On 6 October 1962, Corporal Thomas Edward Anderson was serving with Marine Medium Helicopter Squadron 163, Marine Air Group 16, 1st Marine Air Wing in Quang Nam Province, South Vietnam.

On that day he was a crew member of a Sikorsky Seahorse Utility Helicopter (UH-34D) which crashed, killing him. His remains were not recovered.

His name is inscribed on the Courts of the Missing at the Honolulu Memorial.