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Photo by Stefan Karpinski, taken in Middle East waters in 2003. | Sorry, no coat of arms available. |
Built as commercial container ship EMMA MAERSK in 1979, the ship was purchased by the Maritime Administration (MARAD) in October 1983 and subsequently entered the Bethlehem shipyard at Baltimore, Md., for conversion to a maritime prepositioning ship. The conversion was finished in March 1985 and the ship entered service as MV PFC JAMES ANDERSON JR becoming the first ship in the Navy to bear the name.
The PFC JAMES ANDERSON JR was operated by Maersk Line and assigned to Maritime Prepositioning Squadron 2 at Diego Garcia. In August 2009, the ship was sold for scrapping
General Characteristics: | Delivered: June 1979 |
Builder: Odense Staalskibsvaerft A/S, Lindo, Denmark | |
Purchased by MARAD: October 1983 | |
Conversion yard: Bethlehem, Baltimore, Md. | |
Conversion started: October 1983 | |
Delivered: March 1985 | |
Stricken: 2009 | |
Propulsion system: 1 Sulzer 7RND76M diesel; 16,800hp; 1 shaft; bow thruster | |
Propellers: one | |
Length: 755 feet (230.1 meters) | |
Beam: 90 feet (27.43 meters) | |
Draft: 33 feet (10 meters) | |
Displacement: approx. 46,550 tons full load | |
Speed: 17.5 knots | |
Aircraft: helicopter platform only | |
Armament: none | |
Capacity:
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Crew: 32 civilians, 10 technicians |
Crew List:
This section contains the names of sailors who served aboard MV PFC JAMES ANDERSON JR. It is no official listing but contains the names of sailors who submitted their information.
About the Ship's Name:
MV PFC JAMES ANDERSON JR is named in honor of US Marine Corps Pfc. James Anderson Jr. who was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor for his actions in Vietnam on 28 February 1967.
Citation:
For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty as a rifleman, Second Platoon, Company F, Second Battalion, Third Marines, Third Marine Division, in Vietnam on 28 February 1967. Company F was advancing in dense jungle northwest of Cam Lo in an effort to extract a heavily besieged reconnaissance patrol. Private First Class Anderson's platoon was the lead element and had advanced only about 200 meters when they were brought under extremely intense enemy small arms and automatic weapons fire. The platoon reacted swiftly, getting on line as best they could in the thick terrain, and began returning fire. Private First Class Anderson found himself tightly bunched together with the other members of the platoon only 20 meters from the enemy positions. As the fire fight continued several of the men were wounded by the deadly enemy assault. Suddenly, an enemy grenade landed in the midst of the Marines and rolled along side Private First Class Anderson's head. Unhesitatingly and with complete disregard for his own personal safety, he reached out, grasped the grenade, pulled it to his chest and curled around it as it went off. Although several Marines received shrapnel from the grenade, his body absorbed the major force of the explosion. In this singularly heroic act, Private First Class Anderson saved his comrades from serious injury and possible death. His personal heroism, extraordinary valor, and inspirational supreme self-sacrifice reflected great credit upon himself and the Marine Corps and upheld the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service. He gallantly gave his life for his country.
MV PFC JAMES ANDERSON JR Image Gallery: