RICHARD BEATTY ANDERSON MEDAL OF HONOR MEMORIAL GRAVE STONE

RANK AND ORGANIZATION: PRIVATE FIRST CLASS, U.S. MARINE CORPS. WHILE SERVING WITH THE 4TH MARINE DIVISION DURING ACTION AGAINST ENEMY JAPANESE FORCES ON ROI ISLAND, KWAJALEIN ATOLL, MARSHALL ISLANDS, 1 FEBRUARY 1944. ENTERING A SHELL CRATER OCCUPIED BY 3 OTHER MARINES, PFC. ANDERSON WAS PREPARING TO THROW A GRENADE AT AN ENEMY POSITION WHEN IT SLIPPED FROM HIS HANDS AND ROLLED TOWARD THE MEN AT THE BOTTOM OF THE HOLE. WITH INSUFFICIENT TIME TO RETRIEVE THE ARMED WEAPON AND THROW IT. PFC. ANDERSON FEARLESSLY CHOSE TO SACRIFICE HIMSELF AND SAVE HIS COMPANIONS BY HURLING HIS BODY UPON THE GRENADE AND TAKING THE FULL IMPACT OF THE EXPLOSION. HIS PERSONAL VALOR AND EXCEPTIONAL SPIRIT OF LOYALTY IN THE FACE OF ALMOST CERTAIN DEATH WERE IN KEEPING WITH THE HIGHEST TRADITIONS OF THE U.S. NAVAL SERVICE. HE GALLANTLY GAVE HIS LIFE FOR HIS COUNTRY.