August 4, 2025 • 15 mins
Russel Eugene Anderson was born in Chicago IL and served in WW2 aboard the USS President Hayes in the Pacific. The President Hayes was an attack transport and was a part of the Battle of Leyte and Okinawa - they also provided emergency assistance in the bay of Manus when the USS Mount Hood exploded due to an accident.
During WW2 men and women were deployed throughout Europe and the Pacific and their only means to communicate home was through letters, handwritten notes to assure those at home they were alright and waiting for letters from their loved ones to provide semblance of support and normalcy. Over the years I have collected letters with the intention of returning to family - but first I’d like to share who these men were, where were they from and the context of where the soldiers were and what role they played in the War.
Please sit back and get to know these members of the greatest generation. It is my hope that All letters in these podcasts will return to family. If you recognize the soldiers or families, please reach out to me at and help me get the letters home
During WW2 men and women were deployed throughout Europe and the Pacific and their only means to communicate home was through letters, handwritten notes to assure those at home they were alright and waiting for letters from their loved ones to provide semblance of support and normalcy. Over the years I have collected letters with the intention of returning to family - but first I’d like to share who these men were, where were they from and the context of where the soldiers were and what role they played in the War.
Please sit back and get to know these members of the greatest generation. It is my hope that All letters in these podcasts will return to family. If you recognize the soldiers or families, please reach out to me at and help me get the letters home
Mark as Played
Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:22):
Welcome back to Warren Family Letters Home. I'm your podcast
host Lauren Muse. This podcast is about letters, real letters
written home by US servicemen and women during World War II.
My mission is very simple, to return World War II
history to families, one letter and one story at a time.
(00:45):
It's easy to forget the lives that came before the
stories that we remember. But after every letter, excuse me
as a time capsule, a voice echoing forward from a foxhole,
a barracks bunk, a ship, or a field hospital. I
real hope that someone listening today hears a familiar name
or place and reaches out. Because these letters Home belong home.
(01:14):
The letter in today's episode I found it out. It
was written by Machinists Mate third Class Russell Eugene Andresson
of the United States Navy. Russell Eugene Anderson was born
on August twenty fourth, nineteen twenty four, in Chicago, Illinois,
(01:39):
the oldest of four children born to Genie and Lilah Anderson.
And He was also the grandson of German and Swedish immigrants.
In the nineteen thirty census, we find five year old
Russell recorded living with his family. His father is supporting
his young family by working as a foreman at Illinois Bell.
(01:59):
By nineteen forty Russell is fifteen, still in school, and
his father is a repair department foreman for the same company.
On December twelfth, nineteen forty two, just after his eighteenth birthday,
Russell registered for the draft. His registration described him as
having hazel eyes, brown hair, and a ruddy complexion. Curiously,
(02:24):
the fields for height and weight were left blank on
his card, but it did note in the comments that
he had an appendix scar. His occupation was listed simply
as student. About six months later, on June twenty ninth,
nineteen forty three, Russell was called up to serve in
the Navy. By September twenty second, nineteen forty three, he
(02:48):
was a fireman third class at the Naval Personnel Distribution
Center in Pleasanton, California, part of a complex known as
Fleet City, and it was a critical hub for personnel
heading two or from the Pacific. The complex included Camp Shoemaker,
Camp Parks, which was a CB training center, and Shoemaker
(03:11):
Naval Hospital. Fireman third class Anderson was assigned to the
USS President Hayes on November twenty third, nineteen forty three.
The fireman rank is considered part of the engine room crew,
responsible for the ship's propulsion and mechanical systems. The USS
(03:31):
President Hayes was a President Jackson class attack transport already
active in the South Pacific, shuttling men and supplies between
Tonga Numia and New Zealand. When Russell came aboard, they
were delivering reinforcements to Guadalcanal. In March nineteen forty four,
(03:53):
the President Hayes participated in the landing at Emira Island,
part of General MacArthur's island hopping camp. While the landing
faced little resistance, the Allies supported the ground assault with
heavy air and sea cover to prevent Japanese counter attacks.
Through June of nineteen forty four, the President Hayes continued
(04:16):
its work transporting troops and supplies between the islands. In
July it participated in the invasion of Guam, carrying the
fourth Marines. Somewhere between June and August, Russell's rank was
updated to Machinist's Mate, third class, and on August twenty ninth,
(04:37):
nineteen forty four, he wrote a letter home to his
fourteen year old sister Audrey back in Chicago. Dear Audrey,
I and not you should be apologizing for not writing more.
You and Mom are my two reliable letter writers. When
all hope is gone, I always receive a letter from
(04:58):
one of you. Been hitting the beach a lot this summer,
got a nice coat of a tan, I'll bet. How
did you like Brookfield Zoo? I've never been, but I
always wanted to see the place. How has this beach
in Michigan been swimming there much yet? Has Jackie learned
to swim yet? Mom isn't working too hard out on
(05:19):
the farm, is she? There must be a lot of
work from what she wrote? Did you have a good
vacation this year? School isn't far off now? Says You'll
be hitting the books again. The farther you go, the
harder it gets. So learn what you can and don't
be afraid to ask questions. That's what the old witches
are there for. We'll close now, Cutie, and write again soon.
(05:44):
All my love for now and always, your big bro
Russell waiting day and night, write any time. This letter
reflects something I often find in letters to younger siblings.
No matter what the service member is experiencing, they try
to normalize things for their little brothers and sisters, talking
(06:05):
about schools and vacations and the mundane rhythms of home,
anything but the war. October of nineteen forty four found
the President Hayes at the Battle of Leet. In nineteen
forty one, the Philippines were a territory of the United States,
and shortly after the bombing of Pearl Harbor, the Philippines
(06:26):
were invaded and taken over by the Japanese. The island
of Leet is the eighth largest island in the Philippines,
and it was chosen by General MacArthur as the place
he would fulfill his promise to return the US to
the Philippines. The Battle of Leied was the largest naval
battle ever battle ever fought in the Pacific, and ended
(06:49):
in victory for the Americans, with General MacArthur strolling up
through the surf with his troops on October twentieth to
declare I have returned. Through the end of October, the
President Hayes shuttled men and supplies between the islands and
then was set to retire to Manus for supplies and
(07:09):
some r and r. The island of Manus is located
in the Admiralty Islands of Papua New Guinea and housed
a large Allied naval base which supported the US seventh
Fleet and a portion of the Pacific Fleet. After the war,
it would be the site of the war Trials of
the Pacific. After arriving at manus Russell wrote again to
(07:34):
Audrey on November eighth, nineteen forty four, Dearest Audrey, finally
getting down to writing one of my favorite gals. How
is each and every little thing going with you?
Speaker 2 (07:45):
Honey?
Speaker 1 (07:46):
You, being a woman, ought to know what's going on.
How about some gossip? Been taking in any new shows
or getting around the city while not at school? Ah? Yes, school?
How are all those sad sack teachers treating you these days?
Not too harshly? I hope, sweet stuff? How are you
(08:07):
doing in that cooking class? Advancing right along learning how
to make some excellent gut stuffings. I presume better close
now give my love to the family, All my love, Russell.
Two days after that letter, tragedy struck. Along with the
President Hayes. Also in Manusport were approximately two hundred other ships,
(08:33):
mostly cargo transports tankers, one of which was the USS
mount Hood, a fleet ammunition ship of fourteen thousand tons.
The mount Hood was anchored in the center of the harbor,
approximately four miles from the harbor entry and about two
miles offshore. On November tenth, nineteen forty four, the USS
(08:58):
mount Hood exploded and the blast was catastrophic. The explosion
dug a crater twenty four feet deep on the seafloor.
The largest piece of the ship recovered was just sixteen
by ten feet. All aboard were killed. Nearby ships were devastated.
(09:18):
The USS Mendanio, only three hundred and fifty yards away,
lost eighty two men. Shrapnel flew up to two thousand
yards Eighteen ships were damaged. In total, four hundred and
thirty two men were killed and three hundred and seventy
one were injured. The USS President Hayes, was in the
harbor that day. Though undamaged, her crew sprang into action,
(09:43):
fighting fires and helping as many survivors as they could.
The board of inquiry that was assembled concluded that the
explosion occurred when a TPX loaded depth bomb struck a
hatch while being loaded in to the number three or
four hold. They also concluded that other safety problems existed
(10:05):
on the ship, such as boosters, fuses, detonators. They were
all stored together in one hold, and that pyrotechnics and
napalm gel and scendiaries were stowed in an open temporary
wood and tarpaper hot hut on deck under hazardous conditions
near the hatch to the number three and four hold.
(10:31):
Russell remained aboard the President Hayes throughout the end of
the war. He took part in the Battle of Okinawa
and supported the occupation of Japan, and later helped with
the joyous job of bringing troops home during Operation Magic Carpet.
On the ship roster dated January first, nineteen forty six,
(10:52):
Machinist mate Anderson is still aboard the President Hayes, and
his service record shows that he was honorably discharged on
April seventh, nineteen forty six, and he returned to Chicago.
On the nineteen fifty census, Russell is listed living at
home working as an installer for Illinois Bell alongside his
(11:13):
father and his brother. When the Korean War broke out,
many World War II veterans were called back. Russell re
enlisted on August eleventh, nineteen fifty, this time to serve
in the Air Force. I haven't found his specific unit
or whether he served overseas, but he was discharged April
(11:34):
of nineteen fifty two. Russell married a woman named Mary,
but they had no children of their own, but he
was close with his many nieces and nephews. Eventually he
moved to Grand Junction, Michigan, and became a blueberry grower.
He passed away on November two, nineteen ninety eight, at
(11:57):
the age of seventy four. His obituary Mary reads, in part,
mister Anderson was a US Navy veteran of World War
Two and a US Air Force veteran of the Korean Conflict.
He retired from Illinois bell and had lived in the
Grand Junction area for more than thirty years. He was
a member of the Michigan Blueberry Growers Association and the
(12:21):
Grand Junction Congregational Church. He has survived by his wife, Mary,
his brother Robert, and two sisters, Audrey and Jacqueline. Roughly
one point four to one point five million World War
II veterans also served in Korea, about one in ten
living veterans. Some returned by re enlisting or continuing service,
(12:46):
and some were called back to service due to the
need for specialized experience. Whatever the mechanism, they returned because
their country needed them. Thank you for joining me today
as we explored the story of usinist mate Russell Eugene Anderson.
(13:11):
If you know anyone of the Anderson family of Chicago
or Grand Junction, Michigan, please consider sharing this podcast with them.
These stories they deserve to be remembered, and if you'd
like to honor mister Anderson, consider donating to your local
animal shelter. He supported, the Alvin Humane Society, a nonprofit
(13:34):
no kill shelter located in South Haven, Michigan. You can
find out more about them and opportunities to adopt, donate,
or volunteer by visiting their website at al dash vam
dash org. Warren Family Letters Home is entirely self funded
(13:57):
and we will never ask families to hey to receive
a letter. If you'd like to support my mission of
returning history to families, I'd love to hear from you.
You can find me on Facebook at Warren Family Matter's
Home or email me at Warrenfamily at outlook dot com.
(14:18):
All details in this podcasts come from my research using
public military records, geneology sites, and newspaper archives. Please continue
supporting our military, both active duty and veterans, because these
men and women they sacrifice so much in both war
(14:39):
and peacetime. And until next week, I'm Lauren Muse, and
you have been listening to Warren family letters.
Speaker 2 (14:50):
Home Better Became Ta
Welcome back to Warren Family Letters Home. I'm your podcast
host Lauren Muse. This podcast is about letters, real letters
written home by US servicemen and women during World War II.
My mission is very simple, to return World War II
history to families, one letter and one story at a time.
(00:45):
It's easy to forget the lives that came before the
stories that we remember. But after every letter, excuse me
as a time capsule, a voice echoing forward from a foxhole,
a barracks bunk, a ship, or a field hospital. I
real hope that someone listening today hears a familiar name
or place and reaches out. Because these letters Home belong home.
(01:14):
The letter in today's episode I found it out. It
was written by Machinists Mate third Class Russell Eugene Andresson
of the United States Navy. Russell Eugene Anderson was born
on August twenty fourth, nineteen twenty four, in Chicago, Illinois,
(01:39):
the oldest of four children born to Genie and Lilah Anderson.
And He was also the grandson of German and Swedish immigrants.
In the nineteen thirty census, we find five year old
Russell recorded living with his family. His father is supporting
his young family by working as a foreman at Illinois Bell.
(01:59):
By nineteen forty Russell is fifteen, still in school, and
his father is a repair department foreman for the same company.
On December twelfth, nineteen forty two, just after his eighteenth birthday,
Russell registered for the draft. His registration described him as
having hazel eyes, brown hair, and a ruddy complexion. Curiously,
(02:24):
the fields for height and weight were left blank on
his card, but it did note in the comments that
he had an appendix scar. His occupation was listed simply
as student. About six months later, on June twenty ninth,
nineteen forty three, Russell was called up to serve in
the Navy. By September twenty second, nineteen forty three, he
(02:48):
was a fireman third class at the Naval Personnel Distribution
Center in Pleasanton, California, part of a complex known as
Fleet City, and it was a critical hub for personnel
heading two or from the Pacific. The complex included Camp Shoemaker,
Camp Parks, which was a CB training center, and Shoemaker
(03:11):
Naval Hospital. Fireman third class Anderson was assigned to the
USS President Hayes on November twenty third, nineteen forty three.
The fireman rank is considered part of the engine room crew,
responsible for the ship's propulsion and mechanical systems. The USS
(03:31):
President Hayes was a President Jackson class attack transport already
active in the South Pacific, shuttling men and supplies between
Tonga Numia and New Zealand. When Russell came aboard, they
were delivering reinforcements to Guadalcanal. In March nineteen forty four,
(03:53):
the President Hayes participated in the landing at Emira Island,
part of General MacArthur's island hopping camp. While the landing
faced little resistance, the Allies supported the ground assault with
heavy air and sea cover to prevent Japanese counter attacks.
Through June of nineteen forty four, the President Hayes continued
(04:16):
its work transporting troops and supplies between the islands. In
July it participated in the invasion of Guam, carrying the
fourth Marines. Somewhere between June and August, Russell's rank was
updated to Machinist's Mate, third class, and on August twenty ninth,
(04:37):
nineteen forty four, he wrote a letter home to his
fourteen year old sister Audrey back in Chicago. Dear Audrey,
I and not you should be apologizing for not writing more.
You and Mom are my two reliable letter writers. When
all hope is gone, I always receive a letter from
(04:58):
one of you. Been hitting the beach a lot this summer,
got a nice coat of a tan, I'll bet. How
did you like Brookfield Zoo? I've never been, but I
always wanted to see the place. How has this beach
in Michigan been swimming there much yet? Has Jackie learned
to swim yet? Mom isn't working too hard out on
(05:19):
the farm, is she? There must be a lot of
work from what she wrote? Did you have a good
vacation this year? School isn't far off now? Says You'll
be hitting the books again. The farther you go, the
harder it gets. So learn what you can and don't
be afraid to ask questions. That's what the old witches
are there for. We'll close now, Cutie, and write again soon.
(05:44):
All my love for now and always, your big bro
Russell waiting day and night, write any time. This letter
reflects something I often find in letters to younger siblings.
No matter what the service member is experiencing, they try
to normalize things for their little brothers and sisters, talking
(06:05):
about schools and vacations and the mundane rhythms of home,
anything but the war. October of nineteen forty four found
the President Hayes at the Battle of Leet. In nineteen
forty one, the Philippines were a territory of the United States,
and shortly after the bombing of Pearl Harbor, the Philippines
(06:26):
were invaded and taken over by the Japanese. The island
of Leet is the eighth largest island in the Philippines,
and it was chosen by General MacArthur as the place
he would fulfill his promise to return the US to
the Philippines. The Battle of Leied was the largest naval
battle ever battle ever fought in the Pacific, and ended
(06:49):
in victory for the Americans, with General MacArthur strolling up
through the surf with his troops on October twentieth to
declare I have returned. Through the end of October, the
President Hayes shuttled men and supplies between the islands and
then was set to retire to Manus for supplies and
(07:09):
some r and r. The island of Manus is located
in the Admiralty Islands of Papua New Guinea and housed
a large Allied naval base which supported the US seventh
Fleet and a portion of the Pacific Fleet. After the war,
it would be the site of the war Trials of
the Pacific. After arriving at manus Russell wrote again to
(07:34):
Audrey on November eighth, nineteen forty four, Dearest Audrey, finally
getting down to writing one of my favorite gals. How
is each and every little thing going with you?
Speaker 2 (07:45):
Honey?
Speaker 1 (07:46):
You, being a woman, ought to know what's going on.
How about some gossip? Been taking in any new shows
or getting around the city while not at school? Ah? Yes, school?
How are all those sad sack teachers treating you these days?
Not too harshly? I hope, sweet stuff? How are you
(08:07):
doing in that cooking class? Advancing right along learning how
to make some excellent gut stuffings. I presume better close
now give my love to the family, All my love, Russell.
Two days after that letter, tragedy struck. Along with the
President Hayes. Also in Manusport were approximately two hundred other ships,
(08:33):
mostly cargo transports tankers, one of which was the USS
mount Hood, a fleet ammunition ship of fourteen thousand tons.
The mount Hood was anchored in the center of the harbor,
approximately four miles from the harbor entry and about two
miles offshore. On November tenth, nineteen forty four, the USS
(08:58):
mount Hood exploded and the blast was catastrophic. The explosion
dug a crater twenty four feet deep on the seafloor.
The largest piece of the ship recovered was just sixteen
by ten feet. All aboard were killed. Nearby ships were devastated.
(09:18):
The USS Mendanio, only three hundred and fifty yards away,
lost eighty two men. Shrapnel flew up to two thousand
yards Eighteen ships were damaged. In total, four hundred and
thirty two men were killed and three hundred and seventy
one were injured. The USS President Hayes, was in the
harbor that day. Though undamaged, her crew sprang into action,
(09:43):
fighting fires and helping as many survivors as they could.
The board of inquiry that was assembled concluded that the
explosion occurred when a TPX loaded depth bomb struck a
hatch while being loaded in to the number three or
four hold. They also concluded that other safety problems existed
(10:05):
on the ship, such as boosters, fuses, detonators. They were
all stored together in one hold, and that pyrotechnics and
napalm gel and scendiaries were stowed in an open temporary
wood and tarpaper hot hut on deck under hazardous conditions
near the hatch to the number three and four hold.
(10:31):
Russell remained aboard the President Hayes throughout the end of
the war. He took part in the Battle of Okinawa
and supported the occupation of Japan, and later helped with
the joyous job of bringing troops home during Operation Magic Carpet.
On the ship roster dated January first, nineteen forty six,
(10:52):
Machinist mate Anderson is still aboard the President Hayes, and
his service record shows that he was honorably discharged on
April seventh, nineteen forty six, and he returned to Chicago.
On the nineteen fifty census, Russell is listed living at
home working as an installer for Illinois Bell alongside his
(11:13):
father and his brother. When the Korean War broke out,
many World War II veterans were called back. Russell re
enlisted on August eleventh, nineteen fifty, this time to serve
in the Air Force. I haven't found his specific unit
or whether he served overseas, but he was discharged April
(11:34):
of nineteen fifty two. Russell married a woman named Mary,
but they had no children of their own, but he
was close with his many nieces and nephews. Eventually he
moved to Grand Junction, Michigan, and became a blueberry grower.
He passed away on November two, nineteen ninety eight, at
(11:57):
the age of seventy four. His obituary Mary reads, in part,
mister Anderson was a US Navy veteran of World War
Two and a US Air Force veteran of the Korean Conflict.
He retired from Illinois bell and had lived in the
Grand Junction area for more than thirty years. He was
a member of the Michigan Blueberry Growers Association and the
(12:21):
Grand Junction Congregational Church. He has survived by his wife, Mary,
his brother Robert, and two sisters, Audrey and Jacqueline. Roughly
one point four to one point five million World War
II veterans also served in Korea, about one in ten
living veterans. Some returned by re enlisting or continuing service,
(12:46):
and some were called back to service due to the
need for specialized experience. Whatever the mechanism, they returned because
their country needed them. Thank you for joining me today
as we explored the story of usinist mate Russell Eugene Anderson.
(13:11):
If you know anyone of the Anderson family of Chicago
or Grand Junction, Michigan, please consider sharing this podcast with them.
These stories they deserve to be remembered, and if you'd
like to honor mister Anderson, consider donating to your local
animal shelter. He supported, the Alvin Humane Society, a nonprofit
(13:34):
no kill shelter located in South Haven, Michigan. You can
find out more about them and opportunities to adopt, donate,
or volunteer by visiting their website at al dash vam
dash org. Warren Family Letters Home is entirely self funded
(13:57):
and we will never ask families to hey to receive
a letter. If you'd like to support my mission of
returning history to families, I'd love to hear from you.
You can find me on Facebook at Warren Family Matter's
Home or email me at Warrenfamily at outlook dot com.
(14:18):
All details in this podcasts come from my research using
public military records, geneology sites, and newspaper archives. Please continue
supporting our military, both active duty and veterans, because these
men and women they sacrifice so much in both war
(14:39):
and peacetime. And until next week, I'm Lauren Muse, and
you have been listening to Warren family letters.
Speaker 2 (14:50):
Home Better Became Ta
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