tjim Loc: Far Northern California

This is my Dad Lt. Robert Anderson (forward observer) who served in the 82nd, 463rd parachute artillery, 101st in Bastogne as part of the Battered Bastards of Bastogne, and was wounded twice. He still carries shrapnel. He was headed to Japan in the 4rth when Japan surrendered. He told me he knew "in his gut" he would not survive in Japan and cried when the airplane turned around and went back to Europe. He is highly decorated and has been a magnificent father.

Just Fred Loc: Darwin's Waiting Room

I salute your father with gratitude. The greatest generation!

gekko11 Loc: Las Cruces NM

Thank you for posting this wonderful photo! Hats off to your Dad

tjim Loc: Far Northern California

I thank you very much on his behalf. He is 97 now and has acute dementia but he still likes to joke "In the war I went up 21 mores time in an airplane than I came down in one". It's one of the few things he remembers.

tjim Loc: Far Northern California

Again, on his behalf, I thank you. He didn't like to talk much about the war until around the 90's then he came to terms with it and told told us some awesome stories. Again, thank you on behalf of Lt. Anderson.

Garden540 Loc: Central Connecticut

Thank you for sharing. Daughter of a staff sergeant, Battle of the Bulge survivor, Company B, 703rd Tank Destroyer Battalion, 3rd Armored Div.; Cliff O'Connor, d. 1990, would have loved to have met your Dad. God bless them, every one.

moffie100

A good man.

mas24 Loc: Southern CA

Hats off twice to your father. I was told by some WW2 Vets who served in Europe, that many were told the next stop would be the Pacific Arena. Germany had surrendered in early May 1945. And the Japanese had refused to surrender. Until the dropping of two bombs in early August 1945. The atomic bomb was a secret. Not even the Vice President knew about it.

rmalarz Loc: Tempe, Arizona

Hats off to your dad. I like his sense of humor regarding going up in airplanes, mines 52. However, they were sport jumps. My uncle probably served with him. He was with Gen. Anthony McAuliffe in Bastone. He survived to have a rather pleasant life afterwards. I'm going to hoist a toast to your dad this evening.
--Bob

bsprague Loc: Lacey, WA, USA

My dad was at Pearl Harbor and Normandy. He kept a journal about Normandy. I started a topic to share that journal. It seems to be a dead thread! Just in case you want to read his experience, the link is: http://www.uglyhedgehog.com/t-496272-1.html

Swamp-Cork Loc: Lanexa, Virginia

Thanks, tjim and what a wonderful story and thanks to the many like your great dad!

tjim Loc: Far Northern California

Thank God or your father and you!!!!

tjim Loc: Far Northern California

Thank you. God bless our vets!!!

tjim Loc: Far Northern California

Here's a memory of Dad by a fellow soldier in the 463rd. This is on their (463rd) website
Dad is Lt. Anderson

Around Oct. 22 1944
"John Mockabee (tape)
rejoined D Battery and went into Menton and went through there and the batteries set up there. Just when the guns pulled in, but were not yet set up, an enemy artillery barrage came in with busts occurring every 5 to 10 minutes. Whittaker, radio man, John, Lt. Bill Biggs, and other man went up into the alps to set an OP up in a castle. They stayed there 4 to 5 days. It overlooked a pass, road, and a little hamlet. They could see German vehicles. Jerry used the castle as an aiming point. Every morning at 6:00AM, Jerry fired on the castle until hit and after a couple of more rounds, would fire beyond to the units behind. When John went back to the battery, a 75mm pack went off and John hit the ground, an impulse from reacting daily to the shelling on the castle. Another trooper saw him and laughed. A sergeant came up to him and said "Mockabee, I hate to ask you this and you can refuse if you want, but I need to have someone go back up the castle with Lt. Anderson. You can refuse but I'd rather have volunteers. John said he'd be willing to go back up if that other trooper would be willing. The other guy finally agreed and the two of them went back up to the OP with a 50 caliber. Booger Childress went up carrying a radio pack. They arrived at the castle that evening. The next morning at 6:00AM, Jerry starting firing again and the other trooper couldn't get deep enough and John was laughing. Another time while they were up there, one of Jerry's shells went short. The next over. Another shell fell to the left. Booger said, "If that SOB don't hit this castle the next time, I'm going to wave him a maggy drawers." The next shell went over and Booger had an old sheet which he tied to a stick, got to the highest peak of the castle and started waving it. The Germans kept shelling the castle for several hours and Lt. Anderson told Booger, " God damn you Booger Childress. I could just kick your butt for doing that." After the shelling stopped, they got back up and started firing at troop formations or trucks going by and Lt. Anderson called for artillery fire. Shells hit close to the trucks which dodged them the best they could. Lt. Anderson wanted to get closer, so they left the castle and went down until enemy artillery bursts came in. Booger kept walking with the radio. Lt. Anderson told him to get down. Booger said if they're going to get me, they'll get me standing or lying. The Lt. said he didn't care about him, he needed the radio. They couldn't find a place with as good a view, so they headed back to the castle. On the way back, it was getting dark and they stopped at a little house along the road. 2 stayed up while 2 slept. About 2:00AM, they heard what they believed to be a German patrol walking by and on up the hill, but luckily never stopped to check out the house. When they got back to Barcelonnette, they went out a little to the east and were placed on the right of the road. They stayed there a couple of days and then moved back to the left side of the road and before they could set up, an enemy artillery barrage came in. Lt. Anderson was wounded in the back by shrapnel. John's machine gun (Corporal Fraley's) was placed always to the left of the howitzers and Bill McConnell's always to the right."

tjim Loc: Far Northern California

Thank you!!!!