>From scrapbook in possession of the Pierce County Historical Association (please note, I am just posting, I have NO further info on this family) Newspaper is possibly the Spring Valley Sun, date unknown. THOMAS ANDERSON WINS PHILIPPINE HONORS With the 24th Infantry (Victory) Division in the Philippines-Private First Class Thomas W. Anderson, of Spring Valley, and his buddies in Comapny "G" of this Victory Division's famous old 21st Infantry Regiment poured high explosive shells on the Japs day and night in two weeks of the most savage fighting in the Philippines campaign. With their battalion battling tooth and nail for a series of Jap infested mountain ridges overlooking a strategic valley, they lobbed heavy mortar shells by the dozen to knock the Japs out of the keep foxholes and machinegun nests, impervious to fire of pinned down riflemen. They fired an equal number of shells into enemy concentrations to help the hard pressed riflemen best off fierce counterattacks. Frequently they had to fire dangerously near their own lines, so close did overwhelming Jap forces advance at times. They had to carry the shells and heavy weapons on their backs, through incessant rain over the punishing mountain trails. The mortar shells killed hundreds of Nips and stunned countless others who were taken care of by advancing riflemen. Once a suicide squad of Japs infiltrated through the lines and was within 25 feet of the mortars, which they had set out to destroy. Anderson and his buddies fought them off with carbines, killing 16 before the rest fled.