Gen. Earl E. Anderson
June 24, 1919 ~ November 12, 2015
GENERAL EARL E. ANDERSON, USMC (Ret)
On November 12, 2015, General Anderson died at the age of 96 of a cerebral hemorrhage at the Walter Reed National Military Medical Center in Bethesda, Maryland.
General Anderson was a former Assistant Commandant of the Marine Corps, and when promoted to four-star rank in 1972, he was the youngest Marine promoted to that rank and the first active duty aviator. He had multiple combat tours in World War II, Korea, and Vietnam and was the recipient of twenty U.S. personal decorations and seven foreign personal decorations, plus many unit, campaign, and service medals with battle stars.
In WW II, General Anderson participated in the Gilbert and Marshall Islands Campaign, the Lae-Salamaua Raid, and the Battles of the Coral Sea and Midway. He was aboard the USS Yorktown (CV-5) when it was sunk during the Battle of Midway. He was awarded the Purple Heart for burns received during that battle and the Combat Action Ribbon. Later in the war, he flew B-25 Mitchell bombers in the Pacific campaign as Commanding Officer of Marine Bomber Squadron (VMB) 443. He also served as the Executive Officer of Marine Aircraft Group 61 in the consolidation of the Northern Solomons and in the Philippines. For his service as a pilot in command of VMB-443, he was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross with one gold star in lieu of a second award, and the Air Medal with one silver star in lieu of second through the sixth awards.
In the Korean War, General Anderson served as the Commanding Officer of Marine Observation Squadron (VMO) 6, and later became the Assistant Chief of Staff, G-1, 1st Marine Aircraft Wing. For his service as Commanding Officer of VMO-6, he was awarded the Bronze Star with Combat "V."
General Anderson served two tours during the Vietnam War. In 1963, he became the Chief of Staff, Military Assistance Advisory Group (MAAG), Vietnam. For his service with the MAAG, he was awarded a Legion of Merit with Combat "V," and for his participation as a pilot in more than 40 combat missions against the Viet Cong, he was awarded gold stars in lieu of his seventh and eighth Air Medals. In 1967, he returned to Vietnam as the Chief of Staff, III Marine Amphibious Force. The Battles of Khe Sanh and Hue City were waged during his tenure. For his service, he was awarded the Distinguished Service Medal.
Following retirement from the Marine Corps after 35 years of service, General Anderson served as the Director of the Office of U.S. Foreign Disaster Assistance in the U.S. Agency for International Development in the State Department. He then became the Director of the United Nations Disaster Relief Office in Geneva, Switzerland.
Upon his return to the United States from Geneva in the early 1980s, General Anderson began a leadership role in the American Bar Association (ABA) when he became the Director of its General Practice Section's General Practice Division. For the next 30 years, General Anderson held a variety of key leadership roles within the ABA, to include serving as a member of its Board of Governors, a member of its House of Delegates, the Chair of its Government and Public Sector Lawyers Division, a member of its Standing Committee on Law and National Security, and the Chair of its Standing Committee on Legal Assistance for Military Personnel. For his service to the ABA, General Anderson received the Difference Maker Award, the Nelson Award, and the ABA's top honor, the ABA Medal.
General Anderson was a member of the District of Columbia and California Bars, and several other Federal Bars, including the U.S. Supreme Court.
General Anderson held B.S. and M.A. degrees, with honors, from West Virginia University (WVU). He was a member of Kappa Delta Pi, the National Education Honor Society, and was designated by WVU's President as an honors graduate from its ROTC program. While at WVU, he lettered for three years in baseball and was captain in his senior year. He was a member of WVU's Order of Vandalia and the Academy of Distinguished Alumni. Also, he held an honorary doctor of laws degree from Thiel College. He had a Juris Doctor degree with highest honors from George Washington University Law School, and was editor-in-chief of the law review and a member of the Order of the Coif. He was a recipient of the law school's Distinguished Alumnus Award.
In 1971, General Anderson was appointed to the Board of Directors of the U.S. Olympic Committee. General Anderson also served as the Chairman of WVU's Loyalty Permanent Endowment Fund, and was a member of WVU's Alumni Council from 1971 to 1978. He served as President of WVU's Alumni Association from 1976 to 1977. He was West Virginia's Son of the Year in 1973. Earlier this year, General Anderson was awarded the Gold Good Citizenship Medal by the Sons of the American Revolution.
General Anderson traced his roots to Scotland, England, and Germany. He was a member of the National Society of the Sons of the American Revolution, and Sons of Union Veterans of the Civil War. His forefathers were some of the earliest settlers of six of the original 13 British Colonies. His ancestors later moved west to settle Ohio before it even became a state. During the American Revolution, his 4th great-grandfather, Randall Wells, was an officer in the Rhode Island militia. During the Civil War, one of his great-grandfathers, Asa Anderson, served in the U.S. Navy as a noncommissioned officer aboard the gunboat USS Colossus. Another great-grandfather, Jacob Whitehead, served as a private in the 63rd Ohio Infantry Regiment, and fought for the Union in twelve battles.
General Anderson was the son of James F. Anderson and Elizabeth Somers of Morgantown, West Virginia, and he was one of six children. His siblings, Virginia, Kenneth, Harry, James, and Donald, have all predeceased him.
General Anderson is survived by his wife of sixty-six years, Jane, who resides in Vienna, Virginia, and three children, Susan, and her spouse, Peter O'Brien, David, and his spouse, Darla, and Mark, and his spouse, Katherine Ksen, who also reside in Northern Virginia. In addition, General Anderson is survived by four grandchildren, Samantha Williamson, Bowen Rose, and his spouse Suzanne, Ashley Rose, and James Anderson; and seven great-grandchildren.
Relatives and friends are invited to Money and King Funeral Home, 171 W. Maple Ave., Vienna, Va on Saturday, November 21, 2015 from 2-5 PM. A funeral service and interment with full military honors will be held at a later date at Arlington National Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to The USO or The Marine Corp. Heritage Foundation.
Funeral Home:
Money & King Funeral Home
171 W. Maple Ave.
Vienna, VA
US 22180
On November 12, 2015, General Anderson died at the age of 96 of a cerebral hemorrhage at the Walter Reed National Military Medical Center in Bethesda, Maryland.
General Anderson was a former Assistant Commandant of the Marine Corps, and when promoted to four-star rank in 1972, he was the youngest Marine promoted to that rank and the first active duty aviator. He had multiple combat tours in World War II, Korea, and Vietnam and was the recipient of twenty U.S. personal decorations and seven foreign personal decorations, plus many unit, campaign, and service medals with battle stars.
In WW II, General Anderson participated in the Gilbert and Marshall Islands Campaign, the Lae-Salamaua Raid, and the Battles of the Coral Sea and Midway. He was aboard the USS Yorktown (CV-5) when it was sunk during the Battle of Midway. He was awarded the Purple Heart for burns received during that battle and the Combat Action Ribbon. Later in the war, he flew B-25 Mitchell bombers in the Pacific campaign as Commanding Officer of Marine Bomber Squadron (VMB) 443. He also served as the Executive Officer of Marine Aircraft Group 61 in the consolidation of the Northern Solomons and in the Philippines. For his service as a pilot in command of VMB-443, he was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross with one gold star in lieu of a second award, and the Air Medal with one silver star in lieu of second through the sixth awards.
In the Korean War, General Anderson served as the Commanding Officer of Marine Observation Squadron (VMO) 6, and later became the Assistant Chief of Staff, G-1, 1st Marine Aircraft Wing. For his service as Commanding Officer of VMO-6, he was awarded the Bronze Star with Combat "V."
General Anderson served two tours during the Vietnam War. In 1963, he became the Chief of Staff, Military Assistance Advisory Group (MAAG), Vietnam. For his service with the MAAG, he was awarded a Legion of Merit with Combat "V," and for his participation as a pilot in more than 40 combat missions against the Viet Cong, he was awarded gold stars in lieu of his seventh and eighth Air Medals. In 1967, he returned to Vietnam as the Chief of Staff, III Marine Amphibious Force. The Battles of Khe Sanh and Hue City were waged during his tenure. For his service, he was awarded the Distinguished Service Medal.
Following retirement from the Marine Corps after 35 years of service, General Anderson served as the Director of the Office of U.S. Foreign Disaster Assistance in the U.S. Agency for International Development in the State Department. He then became the Director of the United Nations Disaster Relief Office in Geneva, Switzerland.
Upon his return to the United States from Geneva in the early 1980s, General Anderson began a leadership role in the American Bar Association (ABA) when he became the Director of its General Practice Section's General Practice Division. For the next 30 years, General Anderson held a variety of key leadership roles within the ABA, to include serving as a member of its Board of Governors, a member of its House of Delegates, the Chair of its Government and Public Sector Lawyers Division, a member of its Standing Committee on Law and National Security, and the Chair of its Standing Committee on Legal Assistance for Military Personnel. For his service to the ABA, General Anderson received the Difference Maker Award, the Nelson Award, and the ABA's top honor, the ABA Medal.
General Anderson was a member of the District of Columbia and California Bars, and several other Federal Bars, including the U.S. Supreme Court.
General Anderson held B.S. and M.A. degrees, with honors, from West Virginia University (WVU). He was a member of Kappa Delta Pi, the National Education Honor Society, and was designated by WVU's President as an honors graduate from its ROTC program. While at WVU, he lettered for three years in baseball and was captain in his senior year. He was a member of WVU's Order of Vandalia and the Academy of Distinguished Alumni. Also, he held an honorary doctor of laws degree from Thiel College. He had a Juris Doctor degree with highest honors from George Washington University Law School, and was editor-in-chief of the law review and a member of the Order of the Coif. He was a recipient of the law school's Distinguished Alumnus Award.
In 1971, General Anderson was appointed to the Board of Directors of the U.S. Olympic Committee. General Anderson also served as the Chairman of WVU's Loyalty Permanent Endowment Fund, and was a member of WVU's Alumni Council from 1971 to 1978. He served as President of WVU's Alumni Association from 1976 to 1977. He was West Virginia's Son of the Year in 1973. Earlier this year, General Anderson was awarded the Gold Good Citizenship Medal by the Sons of the American Revolution.
General Anderson traced his roots to Scotland, England, and Germany. He was a member of the National Society of the Sons of the American Revolution, and Sons of Union Veterans of the Civil War. His forefathers were some of the earliest settlers of six of the original 13 British Colonies. His ancestors later moved west to settle Ohio before it even became a state. During the American Revolution, his 4th great-grandfather, Randall Wells, was an officer in the Rhode Island militia. During the Civil War, one of his great-grandfathers, Asa Anderson, served in the U.S. Navy as a noncommissioned officer aboard the gunboat USS Colossus. Another great-grandfather, Jacob Whitehead, served as a private in the 63rd Ohio Infantry Regiment, and fought for the Union in twelve battles.
General Anderson was the son of James F. Anderson and Elizabeth Somers of Morgantown, West Virginia, and he was one of six children. His siblings, Virginia, Kenneth, Harry, James, and Donald, have all predeceased him.
General Anderson is survived by his wife of sixty-six years, Jane, who resides in Vienna, Virginia, and three children, Susan, and her spouse, Peter O'Brien, David, and his spouse, Darla, and Mark, and his spouse, Katherine Ksen, who also reside in Northern Virginia. In addition, General Anderson is survived by four grandchildren, Samantha Williamson, Bowen Rose, and his spouse Suzanne, Ashley Rose, and James Anderson; and seven great-grandchildren.
Relatives and friends are invited to Money and King Funeral Home, 171 W. Maple Ave., Vienna, Va on Saturday, November 21, 2015 from 2-5 PM. A funeral service and interment with full military honors will be held at a later date at Arlington National Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to The USO or The Marine Corp. Heritage Foundation.
Funeral Home:
Money & King Funeral Home
171 W. Maple Ave.
Vienna, VA
US 22180
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My personal thoughts and prayers, and those of the Fairfax Resolves Chapter, Virginia Society Sons of the American Revolution go the extended family of General Anderson. We remember and celebrate the well-lived life of our compatriot General Earl E. Anderson, USMC (Ret). Vern Eubanks, President, Fairfax Resolves SAR.
The review of this Marine’s life has presented us with perhaps the most impressive personal display of “semper fidelis” that we will ever encounter. Thank you, fellow citizen.
The review of this Marine’s life has presented us with perhaps the most impressive personal display of “semper fidelis” that we will ever encounter. Thank you, fellow citizen.
My sincere condolence to the family of General Anderson. He was truly a hero, a man of great character and integrity and a mentor. He will be sorely missed.
I had the privilege of serving with General Anderson in Vietnam 1967-1968. He was a Marines Marine through and through, a leader in every sense of the word. He was admired by all the Marines, enlisted and officers, who worked with him, and for him in the III MAF Headquarters in DaNang, Vietnam. He was like a father to the enlisted and a mentor to the officers. Everyone wanted to be like him. General Anderson made an impression on me that has lasted all these years, and I will take it to my grave. Rest in peace General Anderson, you have completed your duty to this country. God called you home because he needed a real leader to comfort him. I trust the family will find comfort in the monumental contributions he made to this country. CWO-3 BOB BOWMAN USMCR RETIRED VIETNAM VETERAN
LtGen. Anderson headed the Personnel Dept. At HQMC when I worked for him as a Major. This was an extremely difficult period as we still had to provide Marines to Viet Nam while planning severe reductions in strength of the overall Corps in the immediate future. Obviously, he provided extraordinary leadership in this position as he was promoted to Assistant Commandant following that assignment. He was a great Marine who served our Corps and country well. Semper Fi, Jerry File, Major, USMC
General Anderson was a true officer and a gentleman. I have been blessed and honored to have served with “Andy” in the American Bar Association for the past 20 years. He was a leader, mentor and more importantly, a great friend. His guidance and wisdom throughout the years have meant so much. I pray that his family will be at peace and comforted by their wonderful memories of him. He lived an incredible life. While he will be sorely missed, his legacy will live on.
I give my deepest condolences to the family of Gen. Earl E. Anderson, with utmost respect for his service, dedication, and fine accomplishments.
I was privileged to have served with General Anderson in Vietnam, III MAF in Danang. I have many good memories of him and his fairness and regard for the troops. I will never forget those things.
Andy lit up the lives of everyone with whom he came into contact. His eyes, his smile, his wit and style, and just his look often spoke volumes. Whatever task he embraced, he took on with enthusiasm, unparalleled energy, and elan. For years, he wrote the Legislative Update column for The Compleat Lawyer, later known as GPSolo magazine, the ABA General Practice, Solo & Small Firm Division magazine, explaining federal legislation affecting lawyers practices and their lives. He was everyones hero, making the world a better place. And he will be sorely missed. Thank you, Andy, for sharing your talents.
Simply said, my uncle was truly one of the great of the greatest generation of this nation. Uncle Earl, I will always look up to you with admiration, and forever love.
To the Anderson Family, We are so sorry for your loss. You will be in our prayers during this very sad time. David, Connie and Chris Shumway
Sons of the American Revolution(SAR)Compatriot General Earl E. Anderson, USMC-Ret. or ‘A’ as he identified himself in writing, was such a special man. I and his other Sons of the American Compatriots will miss him so very much. Hopefully the outpouring of concern by so many others will console ‘A”s widow, Jane, and all of the family. General Anderson was always so approachable and genuine. The Fairfax Resolves SAR Chapter will always be fortunate for ‘A’ having been one of our Compatriots. Truly his life as a Marine and after was so wonderful because of who he was and how much he cared. Very Sincerely, John E. “Jack” Sweeney and wife, Carol
Sons of the American Revolution(SAR)Compatriot General Earl E. Anderson, USMC-Ret. or ‘A’ as he identified himself in writing, was such a special man. I and his other Sons of the American Compatriots will miss him so very much. Hopefully the outpouring of concern by so many others will console ‘A”s widow, Jane, and all of the family. General Anderson was always so approachable and genuine. The Fairfax Resolves SAR Chapter will always be fortunate for ‘A’ having been one of our Compatriots. Truly his life as a Marine and after was so wonderful because of who he was and how much he cared. Very Sincerely, John E. “Jack” Sweeney and wife, Carol
Sons of the American Revolution(SAR)Compatriot General Earl E. Anderson, USMC-Ret. or ‘A’ as he identified himself in writing, was such a special man. I and his other Sons of the American Compatriots will miss him so very much. Hopefully the outpouring of concern by so many others will console ‘A”s widow, Jane, and all of the family. General Anderson was always so approachable and genuine. The Fairfax Resolves SAR Chapter will always be fortunate for ‘A’ having been one of our Compatriots. Truly his life as a Marine and after was so wonderful because of who he was and how much he cared. Very Sincerely, John E. “Jack” Sweeney and wife, Carol
General Anderson was a great friend and colleague. He gave so many hours to the ABA and was so devoted to the administration of justice and the rule of law. I will miss him dearly. I wish you all peace and fond memories.
General Anderson was a great friend and colleague. He gave so many hours to the ABA and was so devoted to the administration of justice and the rule of law. I will miss him dearly. I wish you all peace and fond memories.
Andy and I served together on the ABA’s Board of Governors, in the same class My wife (Charlotte) and I enjoyed our friendship with Andy and Jane and always looked forward to seeing them. I think he was very modest about his service to our country. Such a fine gentleman.
Watching Andy and Jane from my kitchen window was heartwarming. Andy was a true gentleman; he was a joy to know and will be missed. Kate and Chet Lund
Hello Mrs.Anderson and family This is Rip . Used to work for you all in the seventies. Started in Norfolk then to D.C. Was on the personal staff in the Quarters. Sorry for family loss. He’s In a much better place . Love you all. (423)470-5783 cell phone or email above.
Hello Mrs.Anderson and family This is Rip . Used to work for you all in the seventies. Started in Norfolk then to D.C. Was on the personal staff in the Quarters. Sorry for family loss. He’s In a much better place . Love you all. (423)470-5783 cell phone or email above.
Mrs. Anderson, My thoughts and prayers are with you and your family at this time. I only met the two of you a short time ago, but enjoy both of you. Wish you all the comforts for the rest of your time.
Mrs. Anderson, My thoughts and prayers are with you and your family at this time. I only met the two of you a short time ago, but enjoy both of you. Wish you all the comforts for the rest of your time.