Benjamin Waldrep ANDERSON

"Ben"

Parents : Olin Browne ANDERSON and Lora Waldrep ANDERSON 

Married : Elizabeth Wheeler ANDERSON 

CEMTERY TEMPORARY of  Saint James N°3578

Story of Cemetery Temporary 

Map of St James American Cemetery

Citation for Distinguished Service Cross:

"The President of the United States takes pride in presenting the Distinguished Service Cross (Posthumously) to Benjamin W. Anderson (0-414270), Captain (Infantry), U.S. Army, for extraordinary heroism in connection with military operations against an armed enemy while serving with the 13th Infantry Regiment, 8th Infantry Division, in action against enemy forces on 27 August 1944. Captain Anderson's outstanding leadership, personal bravery and zealous devotion to duty at the cost of his life, exemplify the highest traditions of the military forces of the United States and reflect great credit upon himself, the 8th Infantry Division, and the United States Army."

The men of Anderson's K Company recommended him for the Silver Star with this citation: 'during the attack on July 13, 1944, he displayed courage far beyond the call of duty by his continuous, untiring activities on the front lines of his company and with complete disregard for his own personal safety led his command into the attack. During heavy enemy artillery and small arms fire, Captain Anderson stayed with his men, exposing himself so as to give them all a few words of encouragement and at the same time gathering information as to the whereabouts of the enemy gun positions and obtaining information that was vital to the further advance and ultimate success of the company.'

The Official Silver Star (Posthumous) Citation Reads:

Captain Benjamin W. Anderson, 0414270, Infantry Company K, 13th Infantry Regiment, for gallantry in action on 13 July 1944 in and around ***, Normandy, France. Commanding Company K, Captain Anderson was engaged in the first fire fight with the enemy. The enemy were heavily entrenched with earth work, dugouts and pill boxes and using every means at their disposal in delaying the progress of Captain Anderson's Company. Enemy artillery were subjecting the advance to intense shelling. Throughout the day and night Captain Anderson, with utter disregard for his own personal safety, exposed himself to enemy fire by continually moving through the forward elements of his command encouraging his men by his own example. By his outstanding example of courage, his inspired company was able to take their objective. Entered the military service from South Carolina.

The following letter was provided by Fletcher Anderson, Clemson Class of 2004. It is a letter from his grandfather Lt (j.g.) Joe Anderson after learning that his brother Benjamin had been killer in France. Fletcher stated "I don't think he ever got over losing his brother."

8^th  INFANTRY DIVISION - GOLDEN ARROW  

Activated/Activé	Normandy/Normandie
1 Jul 1940	Days of Combat/Jour de Combat  266
	Casualties/Victimes 13 986
Entered Combat/Entré au combat
8 Jul 1944 Normandy
Commanding Generals/Commandants généraux Maj. Gen. Philip B. Peyton (Jun 40 - Dec 40) Maj. Gen. James P. Marley (Dec 40 - Feb 41) Maj. Gen. William E. Shedd (Feb 41 - Feb 41) Maj. Gen. Henry Terrell, Jr. (Mar 41 - Mar 41) Maj. Gen. James P. Marley (Apr 41 - Jul 42) Maj. Gen. Paul E. Peabody (Aug 42 - Jan 43) Maj. Gen. William C. McMahon (Feb 43 - Jul 44) Maj. Gen. Donald A. Stroh (Jul 44 - Dec 44) Maj. Gen. William G. Weaver (Dec 44 - Feb 45) Maj. Gen. Bryant E. Moore (Feb 45 - Nov 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) Central Europe (22 Mar 45 - 11 May 45)
PLAN DE ROUTE DE LA CAMPAGNE - CAMPAIGN ROUTE MAP
DIVISION CHRONICLE After training in Ireland the 8th Infantry Division landed on Utah Beach, Normandy, 4 July 1944, and entered combat on the 7th. Fighting through the hedgerows, it crossed the Ay River, 26 July, pushed through Rennes, 8 August, and attacked Brest in September. The Crozon Peninsula was cleared, 19 September, and the Division drove across France to Luxembourg, moved to the Hurtgen Forest, 20 November, cleared Hurtgen on the 28th and Brandenburg, 3 December, and pushed on to the Roer. That river was crossed on 23 February 1945, Duren taken on the 25th and the Erft Canal crossed on the 28th. The 8th reached the Rhine near Rodenkirchen, 7 March, and maintained positions along the river near Koln. On 6 April the Division attacked northwest to aid in the destruction of enemy forces in the Ruhr Pocket, and by the 17th had completed its mission. After security duty, the Division, under operational control of the British Second Army, drove across the Elbe, 1 May, and penetrated to Schwerin when the war in Europe ended.	CHRONIQUE DE DIVISION Après s'être entraîné en Irlande, la 8th Infantry Division débarque à Utah Beach, en Normandie, le 4 juillet 1944, et entre en combat le 7. Traversant les haies, il franchit la rivière Ay, le 26 juillet, traverse Rennes le 8 août et attaque Brest en septembre. La péninsule de Crozon a été défrichée le 19 septembre et la Division a traversé la France jusqu'au Luxembourg, s'est installée dans la forêt de Hurtgen le 20 novembre, a défriché Hurtgen le 28 et Brandebourg le 3 décembre et s'est dirigée vers la Roer. Cette rivière fut franchie le 23 février 1945, Duren fut prise le 25 et le canal Erft traversa le 28. Le 8 a atteint le Rhin près de Rodenkirchen, le 7 mars, et a maintenu des positions le long de la rivière près de Cologne. Le 6 avril, la division attaqua le nord-ouest pour aider à la destruction des forces ennemies dans la poche de la Ruhr. Le 17, elle avait achevé sa mission. Après la sécurité, la Division, sous le contrôle opérationnel de la deuxième armée britannique, traversa l'Elbe le 1er mai et pénétra à Schwerin à la fin de la guerre en Europe.