Tennessee Honor Vote
Anderson, Mr William Robert
Branch: Navy
Rank: Captain
Years of Service:
1942 - 1962
As the second commanding officer of the USS Nautilus (SSN-571), Captain William Anderson made the first voyage in history from the Pacific Ocean to the Atlantic Ocean via the North Pole. On 3 August 1958, at a depth of 400 feet, Nautilus passed beneath the Polar ice cap. Prior to the trans-polar expedition, Anderson led Nautilus during a major North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) exercise in September and October 1957, demonstrating the nuclear submarine's capabilities against modern anti-submarine warfare forces. During this exercise, Nautilus evaded nearly all pursuers and launched many attacks without being detected.
Honored by
Shannon Taylor Rasmussen
Nashville, TN