SGT Andrew Anderson

Army | Infantryman

Dates of Service: Mar 1963 - Dec 1971

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Bio

I was born into a Military family in Portland, Maine in Jan 1946. Being military dependents we moved quite often from Maine to Massachusetts, Missouri, Kansas, Virginia, and Germany. My teen years were spent in Northern Virginia. I joined the Army in 1963 at 17 and spend the next 8 years, 8 months, & 18 days serving in the Armed Forces. Two tours in Germany and 1 in Vietnam. Discharged 12/17/71

Military Experiences

Jan 1969 - Dec 1971

Personnel Specialist

HHC & Band, 3d Inf. Div, DISCOM | Emery Kaserne, Germany

Was assigned to the Division DISCOM and worked in G3. Along with a Senior NCO, helped to develop a Division-wide training program inspection protocol. Also assisted with the inspection of all Company level Training Programs to verify compliance with Division policies. Following about 18 months in that position I was assigned to the Headquarters & Headquarters Company as a Personnel Specialist/Company Clerk. This was my last assignment in the Army and I totally enjoyed my time with this unit. A real sense of accomplishment for which I received the ARCOM.

Jun 1968 - Dec 1968

Training NCO

77th Port Construction Company | Fort Belvoir, VA

Developed training schedules, lesson plans, and assigned instructors. Also responsible for scheduling range time for annual weapons qualification. The 77th was a unique company as all the members with the exception of a few, including myself were hard-helmet deep sea and SCUBA diver qualified. The divers, like those who are airborne qualified who need to make so many jumps in order to maintain jump status, divers were required to take regular physicals and complete a number of underwater tasks in order to maintain diver status. All the required training & qualification exams had to be scheduled as well. Again this was only a short assignment of about 6 months and off I was to Germany again.

Jan 1968 - Jun 1968

Electrician

HQ, USAG | Yakima Training Center, WA

Was assigned to the USAG Yakima, WA upon my return from Vietnam. Although I was not an electrician 52F, I was assigned to this unit as one! Worked with the Post Engineers to maintain the facilities in Yakima. Yakima was a very large training base with very few permanent party personnel. It is used by Fort Lewis and surrounding Reserve Units in Washington, Oregon, and Idaho for firing heavy artillery as well as tank range firing. The majority of personnel were MP's, a total of about 75 soldiers at the time. Also worked as a bartender in the EM/NCO Club as well as run the movie projector in the base theater. Strange assignment and it was short-lived, moved on after about 6 months.

Dec 1966 - Dec 1967

Infantryman

HQ, MACV & 44th Sig Bn, 1st Sig BDE | Long Bien, Bien Hoa, Siagon, Vietnam

When I first arrived in Vietnam I had a brand new primary MOS of 51L Air Cond & Refrig repairman. I also had a secondary of 11B. Guess what, never saw an AC unit or Refrig again. Was given my old 11B back and assigned to a MACV security team to provide security for the 1st Signal Brigade as they began to install communications and relay sites all over Vietnam. I was eventually assigned to the 44th Signal Bn as a driver for the Bn SgtMajor. Having been in the Infantry for almost 4 years, going to a non-grunt unit was kind of a vacation. The 44th Signal Bn SgtMaj wasn't anywhere near as gung-ho as even the last squad leader I had in the 51st Inf Bn. Anyway came home in one piece.

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Deployments

(6 years, 9 months)

Dec 1968 - Dec 1971

HHQ 3d Infantry Div, DISCOM

Was assigned to the Division DISCOM and worked in G3. Along with the G3 Senior NCO, helped to develop a Div-wide training program & inspection protocol. Assisted with the inspection of all Company level Training Programs throughout the Div to verify compliance with Div policies. Also, Headquarters Company as a Personnel Specialist/Company Clerk.

Dec 1966 - Dec 1967

HQ MACV, 44th Sig, 1st Sig BDE

Was assigned to a Hqs & Hqs MACV as a security team member to provide security for various units of the 1st Signal Brigade as they began to install communications and relay sites all over Vietnam. Following an injury, I was assigned to the 44th Signal Bn as a driver for the Bn SgtMajor.

Dec 1963 - Jun 1966

1st Bn, 51st Infantry (Mech) 4th Armored Div

Arrived in Germany and was assigned to the 4th Armored Div in Dec 1963. I was assigned to the 3d platoon of A Co. 51s Infantry. I was 1st a Rifleman, then M60 Gunner in the weapons squad, and finally an APC Driver for the weapons squad. Most training took place in the winter and focused on cold weather warfare.