the Island of Tarawa in the Pacific. Private Anderson's
father, Guy Anderson, revealed the details to the Cherokee Times, which
printed the story on Jan. 15, 1944.
The Aurelia High School
graduate and Cherokee county marine was hit in the leg by shell
fragments while assaulting the Gilbert Island Japanese bastion in the
Pacific. According to the report he had been operated on and in a
letter to his father said he expected to be returned to the U.S.
shortly.
Pvt. Anderson had been overseas about four months when
he was wounded. The Battle for Tarawa was one of the most intense
and bloodiest battles of the war against the Japanese.
U.S.
forces launched a sea borne assault against the heavily fortified
island. Casualties on both sides were heavy. One of those
casualties was Marine Private John Anderson, a u.S. Marine from
Cherokee county, Iowa. For being wounded in action while engaging
the enemy, he was awarded the Purple Heart.
Source:
Cherokee County Historical Society Newsletter, Vol 15, Num 1, Jan 1980,
Sec V, Pg 8. From the Cherokee Daily Times of Jan. 15, 1944.
Return to War Stories Index
Return to Home Page
