(Photo credit: Congressional Medal of Honor Society)
February 28, 1967, U.S. marines of Company F, 2nd Battalion, 3rd Marine Regiment, 3rd Marine Division were advancing through dense jungle northwest of Cam Lo, Vietnam. The platoon was on mission to rescue and extract a heavily besieged reconnaissance patrol. As they advanced, they came under intense enemy fire. The marines reacted quickly and as best as they could in the thickness of the jungle. The marines sought cover and began returning fire at the enemy soldiers only about twenty meters from their position.
Pfc. James Anderson, Jr. found himself on the ground in a tightly packed group of his fellow marines. Several of the marines received wounds as the firefight raged on. Suddenly, a hand grenade landed among the marines only a few feet from Pfc. Anderson's head. Without hesitation and without consideration of his own safety, Pfc. Anderson grabbed the grenade, clutched it to his chest, and curled himself around it. His body absorbed the blast. Pfc. James Anderson, Jr. was immediately killed, but his fellow marines around him survived with only minor injuries.
Pfc. James Anderson, Jr. had just celebrated his twentieth birthday the previous January 22 as well as the completion of his first year with the US Marine Corps. He was awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor, posthumously, on August 21, 1967 which was received by his parents, Aggiethine and James Anderson, Sr.
In an interview years later, his sister, Mary, relayed that although Anderson had been trained as a rifleman, he had said that he couldn't kill any one. She further stated that he did what he did "because of his faith and his belief in mankind. He always cared about other people". His niece, Denise Johnson-Cross, added that Anderson was active in service organizations in his youth and that he wanted to be a minister.
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Although some heroes may become famous, heroism is not synonymous with fame. Fame can come as a result of accomplishment, talent or charisma, or it can come from some of the strangest or most perverse reasons. Heroes don't strive for fame; heroes become heroes because they put others before themselves and do the demanding and selfless things when the demanding and selfless things need to be done.
Regardless of era or ethnicity, we love heroes. We admire their resilience, strength, courage, and selflessness. Heroes persevere through adversity to rise above villains, trials, and circumstances. They display the heroic virtues we want to cultivate and characterize in ourselves. We connect with their struggles and their weaknesses because it makes them relatable and gives us hope that we too could become like them and achieve what they have achieved.
That heroes are important to us is evidenced through the creating of fictional heroes in our sagas, literature, and media. Four thousand year ago, the Sumerians had Gilgamesh. Twenty-seven hundred years ago, the Greeks had Odysseus, Heracles, Hector, and Achilles. A thousand years ago, the Scandinavian peoples had Beowulf, and the Britons had King Arthur. Eight hundred years ago, the Britons had Robin Hood. More recently, the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) film series profited nearly thirty billion dollars from its superhero movies through worldwide fame.
We especially love real-life heroes. When something heroic happens, it can take many forms and many levels of heroism. Many heroes go unnoticed, sometimes because their profession (such as firefighters, law enforcement, and medics) pushes them toward heroic deeds.
But there's one thing in common in the making of real-life heroes: they are ordinary people, faced with an extraordinary situation, performing exceptional deeds.
- [Video] A Mexican cowboy confronted an armed robber at great peril to himself.
- [Video] A stranger saved a choking baby with a device he'd had in his car for years yet unused.
- [Video] A man with legitimate reasons to distrust police saved an officer's life.
- [Video] [BodyCam] Police officers saved a young boy who had been electrocuted by a downed power line. [WARNING: These videos are difficult to watch]
- [Article] [Article] A young man leapt into action to disarm a gunman firing an AR-15 in a Waffle House that killed four people.
Heroes like these are absolutely amazing and phenomenal people worthy of admiration and respect for their responses when faced with crises.
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People like Pfc. James Anderson take heroism to the ultimate level. He was an absolute legend. However, his incredible sacrifice reminds me of an even greater sacrifice of a hero that uniquely wasn't an ordinary person.
Pfc. James Anderson, Jr. voluntarily became a marine. He entered a war which resulted in the death of over fifty thousand US military personnel. When he was face to face with death, he willingly sacrificed his own life with a conscious decision in order that others would live. As his sister said, "because of his faith and his belief in mankind. He cared about other people". Those who lived by Pfc. Anderson's sacrifice surely kept a life-long special place in their hearts for him in admiration and gratitude. Because of his sacrifice, those marines would live, possibly return home, and start families with sons & daughters of their own.
Lord Jesus, God who took on flesh, voluntarily became a man. He entered a war which results in the death of every person the world. When He was face to face with death, He willingly sacrificed His own life with a conscious decision in order that others would live - forever. As the Bible says "God showed His love for us in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us." Those who accept Christ's sacrifice will surely keep an eternal special place in their hearts for Him through the Holy Spirit. Because of His sacrifice, those people will live eternally, gain a new home with God, and become sons & daughters in His family.
As much as we honor James Anderson and his sacrifice, how much more should we honor Jesus and His sacrifice.
Pfc. Anderson's heroic sacrifice saved the temporal physical lives of those marines. Jesus' sacrifice saves the eternal spiritual lives of those who accept His sacrifice and receive Him as Lord. When He rose from the dead three days later He showed that He was master over sin and death, and He offers eternal life to all who follow Him.
We are understandably and rightfully awed and moved by the heroism and selfless sacrifice of James Anderson.
Do we feel an appropriate level awe and admiration for what Jesus' selfless sacrifice did for us and provides us?
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See more about Pfc. James Anderson, Jr. and other courageous Congressional Medal of Honor recipients at the links below:
US Department of Defense - Medal of Honor Recipient: James Anderson, Jr (search for "Medal of Honor Monday" for other articles.)
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