Edwin Anderson, Jr.

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Edwin Anderson, Jr. bigraphy, stories - United States Navy Medal of Honor recipient

Edwin Anderson, Jr. : biography

July 16, 1860 – September 23, 1933

Edwin Alexander Anderson, Jr. (July 16, 1860 – September 23, 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.

Spanish-American War

At that time, the United States Navy threw a blockade around Cuba. By early May 1898, Marblehead was operating off the south coast of Cuba, off the port of Cienfuegos—a cable terminus important to Spanish communications—in company with the converted yacht , (Gunboat No. 7), the revenue cutter and the collier .

To sever this vital link, Captain Bowman H. McCalla, senior officer in the group, planned an operation to cut the cable at Cienfuegos, designating Lieutenant Cameron McRae Winslow as the commanding officer, with Lieutenant (Junior Grade) Anderson as his second-in-command. Winslow accordingly gave Anderson command of the sailing launches from Marblehead.

After the guns of the two warships smashed Spanish positions ashore, the boats moved in to carry out the operation. Anderson’s boat quickly snatched up the first cable and, assisted by Nashville’s boat, cut it. They soon grapneled a second cable and were in the process of cutting it, too, when the Spaniards opened a slow fire that soon grew to volley proportions, from rifles, automatic weapons and one-pounders. After a Spanish bullet felled the coxswain of Anderson’s boat, Anderson took the helm and began steering the boat seaward, directing his men to keep down between the thwarts. The Spanish fire, however wounded three more men and holed the boat in many places. After the action, Anderson had nothing but praise for his sailors and marines, commending their intelligent and cheerful work in the exhausting labor of picking up and cutting the heavy cables, working even under heavy fire until ordered to stop. The operation proved successful in another aspect. The ships gunfire decimated a large Spanish force sent to the area to contest the operation.

Subsequently, Anderson delivered the prize steamer Adula to Savannah, Georgia, in July 1898, and was given command of another Spanish prize, the gunboat Alvarado. Recommended for advancement in grade for his heroism at Cienfuegos in August 1898, this advancement (five numbers in grade) came finally on February 11, 1901.

Early life and career

Anderson was born in Wilmington, North Carolina. He was appointed a cadet midshipman to the United States Naval Academy from the 3rd Congressional District of North Carolina, on June 28, 1878, and graduated with the Class of 1882, receiving his ensign’s stripe on July 1, 1884 after the customary two year’s sea duty.

Anderson advanced slowly up the promotion ladder, such advancements in those times being received on basis of seniority; he remained an ensign for ten years before becoming a lieutenant, junior grade. Detached from (Cruiser No. 12), Anderson reported on board (Cruiser No. 11) on January 28, 1897, and was serving in that ship at the time of the outbreak of the Spanish-American War in the spring of 1898.

Post-War Advancement, Medal of Honor

Over the 1900s (decade), Anderson advanced to commander; among his tours of duty included a stint at the Navy Recruiting Station, Cincinnati, Ohio and at the Mare Island Navy Yard as ordnance officer before being given command of (Gunboat No. 1) in the autumn of 1910. He briefly commanded (Battleship No. 4) during the assemblage the fleet in New York City before being detached for duty as Captain of the Yard at the Philadelphia Navy Yard.

Late in 1913, Anderson was given command of and while in command of that ship, took part in the American intervention at Veracruz, Mexico, in April 1914. Given command of the Second Seaman Regiment, Anderson led that bluejacket landing force ashore and so distinguished himself in the fighting that followed that he received the Medal of Honor.

Subsequently attending the Naval War College, Anderson served as Supervisor of Naval Auxiliary Reserves, Norfolk, and later as Commander, Squadron 3, Patrol Force, assigned defense duties out of Key West, Florida, during World War I, with as his flagship. Appointed a rear admiral to rank from August 31, 1917, Anderson commanded Squadron 1, Patrol Force, Atlantic Fleet, for the duration of the First World War.