Earl E. Anderson
| Earl E. Anderson | |
|---|---|
General Earl E. Anderson, USMC
|
|
| Birth name | Earl Edward Anderson |
| Born |
June 24, 1919 Morgantown, West Virginia |
| Died | November 12, 2015 (aged 96) Bethesda, Maryland |
| Place of burial | Arlington National Cemetery |
| Allegiance |
 United States
|
| Service/branch |
 United States Marine Corps
|
| Years of service | 1940–1975 |
| Rank |
 General
|
| Commands held | |
| Battles/wars | |
| Awards | 49 (26 distinct) |
| Other work | 1970 U.S. Olympic Committee, Board of Directors |
General Earl Edward Anderson (June 24, 1919 – November 12, 2015) was an American Marine Corps general. The youngest active duty Marine ever promoted to the rank of General and the first active duty Marine Naval Aviator to be promoted to a 4-star rank, became Assistant Commandant of the Marine Corps on April 1, 1972. He was promoted to General on March 31, 1972. General Keith B. McCutcheon had been promoted to four star rank the day of his retirement for medical reasons on July 1, 1971. During his 35-year Marine career, he has served in combat actions in World War II, the Korean War, and the Vietnam War.
Anderson entered West Virginia University and graduated in 1940 after earning a Bachelor of Science degree. In June 1940 he was commissioned a Marine second lieutenant and reported to The Basic School (TBS) in Philadelphia for officer training. Upon graduation from TBS in February 1941, he was ordered to Sea School, Marine Barracks, Portsmouth, Virginia, where he served as an instructor. He remained in that assignment until May, when he received assignment to the USS Yorktown (CV-5), which was operating with the neutrality patrol in the North Atlantic.
With the outbreak of World War II in the Pacific, Anderson and the Yorktown were transferred there, where they participated in the Gilbert and Marshall Islands campaign, the Salamaua-Lae campaign, and the Battles of the Coral Sea and Midway. He was serving on the Yorktown when it was sunk during the Battle of Midway. During this period of time, he was promoted to first lieutenant in December 1941 and captain in May 1942. Following his rescue from the Yorktown, Anderson returned to the United States where he served briefly with Marine Corps Base San Diego, California, and then with the 2nd Marine Division.
...
Wikipedia