A Compton post office now bears the name of a local hero who made the ultimate sacrifice during the Vietnam War. On August 7, 2024, the Hub City Post Office was renamed to honor Pfc. James Anderson Jr., the first Black Marine to receive the Medal of Honor.
The renaming ceremony, which coincided with National Purple Heart Day, brought together state and city leaders, as well as members of the Compton community. They gathered to pay tribute to Anderson’s bravery and selflessness.
A Hero’s Legacy: From Compton to Vietnam
James Anderson Jr. grew up in Compton and graduated from Centennial High School. He was studying pre-law at L.A. Harbor College when he decided to enlist in the U.S. Marine Corps in February 1966.
By December of that year, Anderson found himself in Vietnam. Little did he know that his actions would soon etch his name in the annals of American military history.
Congresswoman Nanette Barragán, who introduced the bill to rename the post office, spoke at the ceremony. She said, “This is somebody who expresses the heroism that we see very rarely. Somebody who would be so selfless in doing what he could, in being so valiant and so brave out on the field.”
The Ultimate Sacrifice: A Life-Saving Act of Courage
On February 28, 1967, Anderson’s platoon was on a mission to rescue a reconnaissance patrol. They were advancing through dense jungle when enemy fire erupted around them.
In the chaos of battle, a grenade landed near Anderson. Without hesitation, he made a decision that would save his fellow Marines but cost him his life.
According to his Medal of Honor citation, Anderson wrapped his body around the grenade to absorb the explosion. His selfless action saved the lives of several Marines, though they did receive some shrapnel wounds.
Honoring a Hometown Hero: The First Black Marine Medal of Honor Recipient
The renaming of the post office at 101 S. Willowbrook Ave. to “Pfc. James Anderson Jr. Post Office Building” is a fitting tribute to a local hero. It serves as a permanent reminder of Anderson’s bravery and sacrifice.
“As the first Black Marine to win the Congressional Medal of Honor, it was important that we recognize his bravery and sacrifice here in his hometown,” Congresswoman Barragán stated during the ceremony.
Anderson’s final resting place is at Lincoln Memorial Park Cemetery in Compton, not far from the newly renamed post office that now bears his name.
