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Robert "Bob" Leroy Anders
Lilah Crowe2023-07-12T10:31:55-05:00
- Name: Robert "Bob" Leroy Anders
- Location of Birth: Grand Rapids, Minnesota
- Date of Birth: July 10, 1941
- Date of Death: February 2, 1969
- Parents: Carl E. Anders & Amanda (Pfeiffer) Anders
- High School and Class: 1959 - Grand Rapids High School, Grand Rapids, Minnesota
- College: Attended Itasca Junior College in Grand Rapids, Minnesota for one year.
- Highest Rank: LT (Lieutenant)
- Branch: Navy
- Other Branch:
- Date Sworn In:
- Place Sworn In:
- Date of Discharge: February 2, 1969
- Place of Discharge:
-
- Military Awards:
Combat Action Ribbon
National Defense Service Medal
Vietnam Campaign Medal
Vietnam Service Medal
Navy Presidential Unit Citation
Vietnam Gallantry Cross
Navy Good Conduct Medal
Navy Expeditionary Medal
- Military Highlights:
Commissioned in 1964 in the top fourth of his class, Lt. Anders was instructor of rocketry and missiles at Valejo, California for a year. He had sea duty aboard the USS Goldsborough for six months and 12-month tours in the Vietnam area. After returning to the United States for survival training, he was assigned to South Vietnam where he was staff watch officer in charge of surveillance and security at Vung Tau.
Information from Grand Rapids Herald Review, Historical Review Section, dated April 18, 2021:
April 21, 1991 - Names of eight Itasca County soldiers killed, missing, or prisoners of war during the Vietnam War will appear on a Northland Vietnam Veteran's Memorial in Duluth. Local names appearing on the memorial will be Lauren D. Huerd, Bovey; Richard R. Antonovich, Calumet; Norris L. Brenden, Deer River; Denny C. Smith, Deer River; Robert L. Anders, Ronald M. Fraser, Ronald L. Zempel, Grand Rapids, and Richard A. Koski, Pengilly.
During his service in the Vietnam War, Navy Lieutenant Anders experienced a traumatic event which ultimately resulted in loss of life. He died through non-hostile action, vehicle crash in South Vietnam, Phuoc Tuy province.
Robert is honored on the Vietnam Veteran's Memorial in Washington, D.C. His name is inscribed on Panel 33w, Line 36.
- Wars Involved:
Vietnam Era
- MIA / POW:
- Civilian Life:
Information from news article in Grand Rapids Herald Review dated February 6,1969:
"Naval Lt. Robert Leroy Anders, 27, of Grand Rapids, Minnesota died in a motor vehicle accident near Vung Tau, South Vietnam on Sunday, February 2 1969.
Information from Bob's good friend, Pat O'Brien:
"Just before he left to go to overseas, he was home for Christmas. We had a nice evening together at the VFW in Grand Rapids, Minnesota. Bob was looking forward to putting 20 to 30 years in the Navy.
Two weeks before graduation from the academy he was in an accident and broke his leg. He did not get to go to his own graduation. He was in the top of his class.
The letter Bob's folks got said that he had gone out with a cousin of his. After they had an evening out they waited at a bus stop to get back to base. His cousin's bus left about ten minutes before his. That is where they found him with a knife in his back."
Casket bearers were United States Naval Officers and military honors were provided by the military honor guard of the 343rd Fighter group at Duluth, Minnesota, the Ponti-Peterson VFW post and the McVeigh-Dunn American Legion post of Grand Rapids, Minnesota.
Buried at Itasca Calvary Cemetery in Grand Rapids, Minnesota. (Plot I-F-36-0-7)
- Tribal Affiliation(s):
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