Lieutenant Colonel Anderson was a veteran of World War II. In Korea, he was a member of 6146th Air Advisory Group (ROKAF), 5th Air Force. On 20 April 1961, he was flying an unarmed F-86 fighter on a training mission, when he strayed over the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) and was attacked by 2 MiGs near Onjin, North Korea. As he tried to land his damaged jet at Yiumann Air Base, it crashed killing him.

For his leadership and valor, Lieutenant Colonel Anderson was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross, the Air Medal, the Purple Heart, the Citation Ribbon, the Europe and the Pacific Campaign Medals, the National Defense Service Medal, the Korean Defense Medal and the World War II Victory Medal.