November 11, 2024 • 16 mins
PFC Anderson served in the 23rd Marines, 4th Division. He saw some of the worst of the Pacific, fighting in Saipan, Tinian and Iwo Jima. Please take a moment to hear his story, and his letter. If you know of the Anderson family of Pittsburgh, please pass along my podcast! Let's try to get this letter home!
Let's also celebrate the return of Lt. Sadie Cohen's letter home! I talk about that at the end of this podcast!
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. Please visit me on Facebook, or email me at warandfamily@outlook.com and help me get the letters home
Thank you for listening!
Let's also celebrate the return of Lt. Sadie Cohen's letter home! I talk about that at the end of this podcast!
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. Please visit me on Facebook, or email me at warandfamily@outlook.com and help me get the letters home
Thank you for listening!
Mark as Played
Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:24):
Welcome to Warren Family Letters Home. I'm your podcast host
Lauren News. This podcast we talk about letters letters written
home by US servicemen and women in World War Two.
I find the letters in the antique stores and auction sites,
and I researched the letter writer, where they were from,
(00:45):
what their families were like, and how they served in
the war. It's my hope that someone will hear the podcast,
recognize family connections, and contact me. My mission is to
return World War II history to family and these letters
home while they belong home with descendants, to cherish and
(01:06):
show with pride. Our letter for this week's podcast was
written by Private First Class Oliver P. Anderson, US Marine Corps.
(01:31):
Oliver Paul Theodore Anderson was born on August twelfth, nineteen seventeen,
in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. He was the youngest of five children
born to Jama and Christina Anderson. Both of Oliver's parents
had immigrated to the United States from Sweden. The couple
married in New York and later moved to Pittsburgh, where
(01:54):
they raised their family. On the nineteen ten census of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania,
which is before Oliver was born, we find the family
renting their home and Christina's mom is living with them.
Jama is working as an automobile machinist, and it's noted
that he is now a naturalized US citizen. A year
(02:20):
after Oliver was born, his mother, Christina, passed away in
nineteen eighteen. Her death certificate notes that she passed of
Bright's disease, which is otherwise known as kidney disease. On
the nineteen twenty census, we find that the family now
owns their home and Jalma now owns his automobile garage.
(02:42):
Oliver is three years old and there is a housekeeper
in the home, now by the name of Elizabeth Anderson.
The census notes her as a housekeeper and with no
mention of being related. The family was struck with another
hardship when in nineteen twenty two, Oliver's dad passed away
(03:02):
of streptococcus pneumonia, something that just six years later would
have been treatable after the discovery of penicillin. I can't
find where the family went in nineteen thirty, but on
the nineteen forty census I find Oliver living with his
older sister Anna, who was now married. Oliver was employed
(03:25):
as a laborer in a machinist's shop. I almost didn't
find Oliver on the nineteen forty census, but what I
found was the census record for the address that Oliver
was writing to while he was overseas, and it matched.
I found his draft registration about the same way, and
on October sixteenth, nineteen forty, we find that Oliver went
(03:49):
to the local Board number fourteen in Pittsburgh and registered
for the draft. He's recorded as five nine and a
half one hundred and sixty pounds, blue eye, blonde hair,
and a ruddy complexion. He reports that he was employed
at the Mesta Machine Company, and interestingly, he notes that
(04:10):
the person that would always know his address is Miss
Elizabeth Anderson. That was the housekeeper we noted on that census,
and he actually notes her on his registration that she
was his aunt. October eighth, nineteen forty two, Oliver was
called up to serve in the US Marine Corps, and
(04:31):
we find him in Rifle Company twenty third Marines, fourth Division.
After training an organization at Camp Lea, June, North Carolina,
the twenty third departed the US January thirteenth, nineteen forty four,
heading for combat in the Marshall Islands. The twenty third's
(04:52):
first battle was for the islands of Roy and Naymer.
Taking control of the Marshall Islands was vital for the
OCAs Allies for many reasons. First, it was a stepping
stone for furthering their advance in the Pacific. It was
also a base two thousand, three hundred seventy five miles
beyond Pearl Harbor and afforded a sixty mile long lagoon
(05:16):
that would be useful as a staging area for shipping.
And most importantly, it eliminated the possibility of another surprise
attack by the Japanese on Hawaii. The Battle of Ronumer
was the first battle that many in the Fourth Division
had ever been in the start of the invasion, met
(05:38):
fierce opposition on the beaches, and everything became chaotic and
disorganized until the officers were able to regroup their men.
The Marines fought bravely and took the island footholds, but
it was at a cost of three hundred and thirteen
marines and five hundred and two wounded. Once relieved in Fedbruary,
(06:00):
the Fourth Division returned back to Maui for training for
the next operation, which was Saipan, and the overall mission
was to take Saipan, Tinian, and Guam. The Battle of
Saipan began June fifteenth, nineteen forty four, and it was
a ferocious fight against the Japanese army and navy personnel.
(06:23):
The Japanese had prepared for this invasion and effective beach
defenses had been set up, which caused the Marines many casualties,
but they fought on and drove the enemy back into
the rugged interior terrain, where they then fought through the
caves and other positions. On the night of July sixth,
(06:44):
the Japanese carried out a suicidal night raid that killed
many Americans but did not succeed overall. At the end
of this battle, thirty four hundred US troops were dead.
The Fourth Division, twenty three Third Marines, and PSI see
Oliver Anderson had just one week after this to get
(07:04):
ready for their next objective, which was the island of Tinian.
Mid July, while the third Marines landed on Guam, the
Fourth Division landed on Tinian. The Marines formed there launched
three thousand yards off the beaches, and the beaches were
completely obscured by smoke from the aerial bombardment, so much
(07:27):
so that guide planes had to fly overhead to guide
the Marines into shore. They took the beach with little resistance,
and by nightfall the landing had been called success and
the men relaxed a little bit, but it was very
short lived. On the second day, the Japanese attacked, supported
by artillery, and they surged against the fourth Division. It
(07:49):
wasn't until nightfall that the marine artillery and tank fire
quieted the enemy assault. The Japanese continued their assaults and
the battle for the island raids until August first, nineteen
forty four. At the end of August, the weary fourth
Division embarked from the island of Tinian and returned back
(08:12):
to Maui. For the next four months, the Marines were
able to rest, replacements arrived from the Continental US, and
most of all more training, this time for the fourth
Division's part in the Battle of Iwajima. A few days
before Private first Class Anderson departed from the Hawaiian Islands
(08:33):
with the twenty third to sail back to the front lines.
He sat down and wrote a letter to his aunt,
Miss Betty Anderson, back in Pittsburgh. January twenty second, nineteen
forty five. Dear family, received your very welcome letter of
the eleventh, and was glad to hear that everything is okay. Sis.
(08:56):
Whatever you do, do not send my greens back to me.
In fact, I haven't had greens on since I left California.
The climate is just a little bit too warm for them.
Heard from Pat yesterday and she's been over to see
Ed and Sally. She reported everything was okay there, and
she sounds as if she really enjoyed her visit. Guess what.
(09:21):
I met Ken today and he sure looked good. He
was on his way to a meeting, so we had
little time to talk. If everything turns out as it should,
I should see him in a few days, and I
should hope I do. It really felt good, almost like
the old days. Had a letter from Junior and he
sounded well, but he's getting a little sick of this
(09:44):
type of duty. Sis. I think the kid would really
enjoy receiving a good book. So find something that everyone
is reading these days and send it to him with
my compliments. By the way, whenever you do get yourself
a new car, when that time comes, I will want
your old one, just as we did about the thirty seventh,
(10:07):
and by the way, I hope Bill is having good
luck with the Ford. I'm okay, and I really enjoy
all your letters. Say hello to the whole family, Love Oliver.
Five days later, on January twenty seventh, Pfc. Anderson departed
(10:27):
with the twenty third Marines, fourth Division, on their way
to Iujima. February nineteenth, the battle began and became known
as one of the bloodiest battles in the history of
the US Marine Corps. On February twenty third, the Marines
raised the American flag on Serabachi's Summit. As most know,
(10:49):
they raised it twice, the second time for Joe Rosenthal's
famous photo. What some do not realize, though, is that
the flag raising was not at the end of the battle.
The vicious fighting continued until March twenty sixth, and at
the end of it all sixty eight hundred US Marines
(11:10):
lay dead nineteen thousand, two hundred were wounded. There were
twenty seven Medals of Honor awarded. The war in the
Pacific ended September nineteen forty five, and Private first Class
Anderson returned with the twenty third to Camp Pendleton, California
November nineteen forty five, the twenty third was deactivated and
(11:34):
he was honorably discharged from the United States Marine Corps
and he returned to Pittsburgh to his family. On November fifteenth,
nineteen forty six, Oliver was twenty nine years old and
he married Rose Hagmire on the marriage license. His occupation
is listed as a pattern clerk in the nineteen fifty census.
(11:58):
We find Oliver and his wife living in Westview, Pennsylvania,
and they now have a little girl, Laura, and later
they would welcome another daughter, Melinda. Sadly in nineteen sixty nine,
Oliver Anderson, US Marine Corps veteran who survived some of
the worst battles of the Pacific, died on June thirteenth
(12:21):
of cancer. He's buried in the Allegheny Cemetery in Pittsburgh.
This episode is being recorded on Veterans Day twenty twenty four.
Yesterday was the United States Marine Corps two hundred and
forty ninth birthday. Our veterans step up to answer the call,
(12:44):
whether in war or peacetime. They deserve our gratitude and
our respect. To honor Private First Class Oliver P. Anderson,
take a moment thank a veteran volunteer at a local
VFW you find a way to make their lives a
little bit easier. I also have a fantastic update for
(13:10):
this Veteran's Day. I received an email from the step
grand step great grandson of Lieutenant Sadie Cohen. I'd like
to share some of his words. I just stumbled across
your podcast while helping my son do some research for
his Hebrew school project. Sadie Cohen was my great grandmother.
(13:32):
I knew her as nana as a kid. We'd go
to her house in Maldon, which also served as an
office for doctor William Leeds Papa for Passover dinners growing up.
She was so kind and good to my brothers and
I growing up. I know my parents just loved her.
(13:52):
I'd love to be able to share this letter with
them and my grandmother, Sadie's stepdaughter. How amazing is that?
Needless to say, I am more than honored to return
this letter to family that clearly cherish Sadie's memory. That's
what this podcast is all about, returning history to families,
(14:16):
one story and one letter at a time. Lieutenant Sadie Cohen,
US World War Two Army nurse. Your letter is going home.
(14:38):
Thank you for joining me. Please share my podcast. The
more listeners I have, the better chance I have to
return history to family, one letter at a time. You
can find me on Facebook at Warren Family Letters Home,
and I can be reached by an email at Warrenfamily
at outlook dot com. All details in this podcast were
(15:02):
discovered by research done by me using public, military, genealogy
and newspaper search sites. We're coming into the holiday season.
Please consider volunteering or donating to Reads Across America. Let's
be sure every grave of a veteran is beautifully remembered
(15:25):
for the holiday. Find out how you can help by
visiting their website, Reads across America dot org. Until next week,
this is Lauren Muse and you've been listening to Warren
Family Letters Home.
Welcome to Warren Family Letters Home. I'm your podcast host
Lauren News. This podcast we talk about letters letters written
home by US servicemen and women in World War Two.
I find the letters in the antique stores and auction sites,
and I researched the letter writer, where they were from,
(00:45):
what their families were like, and how they served in
the war. It's my hope that someone will hear the podcast,
recognize family connections, and contact me. My mission is to
return World War II history to family and these letters
home while they belong home with descendants, to cherish and
(01:06):
show with pride. Our letter for this week's podcast was
written by Private First Class Oliver P. Anderson, US Marine Corps.
(01:31):
Oliver Paul Theodore Anderson was born on August twelfth, nineteen seventeen,
in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. He was the youngest of five children
born to Jama and Christina Anderson. Both of Oliver's parents
had immigrated to the United States from Sweden. The couple
married in New York and later moved to Pittsburgh, where
(01:54):
they raised their family. On the nineteen ten census of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania,
which is before Oliver was born, we find the family
renting their home and Christina's mom is living with them.
Jama is working as an automobile machinist, and it's noted
that he is now a naturalized US citizen. A year
(02:20):
after Oliver was born, his mother, Christina, passed away in
nineteen eighteen. Her death certificate notes that she passed of
Bright's disease, which is otherwise known as kidney disease. On
the nineteen twenty census, we find that the family now
owns their home and Jalma now owns his automobile garage.
(02:42):
Oliver is three years old and there is a housekeeper
in the home, now by the name of Elizabeth Anderson.
The census notes her as a housekeeper and with no
mention of being related. The family was struck with another
hardship when in nineteen twenty two, Oliver's dad passed away
(03:02):
of streptococcus pneumonia, something that just six years later would
have been treatable after the discovery of penicillin. I can't
find where the family went in nineteen thirty, but on
the nineteen forty census I find Oliver living with his
older sister Anna, who was now married. Oliver was employed
(03:25):
as a laborer in a machinist's shop. I almost didn't
find Oliver on the nineteen forty census, but what I
found was the census record for the address that Oliver
was writing to while he was overseas, and it matched.
I found his draft registration about the same way, and
on October sixteenth, nineteen forty, we find that Oliver went
(03:49):
to the local Board number fourteen in Pittsburgh and registered
for the draft. He's recorded as five nine and a
half one hundred and sixty pounds, blue eye, blonde hair,
and a ruddy complexion. He reports that he was employed
at the Mesta Machine Company, and interestingly, he notes that
(04:10):
the person that would always know his address is Miss
Elizabeth Anderson. That was the housekeeper we noted on that census,
and he actually notes her on his registration that she
was his aunt. October eighth, nineteen forty two, Oliver was
called up to serve in the US Marine Corps, and
(04:31):
we find him in Rifle Company twenty third Marines, fourth Division.
After training an organization at Camp Lea, June, North Carolina,
the twenty third departed the US January thirteenth, nineteen forty four,
heading for combat in the Marshall Islands. The twenty third's
(04:52):
first battle was for the islands of Roy and Naymer.
Taking control of the Marshall Islands was vital for the
OCAs Allies for many reasons. First, it was a stepping
stone for furthering their advance in the Pacific. It was
also a base two thousand, three hundred seventy five miles
beyond Pearl Harbor and afforded a sixty mile long lagoon
(05:16):
that would be useful as a staging area for shipping.
And most importantly, it eliminated the possibility of another surprise
attack by the Japanese on Hawaii. The Battle of Ronumer
was the first battle that many in the Fourth Division
had ever been in the start of the invasion, met
(05:38):
fierce opposition on the beaches, and everything became chaotic and
disorganized until the officers were able to regroup their men.
The Marines fought bravely and took the island footholds, but
it was at a cost of three hundred and thirteen
marines and five hundred and two wounded. Once relieved in Fedbruary,
(06:00):
the Fourth Division returned back to Maui for training for
the next operation, which was Saipan, and the overall mission
was to take Saipan, Tinian, and Guam. The Battle of
Saipan began June fifteenth, nineteen forty four, and it was
a ferocious fight against the Japanese army and navy personnel.
(06:23):
The Japanese had prepared for this invasion and effective beach
defenses had been set up, which caused the Marines many casualties,
but they fought on and drove the enemy back into
the rugged interior terrain, where they then fought through the
caves and other positions. On the night of July sixth,
(06:44):
the Japanese carried out a suicidal night raid that killed
many Americans but did not succeed overall. At the end
of this battle, thirty four hundred US troops were dead.
The Fourth Division, twenty three Third Marines, and PSI see
Oliver Anderson had just one week after this to get
(07:04):
ready for their next objective, which was the island of Tinian.
Mid July, while the third Marines landed on Guam, the
Fourth Division landed on Tinian. The Marines formed there launched
three thousand yards off the beaches, and the beaches were
completely obscured by smoke from the aerial bombardment, so much
(07:27):
so that guide planes had to fly overhead to guide
the Marines into shore. They took the beach with little resistance,
and by nightfall the landing had been called success and
the men relaxed a little bit, but it was very
short lived. On the second day, the Japanese attacked, supported
by artillery, and they surged against the fourth Division. It
(07:49):
wasn't until nightfall that the marine artillery and tank fire
quieted the enemy assault. The Japanese continued their assaults and
the battle for the island raids until August first, nineteen
forty four. At the end of August, the weary fourth
Division embarked from the island of Tinian and returned back
(08:12):
to Maui. For the next four months, the Marines were
able to rest, replacements arrived from the Continental US, and
most of all more training, this time for the fourth
Division's part in the Battle of Iwajima. A few days
before Private first Class Anderson departed from the Hawaiian Islands
(08:33):
with the twenty third to sail back to the front lines.
He sat down and wrote a letter to his aunt,
Miss Betty Anderson, back in Pittsburgh. January twenty second, nineteen
forty five. Dear family, received your very welcome letter of
the eleventh, and was glad to hear that everything is okay. Sis.
(08:56):
Whatever you do, do not send my greens back to me.
In fact, I haven't had greens on since I left California.
The climate is just a little bit too warm for them.
Heard from Pat yesterday and she's been over to see
Ed and Sally. She reported everything was okay there, and
she sounds as if she really enjoyed her visit. Guess what.
(09:21):
I met Ken today and he sure looked good. He
was on his way to a meeting, so we had
little time to talk. If everything turns out as it should,
I should see him in a few days, and I
should hope I do. It really felt good, almost like
the old days. Had a letter from Junior and he
sounded well, but he's getting a little sick of this
(09:44):
type of duty. Sis. I think the kid would really
enjoy receiving a good book. So find something that everyone
is reading these days and send it to him with
my compliments. By the way, whenever you do get yourself
a new car, when that time comes, I will want
your old one, just as we did about the thirty seventh,
(10:07):
and by the way, I hope Bill is having good
luck with the Ford. I'm okay, and I really enjoy
all your letters. Say hello to the whole family, Love Oliver.
Five days later, on January twenty seventh, Pfc. Anderson departed
(10:27):
with the twenty third Marines, fourth Division, on their way
to Iujima. February nineteenth, the battle began and became known
as one of the bloodiest battles in the history of
the US Marine Corps. On February twenty third, the Marines
raised the American flag on Serabachi's Summit. As most know,
(10:49):
they raised it twice, the second time for Joe Rosenthal's
famous photo. What some do not realize, though, is that
the flag raising was not at the end of the battle.
The vicious fighting continued until March twenty sixth, and at
the end of it all sixty eight hundred US Marines
(11:10):
lay dead nineteen thousand, two hundred were wounded. There were
twenty seven Medals of Honor awarded. The war in the
Pacific ended September nineteen forty five, and Private first Class
Anderson returned with the twenty third to Camp Pendleton, California
November nineteen forty five, the twenty third was deactivated and
(11:34):
he was honorably discharged from the United States Marine Corps
and he returned to Pittsburgh to his family. On November fifteenth,
nineteen forty six, Oliver was twenty nine years old and
he married Rose Hagmire on the marriage license. His occupation
is listed as a pattern clerk in the nineteen fifty census.
(11:58):
We find Oliver and his wife living in Westview, Pennsylvania,
and they now have a little girl, Laura, and later
they would welcome another daughter, Melinda. Sadly in nineteen sixty nine,
Oliver Anderson, US Marine Corps veteran who survived some of
the worst battles of the Pacific, died on June thirteenth
(12:21):
of cancer. He's buried in the Allegheny Cemetery in Pittsburgh.
This episode is being recorded on Veterans Day twenty twenty four.
Yesterday was the United States Marine Corps two hundred and
forty ninth birthday. Our veterans step up to answer the call,
(12:44):
whether in war or peacetime. They deserve our gratitude and
our respect. To honor Private First Class Oliver P. Anderson,
take a moment thank a veteran volunteer at a local
VFW you find a way to make their lives a
little bit easier. I also have a fantastic update for
(13:10):
this Veteran's Day. I received an email from the step
grand step great grandson of Lieutenant Sadie Cohen. I'd like
to share some of his words. I just stumbled across
your podcast while helping my son do some research for
his Hebrew school project. Sadie Cohen was my great grandmother.
(13:32):
I knew her as nana as a kid. We'd go
to her house in Maldon, which also served as an
office for doctor William Leeds Papa for Passover dinners growing up.
She was so kind and good to my brothers and
I growing up. I know my parents just loved her.
(13:52):
I'd love to be able to share this letter with
them and my grandmother, Sadie's stepdaughter. How amazing is that?
Needless to say, I am more than honored to return
this letter to family that clearly cherish Sadie's memory. That's
what this podcast is all about, returning history to families,
(14:16):
one story and one letter at a time. Lieutenant Sadie Cohen,
US World War Two Army nurse. Your letter is going home.
(14:38):
Thank you for joining me. Please share my podcast. The
more listeners I have, the better chance I have to
return history to family, one letter at a time. You
can find me on Facebook at Warren Family Letters Home,
and I can be reached by an email at Warrenfamily
at outlook dot com. All details in this podcast were
(15:02):
discovered by research done by me using public, military, genealogy
and newspaper search sites. We're coming into the holiday season.
Please consider volunteering or donating to Reads Across America. Let's
be sure every grave of a veteran is beautifully remembered
(15:25):
for the holiday. Find out how you can help by
visiting their website, Reads across America dot org. Until next week,
this is Lauren Muse and you've been listening to Warren
Family Letters Home.
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