John R D Anderson was born on September 6, 1921 in Oneonta, NY. He was the son of William Marcellus Anderson (1883-1941) and Grace Rose (1885–1960). His parents were married on December 31, 1905 in Margaretville, NY. He was the fifth of their six sons. There were four older brothers, William, George, Morton and Francis and a younger brother Grunville. His family moved around for a time when he was growing up. The 1925 U.S. Census records show the family in Kingston, NY. The 1935 Rhode Island Census and his draft registration card recorded he lived in Providence, Rhode Island. The 1940 U.S. Census recorded him and his mom lived together in Providence. He was a Stock Clerk in an Electric Shop and his mom was looking for work. That same Census indicated he only finished 8th grade.

He entered the Navy on September 12, 1942 in Providence, RI and Navy Muster rolls record that on May 10, 1943 he reports aboard the USS Cisco, with the rank of S2c (Seaman Second Class).

The USS Cisco, with S2c Anderson aboard, sailed to Brisbane, Australia and arrived in early September 1943 to assume local patrol duties. “Venturing out for her first war patrol, CISCO (Lt. Cdr. J. W. Coe), left Port Darwin, Australia on September 18, 1943. That evening she returned to Darwin due to a derangement of the main hydraulic system, which had occurred during the day's operation. The hydraulic system having been repaired to the satisfaction of the Commanding Officer, CISCO once more departed on September 19.

CISCO's area was a large rectangular one in the South China Sea between Luzon and the coast of French Indo-China. In order to reach it, she was to pass through the Arafoera Sea, the Banda Sea, Manipa Strait, Molukka Passage, the Celebes Sea, Sibutu Passage, the Sulu Sea and Mindoro Strait. On 28 September, CISCO should have been due west of Mindanao in the center of the Sulu Sea. On that day a Japanese anti-submarine attack was made at 9° 47'N, 121° 44'E slightly north and east of CISCO's expected position. In reporting the attack the Japanese state, "Found a sub tailing oil. Bombing. Ships cooperated with us. The oil continued to gush out even on tenth of October." The attack would seem to have been made by planes in cooperation with ships. No submarine that returned from patrol reported having been attacked at this time and position.

Nothing has been seen of or heard from CISCO since her departure from Darwin, and on 4 and 5 November 1943, Headquarters Task Force Seventy-One was unable to make radio contact with her. At the time of her loss, it was considered very unlikely that a recurrence of trouble with her main hydraulic system could explain her sinking, and the only other possible clue was the fact that a Japanese plane was reported over Darwin at twenty thousand feet on the morning of her second departure. The attack listed above is thought to probably explain this loss. No enemy minefields are known to have been in her area, or enroute to it.

Coe had previously made three war patrols as Commanding Officer of S-39, and three as Commanding Officer of SKIPJACK. He was considered a most able and successful Submarine Officer.” (Wittmer, Paul W., Hinman, Charles R.)

The only survivor from the crew was Chief Radioman Howell B. Rice (USN ret.), who was taken sick in Darwin and sent ashore to the Navy hospital prior to Cisco's final voyage.

S2c Anderson was awarded the Purple Heart, Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal and the Submarine Combat Patrol Insignia posthumously. The Department of Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency recorded his remains as “Unaccounted for.” Although his body is never recovered, a cenotaph is dedicated to him in the Plains Cemetery, Oneonta, NY.

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Sources

"American Battle Monuments Commission" database with images Fold3 (https://www.fold3.com/publication/853/american-battle-monuments-commission: accessed June 11, 2022)

Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/55904110/john-ruben_daugherty-anderson: accessed 08 June 2023), memorial page for S2 John Ruben Daugherty Anderson (6 Sep 1921–8 Sep 1946), Find a Grave Memorial ID 55904110, citing Manila American Cemetery and Memorial, Manila, Capital District, National Capital Region, Philippines; Maintained by John Dowdy (contributor 47791572).

John Ruben Daugherty Anderson, HonorStates.org, accessed June 12, 2022 at https://www.honorstates.org/index.php?id=12561.

John Ruben Daugherty Anderson, oneternalpatrol.com, accessed June 12, 2022 at http://oneternalpatrol.com/anderson-j-r-d.htm, accessed June 12, 2022.

"Muster Rolls and Personnel Diaries of US Navy Ships, Stations, and Other Naval Activities, 1949-1971" database with images Fold3 (https://www.fold3.com/publication/861/navy-muster-rolls-1949-1971: accessed September 5, 2022)

New York State Archives; Albany, New York; State Population Census Schedules, 1925; Election District: 03; Assembly District: 01; City: Oneonta Ward 01; County: Otsego; Page: 7https://www.ancestry.com/discoveryui-content/view/20330257:2704, accessed June 24, 2022.

"Rhode Island State Census, 1935." Database with images. FamilySearch. http://FamilySearch.org : 18 August 2022. Citing Department of Labor. State Archives, Providence.

United States of America, Bureau of the Census. Fifteenth Census of the United States, 1930. Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 1930. T626, 2,667 rolls. Add URL here for his records.

"United States Census, 1940." Database with images. FamilySearch. https://FamilySearch.org : 18 August 2022. Citing Sixteenth Census of the United States, 1940, NARA digital publication T627. Records of the Bureau of the Census, 1790 - 2007, RG 29. Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 2012.

USS Cisco (SS-290), Wikipedia.com, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USS_Cisco_(SS-290), accessed June 11, 2022

USS Cisco (SS-290), Compiled by Paul W. Wittmer and Charles R. Hinman, originally from: U.S. Submarine Losses World War II, NAVPERS 15,784, 1949 ISSUE, OnEternalPatrol.com, accessed at https://submarinememorial.org/lostboatsfinished/ss290cisco.html, September 5, 2022.

U.S. Dept. of Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency, Unaccounted-for Remains, Group B, 1941-1975, Source Record Group Wii-01816-J, (https://www.fold3.com/record/717715968/anderson-john-r-d-defense-powmia-accounting-agency-unaccounted-for-remains), accessed September 5, 2022.

"World War II Draft Registration Cards, 1942", digital image, The National Archives (https://ancestry.com : accessed 4 September 2022), Draft Registration Card for John R.D. Anderson, Birth Date: 6 Sept. 1921; Serial Number T389.

Supporting Files