Robert Anderson WWII

Posted bynmauserstorerPosted inCedar County Nebraska, Europe - WWII, Gladys Hagerdon Anderson, Reuben Anderson, World War II

We were so fortunate to find an abundance of information on Robert Anderson’s time in WWII. He saved photos, newsletters, and we found several VMail letters and other tidbits in his things.

I’m going to make a point of always adding to a post the relationship to any given person to make things less confusing. Robert Anderson is my grandfather on my maternal side.

Do you have something to add? A fun story? Additional links? Photos? Feel free to share in the comments.

What do we know? Here’s a short synopsis

  • He was Inducted into Service Mar 9, 1943 at 5’6″ and 158 lbs. Robert was 19 years and almost 6 months old when he enlisted
  • He was part of the 542nd Parachute Infantry as that is listed on his discharge papers, but the newsletters and documents saved reference the 517th Parachute Infantry Regiment; 460th Parachute Field Artillery Battalion and 596th Parachute Combat Engineer Company – see links below for reference
  • From my understanding he selected to be a paratrooper, because they got paid more 🙂 His final pay voucher from the Army reflects that as they received about $100 more a month
  • From his discharge papers his Military Occupational Specialty is listed as Light Machine Gunner and Military Qualification is listed as Rifle Marksman
  • The discharge papers list under battles and campaigns: GO 33 WD 45 (a search tells me that this means General Order 33 published by the War Department in 1945) and lists Rome-Arno, Southern France, Ardennes, Rhineland, Central Europe (these campaigns include the Battle of the Bulge)
  • Decorations received are the Good Conduct Medal, Bronze Star Medal and Bronze Arrowhead.
  • Highest Grade Held was Corporal as listed on discharge papers
  • He was demobilized on Dec 15, 1944
  • I have his service record from the National Archives and will share, but have not made it publicly available like with discharge papers and other with sensitive information. The full service record is unavailable as so many of the Army records were lost in a fire in the National Archives in 1973, but we do have a few pieces. Many Army and Air Force veterans who were discharged between 1912-1964 have damaged or missing records in the archives. The record is available behind the password protected page with Biographies for Bob and his wife Avis

Some history links on the Parachute Infantry

Here are links to some of the vmail letters and other things Bob wrote to home along with some newspaper clippings – some we know the source on, others are assumed to be the Laurel NE paper and those are not yet online for searching

Here are a few of the newsletters and other things Bob had saved

A few of the photos that we have – where possible I have included the front and back of the pictures. Clicking on each picture has a description of the photo included.

  • Bob and Unknown Friend
  • We believe this was taken around the time Bob entered the service
  • Bob Army Medals Put together by Larry Anderson
  • Bob Army Medals put together by Larry Anderson
  • Bob Army Medals Put together by Larry Anderson
  • Bob in France
  • Bob Anderson Sept 17 1944, Les Carane, France
  • Lloyd Spencer and Bob Anderson Switzerland
  • Bob Anderson in Uniform
  • Photo of Avis in Bob’s things with sticker on it
  • Bob Found in this frame with sticker
  • Bob in Uniform – found in frame with sticker

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