CHARLES CALDER ANDERSON, JR. ’62

Cullum Number 24279

12 November, 1939- 22 March, 1967

Died in Vietnam – Interred at West Point, NY

Chuck entered West Point with the Class of 1962 in the summer of 1958, with a year at Olympic Junior College behind him. The son of Charles C. Anderson, Sr., and Mrs. Neta Gunderson, he was a graduate of North Central High School in Spokane, Washington.

In a recent book, “Absolutely American – Four Years at West Point,” author David Lipsky observes that “of all the young people I'd met, the West Point cadets -- although they were grand, epic complainers -- were the happiest.''

Despite being a sometimes “epic” complainer, Chuck was one of us who were secretly very happy to be at West Point. Like many of us, he didn’t achieve the highest levels of cadet rank or academic recognition. But as a cadet Chuck was able to achieve excellence in characteristically distinctive ways. Although slight of stature in a place where physical strength and ability is the norm, his athletic ability, stamina, and four years of dedication on the soccer pitch with Joe Palone enabled him to become a cadet coach of the Plebe soccer team his First Class year.

This leadership on the fields of friendly strife, combined with his inspired direction of two One Hundredth Night shows, demonstrated Chuck’s ability to function as an exemplary leader. Chuck had personal charisma, keen insights and the demonstrated ability to make good decisions under pressure – whether polishing the skills of a small team of fierce competitors - or directing the creative efforts of a hundred or more members of the Dialectic Society and the USMA Band – imposing order on the chaos of a typical production. In both cases he was able to demonstrate and refine leadership traits that prepared him well for his career as an outstanding young Army officer – perhaps more so than any degree of Cadet rank could have.

Although Chuck didn't apply himself to the attainment of academic recognition, his creative gifts: wit and language – enabled him to become a featured DJ on KDET as a plebe, and to co-author the two memorable 100^th Night Shows that he directed: “Point West” in 1961 – a parody of cadet life as experienced at the “West Island Military Preparatory School” (WIMPS) – and in 1962, “Once a Knight,” portraying a cadet’s misadventures as he finds himself in a remote European principality – Flaschenflingen – instead of his expected summer assignment with troops in Germany.

It was during Chuck’s summer of Army Orientation Training with the 82d Airborne Division at Fort Bragg in 1960 that he met the love of his life – Cecilia Keist – daughter of Colonel and Mrs. Franklin Keist – on a blind date at an Officer’s Club dance. He was smitten!

He and Cecilia were married in the Fort Bragg post chapel on June 9, 1962, three days after his graduation from West Point.

Long conversations with his prospective father-in-law, Director of the Airborne Section of the Airborne and Electronics Board at Bragg – and his mother-in-law to be, Neva Keist (or “Mrs./Colonel Keist, Sir/Ma’am!” as Chuck sometimes referred to her) – led Chuck to opt for service in the airborne Artillery. He also requested assignment to Fort Bragg following Airborne training, Ranger School and the Officer’s Basic Course at Fort Sill. In Ranger School, Chuck distinguished himself by being the only known graduate to actually gain weight during the program!

Chuck flourished at Fort Bragg. A highly successful Battery officer, in 1964 Chuck was selected for assignment as Aide to General Seitz, Commanding General of the XVIII Airborne Corps Artillery. He adapted well to a role that required a wide range of skills – in interpersonal communications, sociability, tact, foresight, and meticulous attention to detail. General Sykes – who had been an Aide himself – was so impressed by Chuck’s ability to handle this most challenging assignment that he personally made himself and Chuck the founding members of the “Aides and ex-Aides Benevolent Society” – a professional/social group that encompassed all of the Aides, including classmates Jim Ellis, Jim Kays and Mike Crabtree, (and many of the General officers) on post!

Living at Fort Bragg with Cecilia and her parents – as a husband and a father – Chuck enjoyed the love and affection of his new extended family.

Following advanced course assignments at Ft Sill and Ft Bliss, Chuck received orders to join the 3d Battalion (Airborne), 319^th Field Artillery in Vietnam - the first U.S. Army artillery unit engaged in combat in Southeast Asia – in direct support of the 173d Airborne Brigade. There, he was appointed Battery Commander of A Battery.

Cecilia and infant sons Charles III and Douglas moved to Bremerton to be closer to Chuck’s beloved grandparents, Charles and Nella Anderson – and to Chuck.

In February 1967 Chuck led his unit in the only combat jump made by U.S. forces in Vietnam - the first U.S. combat parachute assault since the Korean War. The drop zone was three kilometers North of Katum, and about 60 miles northwest of Saigon. Chuck’s mission was to lead his unit in support of the 2d Battalion, 503d Infantry and other elements of the 173d on D-Day of operation Junction City. 

According to the official U.S. Army history of that operation:

On D-day, 22 February 1967, the artillerymen of Battery A, 3d Battalion, 319th Artillery, under operational control of the 2d Battalion, 503d Infantry, 173d Airborne, participated in the only U.S. parachute assault conducted in the war. Led by the battery commander, Captain Charles C. Anderson, the entire battery parachuted into the area around Katum. The howitzers were dropped into the landing zone by C-130's. From a position established in the vicinity of the landing zone, Battery A provided direct artillery support for search and destroy operations conducted by maneuver elements in the vicinity of Katum.

As Phase I of Junction City wound down, Chuck was able to join Cecilia for R&R in Hawaii in early March of 1967. He returned to his command, still attached to the 173d Airborne Brigade, to lead them into Phase II of Junction City.

The 173d was attached to the Big Red One on 20 March with the mission of conducting airmobile assaults into eastern War Zone C. On the 22d the 173d established Fire Support Patrol Base PARRY near Route 244, seven kilometers south of the junction of Routes 244 and 246.

It was while on that operation, on 22 March, 1967, that Chuck was killed by friendly fire from another U.S. artillery unit. He was buried at West Point, with his classmates. Cecilia donated his black star sapphire class ring to the Academy collection, where it is still on display representing the Class of 1962.

He is survived by his widow – Cecilia Anderson Boyce; his sons, Major Charles C. Anderson III, USARNG, and Major Douglas Anderson, USAR; and five grandchildren.

Chuck was a fine young man – dedicated, intelligent, and quick-witted. An above average cadet, he rapidly matured into an outstanding young officer, a loving husband and a proud father. His memory is preserved in the history books, in the minds of those who knew him and loved him, and in the lives of his sons, who chose to follow his footsteps – in active military service in a time of peril.

In February 1967 Chuck led his unit in the only combat jump made by U.S. forces in Vietnam - the first U.S. combat parachute assault since the Korean War…..

BIBLIOGRAPHY

319th Airborne Field Artillery Regiment

http://www.bragg.army.mil/319AFAR/vietnam.htm

FIELD ARTILLERY, 1954-1973

by
Major General David Ewing Ott

DEPARTMENT OF THE ARMY
WASHINGTON, D.C., 1975

http://www.army.mil/cmh-pg/books/Vietnam/FA54-73/ch4.htm

VIETNAM STUDIES

CEDAR FALLS- JUNCTION CITY:

A TURNING POINT

by
Lieutenant General Bernard William Rogers

DEPARTMENT OF THE ARMY WASHINGTON, D. C., 1989

http://www.army.mil/cmh/books/Vietnam/90-7/cont.htm