Aaron Anderson, Landsman (USA)

Aaron Anderson or Sanderson (born 1811, date of death unknown) was a Union Navy sailor during the American Civil War and a recipient of America's highest military decoration, the Medal of Honor.

He was born North Carolina and later lived in Pennsylvania where he worked as a cook until he joined the Navy at age 52. He was assigned to the USS Wyandank where he participated in blocking Confederate forces from getting supplies along the Potomac River. Shortly before the war ended he participated in a mission to attack a group of Confederate troops attempting to get supplies. In the process they came under heavy fire which destroyed many of their weapons and severely damaged their boats but Anderson continued firing a howitzer until they had gotten to safety. For his actions he was presented with the Medal of Honor. A short time later he left at the end of his enlistment and nothing else is known about him after he left the Navy

Medal of Honor citation

Served on board the U.S.S. Wyandank during a boat expedition up Mattox Creek, March 17, 1865. Participating with a boat crew in the clearing of Mattox Creek, L/man Anderson carried out his duties courageously in the face of a devastating fire which cut away half the oars, pierced the launch in many places and cut the barrel off a musket being fired at the enemy