Anderson, William L., 1920-1944.

Staff Sergeant William Lewis Anderson was born at Proctor, Minnesota on November 21, 1920. He came to Minneapolis with his parents in 1921. He attended Tuttle grade school and Marshall High School, graduating in 1939. In 1939 he enrolled at the University of Minnesota, and was in his second year there when his Minnesota National Guard unit was called to duty.

Bill Anderson joined the guard in 1939, and after training at Camp Claiborne and Camp Dix went overseas to Ireland and Scotland. In November 1942 he landed at Oran, Tunisia with the Medical Detachment of the 175th Field Artillery of the 34th Division. He served through the African campaign. In September of 1943 the Division landed at Salerno, Italy, to begin a slow march through that country. On the morning of January 17, 1944 Bill was struck down by a burst of artillery fire as he was giving first aid to a wounded comrade near the village of San Pietro, which is located a few miles from Mt. Cassino. He was posthumously awarded the Silver Star and the Purple Heart.

Anderson had planned to go to medical school after the war to become a surgeon.

Bill Anderson was the son of Godfrey W. Anderson and his wife Emma. He had two brothers, Robert and Roger. The elder Anderson was a World War I veteran and an attorney who practiced law briefly at Proctor before going to work as a claims agent for the Soo Line Railroad.

From the guide to the William L. Anderson Papers., 1939-1976 (bulk 1939-1949)., (Minnesota Historical Society)