Johannes Seigfried Anderson

First Sergeant, U.S. Army

Medal of Honor Recipient

World War I

First Sergeant Johannes S. Anderson (30 July 1887 - 15 April 1950) was a U.S. Army soldier who received the U.S. military's highest award for valor, the Medal of Honor, for his heroic actions during World War I.

Little is known of Johannes S. Anderson's early life, other than that he was born in Finland, and entered the U.S. Army in Chicago, IL. On 8 October 1918, while fighting near Consenvoye, France, his unit was pinned down by heavy German machine gun fire. First Sergeant Anderson volunteered to leave his unit in an attempt to flank the enemy machine gun emplacement. He made his advance under heavy fire, over open ground, reaching the emplacement and killing the machine gun crew. He silenced the machine gun, captured it, and returned with twenty-three German prisoners of war. For his heroism, he received the Medal of Honor.

Medal of Honor

Rank and organization: First Sergeant, U.S. Army, Company B, 132d Infantry, 33rd Division.

Place and date: At Consenvoye, France, 8 October 1918.

Citation: While his company was being held up by intense artillery and machinegun fire, 1st Sgt. Anderson, without aid, voluntarily left the company and worked his way to the rear of the nest that was offering the most stubborn resistance. His advance was made through an open area and under constant hostile fire, but the mission was successfully accomplished, and he not only silenced the gun and captured it, but also brought back with him 23 prisoners.

Death and Burial

First Sergeant Johannes S. Anderson died on 15 April 1950. He is buried at Acacia Park Cemetery and Mausoleum in Chicago, IL, in Poplar Section, Lot NE 25, Block 1, Grave 2.