William A. ANDERSEN
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NUMBER OF SERVICE | 20010079 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
AGE | 22 yo | |||||||||||||||||||||||
DATE OF BIRTH | 8 December 1921 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
ETAT | HAWAII | |||||||||||||||||||||||
FAMILY |
Grand-parent : Hans & Amelia Andersen | |||||||||||||||||||||||
RANK | First Sergeant | |||||||||||||||||||||||
FONCTION | Infantry | |||||||||||||||||||||||
JOB BEFORE ENLISTEMENT | Job | |||||||||||||||||||||||
DATE of ENLISTEMENT | 12 February 1940 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
COMPANY BATTALION | Company H 2e Battalion | |||||||||||||||||||||||
REGIMENT | 120th Infantry Regiment | |||||||||||||||||||||||
DIVISION | 30th Infantry Division | |||||||||||||||||||||||
DATE OF DEATH | 16 July 1944 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
STATUS | KIA | |||||||||||||||||||||||
PLACE OF DEATH | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
CEMETERY | NORMANDY AMERICAN CEMETERY of Colleville | |||||||||||||||||||||||
GRAVE |
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DECORATION |
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STORY | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Family History in HawaiiFirst Sergeant William A. Andersen’s grandparents, Hans and Amelia Andersen, migrated to the Hawaiian Islands from Norway in 1881. Hans worked on a Maui rubber plantation before moving his family to Oahu in the early 1900’s to work on the Waianae Sugar Plantation. Wilhelm A. Andersen, father of First Sergeant William A. Andersen, Jr., served in the Hawaii Territorial Guard as an officer. He was commissioned in late 1917, and sent to Norfolk, Virginia, to board a ship bound for Europe. However, before the vessel reached Europe, news arrived that the First World War ended. On October 26, 1920, Wilhelm Andersen, Sr. married World War I army nurse and Minnesota native, Margaret Jean Nisbet, in Honolulu. On December 8, 1921, they had their first and only child, William A. Andersen, Jr. Though the family lived in Kaimuki, Andersen, Jr. spent a great deal of time with family on the North Shore of Oahu. He also traveled frequently with his family, including a trip with his mother to visit her relatives in Canada. School YearsAndersen, Jr. attended Aliiolani School and Roosevelt High School in Honolulu. He participated in a number of school clubs and sports teams. He played for the Varsity football team, and rose to the rank of lieutenant in the band. He served as a member of the school high court his senior year, deciding cases of student misconduct, but he also found an outlet for his lighter side with the school Glee Club. On February 12, 1940, while he was still in school, he enlisted in the Hawaii Army National Guard. At the same time he also held an apprenticeship at the American Can Company. Later in 1940, Andersen graduated from Roosevelt High School. William fishing in 1932
On October 15, 1940, President Roosevelt federalized the Hawaii Army National Guard prior to America’s entrance into the war. It consisted of two regiments, the 298th and the 299th Infantry Regiments, the former of which was commanded by Colonel Wilhelm A. Andersen, Sr. The 298th Infantry Regiment trained and operated at Schofield Barracks on Oahu. Bombing of Pearl HarborOn December 7, 1941, when the Japanese launched a surprise attack on Oahu. In a matter of hours, 2,403 Americans were killed, 18 ships sunk, and hundreds of aircraft destroyed. World War II reached America’s shores. Soon after the attack, Lieutenant General Walter Short was installed as the Military Governor, and Martial Law fell over the islands. In those early days, there was much panic and concern from both the military and civilians as to whether the Japanese would come back, perhaps with an invasion force. The population lived under constant fear. Blackout protocols were enforced at night and soldiers patrolled the streets. The military sought to fortify the islands in the event of another attack. Nearly 250 public air raid shelters were built. Civilians dug defensive trenches and installed barbed wire. Civil liberties were also suppressed, including freedom of the press, the right to a trial by jury, and Fourth Amendment protections against unlawful searches and seizures. Unlike other parts of the country, most Japanese Americans from Hawaii were not interned because they were simply too many. As the war effort in the Pacific intensified, thousands of American soldiers, Marines, and sailors would pass through the Hawaiian Islands on their way to the Pacific Theater. Hawaii National Guard in 1942Many soldiers in the Hawaii Army National Guard were sent to different divisions, while those of Japanese descent would be consolidated into the 100th Infantry Battalion. 298th Regiment of the Hawaii Army National Guard Andersen was a model soldier, but one who had fun as well. In November 1940, he was promoted to sergeant, and a few months later he entertained some of his fellow troops with his singing and acting skills at a show. On his enlistment records he listed acting as his prior profession. On December 7, 1941 he and his fellow soldiers witnessed the attack on Pearl Harbor first hand while assigned to the defense of the windward coast of Oahu. Joining the 30th Infantry DivisionAndersen was assigned to the 30th Infantry Division, 120th Regiment, 2nd Battalion, Company H for the duration of the war. He transferred from Hawaii to Camp Blanding, Florida to join his new unit. Although originally composed of National Guard troops from the Carolinas, after the outbreak of war, many of its men and officers were assigned to new divisions formed for the war effort. Therefore, Andersen was part of the infusion of men sent to replace those losses. During this time, he trained at Fort Benning, Georgia; Camp Forrest, Tennessee; and Camp Atterbury, Indiana. Leaving for EuropeOn February 12, 1944, the 30th Infantry Division departed Boston. The 120th Regiment, set sail on the SS Argentina. Andersen arrived in Glasgow, Scotland on February 22 and was transported south to the training grounds at Bognor Regis, England. The 30th Infantry Division trained here for Operation Overlord until April 3, 1944 when they moved north to Aylesbury and Great Missenden. In June they moved again to Southampton prior to crossing the English Channel. Fighting in NormandyThe 30th Infantry Division arrived in Normandy on the evening of June 13. The unit engaged in capturing towns inland from the beachhead. Progress was slowed by the presence of the immense hedgerows known as the Bocage. They consisted of a mound of dirt (usually three feet high), trees, and shrubs. The Bocage was used to separate parcels of land, but the Germans found that it also allowed them to conceal tanks, artillery, and infantry units. The 30th Infantry Division played a critical role in the capture of Saint-Jean-de-Daye. They attacked across the Vire River on July 7, with Andersen’s 120th Regiment advancing across the Vire Canal in the early afternoon. The 120th Regiment faced strong resistance from the German defenders, but the Americans emerged successful, and soon Saint-Jean-de-Daye was captured by American forces. Despite a German counterattack, the American troops held their ground. Movement Towards Saint-LôThe 30th Infantry Division advanced towards the Saint-Lô-Perier Highway on July 15. The following day, the 120th Regiment would be the lead element in the division’s advance along the Saint-Lô-Carentan Road. Andersen’s 2nd Battalion advanced on the left side of the road at 10:00 a.m. on July 16. The unit encountered significant artillery fire as well as German armor. Later this day, Andersen led his company down a street along the road, and was killed by German sniper fire near Pont-Hébert. Shortly after his death, the 30th Infantry Division would play a key role in Operation Cobra. Under the command of Lieutenant General Omar Bradley they pushed past Saint-Lô south to Avranches to facilitate the breakout from the Normandy region. Letter on the death of William 03/01/45 In a correspondence with the army, Colonel Wilhelm A. Andersen and his wife requested information on the circumstances of the death of their son. After the war, Andersen, Sr. became an ardent supporter of a memorial living in Hawaii to honor the soldiers who made the ultimate sacrifice. He said "Mrs. Andersen and I have our only son buried in Normandy. He goes to sleep in a military grave in the country where he fell. But he and others have died so that we have peace in the world. I am for a living memorial - something that will definitely promote peace in the world. " | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
30th INFANTRY DIVISION - OLD HICKORY
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SOURCE INFORMATION & PHOTO | Silent heroes - Marie-Laure COURAUD - Abmc.gov - Findagrave.com - Aad.archives.gov |
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PROGRAMMER | Clive, Frédéric & Renaud |