TALKING WAYNESVILLE: Remembering local heroes of the Greatest Generation

In December 1941, Wayne Bandy, a young Waynesville man, only 20 years old, a 1939 graduate of Waynesville High School, the son of a preacher man found himself on the USS Arizona battleship in the middle of one of the most momentous events in the history of our country.  His great niece, Jennifer Hargis, described him as “an accidental hero” that fateful day.

Bandy was the son of the pastor of the First Baptist Church in Waynesville, Rev. John Bandy.  He joined the U. S. Navy as a trumpet player in the Navy band and found himself stationed on the Arizona.  The night before that pivotal Sunday morning the band had competed in a Best Band in the U.S. Pacific Fleet competition and had brought home the first-place trophy.  That trophy is on display at the Pearl Harbor Memorial in Hawaii.  The competition continues and the trophy was renamed the Arizona trophy.

The young man had planned to propose to his high school sweetheart while on Christmas leave and had already asked her parents for her hand in marriage.  That of course, never happened.  His niece Kathryn Boone attended a special ceremony in 2016 at WHS to commemorate the 75^th anniversary of Pearl Harbor and the loss of her uncle and shared memories of her young uncle.  “Wayne was very outgoing and popular in high school.  He was active in music, both at school and church.”

Early on Sunday morning, Dec. 7^th, 1941, “a date which will live in infamy”, the Japanese led a sneak attack on the Pacific fleet at Pearl Harbor, ushering in the most devastating war in American history.  And the world would never be the same.  Petty Officer 2^nd Class Wayne Bandy was killed that morning, along with 2,400 other people, including every member of the award-winning band.

His niece told the story of the family being informed of the attack and the uncertainty that followed.  “My grandfather preached that morning, heard the news, and preached again that night, not knowing whether his son was alive or dead.  It was several weeks before we got the official notice.”  Her uncle is buried in the Waynesville Cemetery next to his parents.  You can visit his grave site there.   It sits close to the flag display at the entrance.

As mayor of Waynesville in 2016, I helped to sponsor a ceremony remembering the 75^th anniversary of Pearl Harbor and in front of the Bandy family I ended with this thought, “I think often of our military neighbors and how fortunate we are to live every day in the presence of heroes.  Our community remembers the sacrifices made by so many throughout our history.  We are proud today to remember Waynesville’s own, Petty Officer Wayne Bandy.” 

William Cleveland Anderson Jr. was born in 1918.  Along with 17 classmates, he was a 1937 graduate of Waynesville High School.  His family is one of the “founding families” of Waynesville.  During the Depression years, William served in the Citizen Military Training Camp at Fort Leavenworth and later, served in the Civilian Conservation Corps at Bennett Springs, Missouri, and at Basin Wyoming.  As World War II was looming in Europe, Anderson enlisted as a private in the 406^th Infantry of the U. S. Army Reserve Corps.

In Nov. 1940, Anderson reported to Fort McKinley, on Luzon, as part of the Philippine Scouts, by 1941 the war had arrived in the Philippines and by then, Lt. Anderson became the commander of an infantry company and eventually was promoted to 1^st LT.  On Sunday, December 7^th, 1941, with the attack on Pearl Harbor, the war came to the Philippines.  A declaration of war by the U.S. on December 8^th, led the Japanese to land troops on the islands and then, CPT Anderson was in the middle of the Battle of Bataan.  He was awarded the Distinguished Service Cross and posthumously, the Bronze Star, for his bravery during that horrific event.

CPT Anderson was a POW from 1942 to his death in 1945.  He endured the infamous “Bataan Death March” and time in the sadistic Japanese prison camps.  As the Allies moved closer to the Philippines and to the mainland of Japan, hoping to deter a direct attack, the Japanese decided to move American prisoners to their homeland, and Anderson and 1600 other prisoners were loaded on a transport, headed to Japan.  It was a ship of horrors.  CPT Anderson died aboard one of the transports on January 20, 1945 and was buried at sea.

CPT Anderson’s last letter home was March 6, 1942.  “I’m still glad I came to the Philippine Islands.”  CPT Anderson’s devotion to his country and his ultimate sacrifice stand with the many examples of character and leadership of his generation.  The local American Legion chapter named their post in his honor.  Today, the William C. Anderson Jr. American Legion Post 331 is an active part of our community.

From a letter of recommendation for CPT Anderson, his niece, Dr. Monica Fulton, wrote representing the Anderson family, “While I never met my uncle, we have learned about his character and leadership through the letters he wrote home and through our family and friends.  What we do know is that Junior’s education and leadership skills began while attending school in his beloved hometown of Waynesville.”  His name and legacy have been remembered and should continue to be honored in his hometown in the years to come.

As members of the Greatest Generation leave us at the rate of 400 per day, it important to recognize their significant impact on American history and to educate our children about these life-changing events and the instrumental people in our history.  Waynesville was home to several and these two young men exemplified that devotion to country.  We must remember and recognize our local history!