Gerald 'Andy' Anderson fought with the fabled 1st Infantry Division (the Big Red One) from Sicily through the end of World War II. He landed in the second wave on Omaha Beach on D-Day. He was wounded twice, the first time during the battle for the German city of Aachen. He was evacuated to England, but rejoined the division during its fight in the Battle of the Bulge where it held the northern shoulder of the bulge despite repeated attacks. Andy insisted on staying with his unit when injured a second time, and after the war returned to the United States in September 1945. In 1949 he married Jo Hillman, the woman he had corresponded with throughout the war. In his later years he attended several D-Day reunions.
Interview Links
Feature Except-Audio
Searching for enemy mines
Abstract
Interview Session 01 (Audio)
Growing up during the Depression in central Illinois & military training
Interview Session 02 (Audio)
Service with the 1st Infantry Division from Sicily to early Dec 1944
Interview Session 03 (Audio)
Fight at Battle of the Bulge to end of the war, and post-war years
Videos
Photos
Caption
Anderson played on his battalion’s basketball team during the unit’s time in England, late 1943-1944. 20-0 record. L to R: Christian (OH); Esh (IL); Nedelka (IL); Yoder (PA); Muren (IL); Anderson (IL); Monday (MI); Herrington (OK); Czaplewski (OH); Zack.
Where:
England
When:
late 1943-1944
Ownership:
This image is considered to be in the public domain
Caption
Josephine Hillman sent this pair of photos to Andy Anderson in early 1944 when his unit was preparing for the D-Day landings on June 6. Andy carried the photos with him throughout the rest of the war.
Where:
England
When:
early 1944
Ownership:
Narrator’s photo
Caption
Andy referred to these as the “2 Dumb Swedes,” Richard Carlson and Gerald Anderson in post-war Germany in the summer of 1945.
Where:
Germany
When:
summer of 1945
Ownership:
Narrator’s photo
Caption
David D. Johnson & Gerald “Andy” Anderson while on occupation duty in post-war Germany.
Where:
Germany
When:
Summer of 1945
Ownership:
Narrator’s photo
Caption
Left to right: Gerald Anderson, Milton C. Pepper, and “Swede” Harold Carlson walked confidently down Chicago’s State Street after the war.
Where:
Chicago, Illinois
When:
Fall 1945
Ownership:
Narrator’s photo
Caption
Andy Anderson and Josephine (Jo) Hillman had this photo taken shortly after Andy’s arrival in Chicago in October 1945. Jo was enrolled in a Chicago area nursing school at the time. They were married in 1949.
Where:
Chicago, Illinois
When:
October 1945
Ownership:
Narrator’s photo
Caption
Gerald Anderson was enjoying a C-ration meal while on occupation duty in Germany after the war.
Where:
Germany
When:
after the war
Ownership:
Narrator’s photo
Caption
Gerald Anderson, 91, proudly wears the Legion of Honor medal he received from the French government for services rendered to France during World War II.
Where:
Unknown
When:
Unknown
Ownership:
Image from article “An Eagle, a Bogey and Two Birdies” in the Sunday, March 2, 2014 issue of The Pilot, Southern Pines, NC. May be restricted. Patrons desiring to use this photograph should contact the ALPL Audio-Visual Curator.