John Everett Anderson was born at Oswego, Tennessee, the son of Jacob Coby Anderson and Vica Davis. He is listed on the tablets of the Missing at the Sicily-Rome American Cemetery, Nettuno, Italy.
His death occurred when his landing ship HMS LST-422 tank landing ship sank when it hit a mine offshore at Anzio, Italy. The report stated that HMS LST-422 was manned by a British crew and in an attempt to land at the Allied-held beachhead at Anzio, Italy it was buffeted by high waves. At 0100, the crew anchored offshore to resume landing the next day. The soldiers were sleeping on deck when the winds and tide caused the LST to drift into a submerged mine about 12 miles off the coast. It tore a fifty foot hole in the ship’s hull and detonated munitions and fuel carried within the hold.
The explosions dislodged vehicles that were secured on the decks and littered the top with debris pinning soldiers. A troop compartment door was jammed and trapped many men as the ship sank. Those that attempted escape succumbed to hypothermia in the frigid water even though LST 301 and other vessels promptly responded to the emergency.
300 men of his battalion could not be recovered. The total lost was 454 Americans and 29 British sailors.
Also lost their lives in this event;
PVT William M. Atkins
PFC Arvel H. Hall
- Rank: Private
- Date of birth: 20 November 1920
- Date of death: 26 January 1944
- County: Campbell
- Hometown: Jellico
- Service Branch: Army/Army Air Forces
- Division/Assignment: 83rd Chemical Battalion
- Theater: Europe
- Conflict: World War II
- Awards: Purple Heart
- Burial/Memorial Location: Sicily-Rome American Cemetery, Nettuno, Italy
- Location In Memorial: Pillar VII, Middle Panel
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