William A. ANDERSEN

 

anderson william a
NUMBER OF SERVICE20010079
AGE22 yo
DATE OF BIRTH8 December 1921
ETATHAWAII
FAMILY

Grand-parent : Hans & Amelia Andersen
Parent : Wilhelm A.  &  Margaret Jean Nisbet

RANKFirst Sergeant
FONCTIONInfantry
JOB BEFORE ENLISTEMENTJobHI
DATE of ENLISTEMENT12 February 1940
COMPANY BATTALION  Company H 2e Battalion
REGIMENT  120th Infantry Regiment
DIVISION  30th Infantry Division
DATE OF DEATH 16 July 1944anderson william a tombe
STATUSKIA
PLACE OF DEATH 
CEMETERYNORMANDY AMERICAN CEMETERY of Colleville

Map of Normandy American Cemetery

GRAVE
PlotRowGrave
J2025
DECORATION

Purple Heart

World War II Victory Medal 

Combat Infantryman Badge

Photo FDLM

victory medal

combat infantryman badge

 

us army div 30 120ri
STORY
 anderson william a tombe1 

Family History in Hawaii

First 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 Years

Andersen, 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.

anderson william a 1

William fishing in 1932

anderson william a2


Teodore Roosevelt High School Yearbook in Honolulu Hawaii 1940

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 Harbor

On 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 1942

Many 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
William A. Andersen, Jr. enlisted in the Hawaii Army National Guard on February 12, 1940, which was federalized on October 15. Andersen trained at Schofield Barracks in central Oahu with his father as his commanding officer.

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 Division

Andersen 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 Europe

On 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 Normandy

The 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-Lô

The 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.

anderson william a lettre

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. "

div 30

30th  INFANTRY DIVISION - OLD HICKORY

 

Activated/Activé

 Normandy/Normandie

16 Sep 1940  Days of Combat/Jour de Combat  282
   Casualties/Victimes  18 446

Entered Combat/Entré au combat

 
11 Jun 44 Normandy  

Commanding Generals/Commandants généraux

Maj. Gen. Henry D. Russell (Sep 40 - Apr 42)
Maj. Gen. William H. Simpson (May 42 - Jul 42)
Maj. Gen. Leland S. Hobbs (Sep 42 - Sep 45)

Campaigns/Campagnes

Normandy (6 Jun 44 - 24 Jul 44)
Northern France (25 Jul 44 - 14 Sep 44)
Rhineland (15 Sep 44 - 21 Mar 45)
Ardennes-Alsace (16 Dec 44 - 25 Jan 45)
Central Europe (22 Mar 45 - 11 May 45)

   

PLAN DE ROUTE DE LA CAMPAGNE - CAMPAIGN ROUTE MAP

carte campagne europe

DIVISION CHRONICLE


The 30th Infantry Division arrived in England, 22 February 1944, and trained until June. It landed at Omaha Beach, Normandy, 15 June 1944, secured the Vire-et-Taute Canal, crossed the Vire River, 7 July, and, beginning on 25 July spearheaded the St. Lo break-through. The day after the Division relieved the 1st Infantry Division near Mortain on 6 August, the German drive to Avranches began. Fighting in place with all available personnel, the 30th frustrated enemy plans and broke the enemy spearhead in a week of violent struggle, 7 to 12 August. The Division drove east through Belgium, crossing the Meuse River at Vise and Liege, 10 September. Elements entered Holland on the 12th, and Maastricht fell the next day. Taking up positions along the Wurm River, the 30th launched its attack on the Siegfried Line, 2 October 1944, and succeeded in contacting the 1st Division, 16 October, and encircling Aachen. After a rest period, the Division eliminated an enemy salient northeast of Aachen, 16 November, pushed to the Inde River at Altdorf, 28 November, then moved to rest areas. On 17 December the Division rushed south to the Malmedy-Stavelot area to help block the powerful enemy drive in the Battle of the Ardennes. It launched a counteroffensive on 13 January 1945 and reached a point 2 miles south of St. Vith, 26 January, before leaving the Battle of the Bulge and moving to an assembly area near Lierneux, 27 January, and to another near Aachen to prepare for the Roer offensive. The Roer River was crossed, 23 February 1945, near Julich. The 30th moved back for training and rehabilitation, 6 March, and on 24 March made its assault crossing of the Rhine. It pursued the enemy across Germany, mopping up enemy pockets of resistance, took Hamelin, 7 April, Braunschweig on the 12th, and helped reduce Magdeburg on the 17th. The Russians were contacted at Grunewald on the Elbe River. After a short occupation period, the 30th began moving for home, arriving 19 August 1945.

CHRONIQUE DE DIVISION


La 30th Infantry Division arrive en Angleterre le 22 février 1944 et s'entraîne jusqu'en juin. Il débarqua à Omaha Beach, en Normandie, le 15 juin 1944, sécurisa le canal de Vire-et-Taute, traversa la Vire, le 7 juillet, et, à partir du 25 juillet, fut le fer de lance de la percée de Saint-Lo. Le lendemain de la relève de la 1re division d'infanterie près de Mortain, le 6 août, la division allemande a commencé à Avranches. Combattant avec tout le personnel disponible, le 30ème ennemi frustré projette et brise le fer de lance ennemi dans une semaine de lutte violente, du 7 au 12 août. La Division a traversé la Belgique en traversant la Meuse à Vise et Liège, le 10 septembre. Les éléments sont entrés en Hollande le 12 et Maastricht est tombé le lendemain. Prenant position le long de la rivière Wurm, le 30 a lancé son attaque sur la ligne Siegfried, le 2 octobre 1944, et a réussi à contacter la 1re Division, le 16 octobre, et à encercler Aix-la-Chapelle. Après une période de repos, la Division a éliminé un saillant ennemi au nord-est d'Aix-la-Chapelle, le 16 novembre, a été poussée sur l'Inde à Altdorf, le 28 novembre, puis s'est déplacée vers des aires de repos. Le 17 décembre, la Division s'est précipitée vers le sud, dans la région de Malmedy-Stavelot, pour bloquer la puissante campagne ennemie de la bataille des Ardennes. Il lança une contre-offensive le 13 janvier 1945 et atteignit un point situé à 2 milles au sud de Saint-Vith, le 26 janvier, avant de quitter la bataille des Ardennes et de se rendre dans une zone de rassemblement près de Lierneux le 27 janvier. l'offensive Roer. La rivière Roer fut traversée, le 23 février 1945, près de Julich. Le 30 mars est revenu à l'entraînement et à la réhabilitation, le 6 mars, et le 24 mars, il a effectué son assaut en traversant le Rhin. Il a poursuivi l'ennemi à travers l'Allemagne, nettoyé les poches de résistance ennemies, pris Hamelin, le 7 avril, Braunschweig le 12, et aidé à réduire Magdeburg le 17. Les Russes ont été contactés à Grunewald sur l'Elbe. Après une courte période d'occupation, le 30 a commencé à déménager pour la maison, arrivant le 19 août 1945.

 

SOURCE INFORMATION & PHOTOArmydivs.squarespace.com

SOURCE INFORMATION & PHOTOSilent heroes - Marie-Laure COURAUD - Abmc.gov - Findagrave.com - Aad.archives.gov
PROGRAMMERClive, Frédéric & Renaud
Partagez moi ...