Drafted: December 5, 1942
Discharged: April 23, 1945
Gordon In Uniform Gordon in 1988
Gordon Anderson was my dad's uncle, or my grandpa, Edward Anderson's brother. His parents are John O'Dean and Cora Matilda. There were 8 children in their family; 6 boys and 2 girls. From oldest to youngest: Maurice, Matilda, Linford, Roy, Robbie, Gordon, Edward, and LaRee. Linford lived only one day. Gordon was born in Mayfield, Utah on April 27, 1922. Gordon had a special appreciation for the mountains, and loved to spend time there especially with his family. Gordon worked in the mountains logging with his Dad. Later he got a job with his older brother Maurice on the railroad. That was where he was working when he was drafted into the army. Maurice didn't serve in the war, but the four other sons that were still living all were drafted into World War II. When a son went out to war, his parents got a paper star to put in their front window. So John O'Dean and Cora Matilda had four stars on their front window at one time. That was pretty neat and unusual.
Gordon reported to Fort Douglas, Salt Lake City on December 5, 1942. He was sent to Camp Howze, Texas for basic training. He was then transferred to Camp Polk in Shreveport, Louisiana on November 18, 1943. Gordon came home on a furlough the end of January 1944 and arrived back at Camp Claiborne on February 2, 1944. He received the rank of Private First Class the last of February 1944. He then went to Fort Mead, Maryland on March 16, 1944 and sailed out of the U.S.A. on March 23, 1944.
The four brothers that served in WWII at their brother's
(Maurice) funeral.
Gordon landed in Italy on April 4, 1944. His outfit fought their way up through Italy. Gordon received two shrapnel wounds along the way. Both wounds him in the hospital for a while. |
Then they went on into France where he was seriously wounded on December 4, 1944. His family still at home didn't hear anymore froom him until December 11, 1944 and they heard that he was okay and he was being shipped to the U.S.A. On December 21, they heard he was in Denver in the Fitzsimmons Hospital. He came home on furlough in February. He returned to Camp Carson, Colorado and received an honorable discharged on April 23, 1945. He fought with the 180th Infantry in the European Theater where he was wounded three separate times.
Gordon continually wrote to his older sister Matilda Anderson Jensen who was married to Calvin Jensen and was living in Mayfield at the time. Gordon wrote optimistic letters and often sent comics with his letters to cheer up his family at home.
Gordon never married or had any children, but he had many family members and friends that visited him often. He started having heart trouble about a year before he passed away. In February 1993 he had a heart attack that put him in the hospital. He was then sent to a Provo hospital. My family visited him before he died and I'm grateful we did. Gordon Willis Anderson passed away at age 70 on March 18, 1993. Gordon was buried in the Mayfield cemetery. Gordon was very respected by a lot of people around the valley and had a great respect of the mountains, the cemetery and his family and friends. His sister Matilda quoted, "he was a friend to everyone and everyone was his friend."
Gordon and Leonard Yeagle
Italy July 23, 1944
Deloy Whitlock and Gordon
in uniform
Gordon In Italy July 23, 1944
After the war about 1945