Ambrose Anderson

Ambrose “Cowboy” Anderson of Gloversville, became one of the first African-American members of the United States Marine Corps where he served with honor and valor during World War II and was discharged as a Corporal.

Mr. Anderson, who was a star football player at Gloversville High School, turned 95 years-old in August. He served in the 8th Ammunition Company and saw combat in the Battle of Iwo Jima in 1945.

He joined the U.S. Marine Corps in 1943 and was assigned to the segregated Camp Montford Point in Jacksonville, N.C., where about 20,000 African American Marines served from 1942 to 1949, enduring incredible prejudice and racism.

While on a battleship sailing to Iwo Jima, Corporal Anderson’s ship was attacked by Japanese kamikaze pilots. He crawled into a hole and started feeding a gunner machine gun ammunition. The next day, he looked out and saw bodies of Marines floating in the sea and entwined with driftwood on the beach. On Iwo Jima, he hauled ammunition and supplies form incoming ships to the shore and delivered them to white infantry units on the front lines, often amid rounds flying about their heads.

After Iwo Jima, he served in the occupation of Japan at Sasebo. Sadly, Mr. Anderson received no recognition after World War II and had difficulty finding work. Eventually, he went to work in his brother’s junkyard. Ultimately, he worked as a truck mechanic, retiring from Ryder in 1986. Fortunately, in recent years our country has begun to recognize and express its heartfelt gratitude to the service and sacrifice of Mr. Anderson and his colleagues as the Montford Point Marines were awarded the Congressional Gold Medal.

He has six children, including four with his second wife, Betty, who he was with for 47 years until her passing in 2004.