Military Veterans
Harold Dean Anderson
Date of Birth
Brick Location
Panel Number
Biography
Harold Anderson was drafted in the U.S. Army in March of 1951. He took his basic training at Ft. Riley, KS, then was sent to Seattle, WA. In June 1951, he was shipped out to Yokahama, Japan, and from there to Inchon, Korea.
He was in the 25th Division, 27th Regiment, 3rd Battalion, fighting on the front lines.
Harold tells the story that one night after fierce fighting, they had taken a hill and were on their way through a valley when his lieutenant said, “Hit the ground!” Everyone hit the ground except him. He was carrying a 300 pound radio and couldn’t hit the ground. He was face to face with a North Korean soldier, a “chink.” Harold shot him with a 30 caliber automatic recoilless rifle.
He reported that when on the front lines, they were allowed to shower and shave every two weeks.
At one time, he was sent back from the front line to Seoul and sent to Morse Code School, then back to the front again.
In August 1952 he left Korea by ship, and stopped in Oahu, Hawaii. He had written his sister, Barbara, that his ship would be docking there overnight. (She was living there at the time with her husband who was stationed there with the Navy). Barbara and her husband, Howard, went down to the dock to hope to get to see him, and the Commanding Officer wasn’t allowing any of the troops off the ship. After talking to the Commanding Officer, Harold was allowed off for about eight or ten hours to spend time with them. He was the only soldier allowed off the ship.
From Hawaii, his ship took him to Oakland, CA, and from there back to Ft. Riley, KS, where he was discharged in December 1952.
Harold spent most of his time in Korea as a radio operator/repairman and also guarded North Korean prisoners on a small island of Kojedo off the coast of South Korea.
He was discharged three months early because he had spent in excess of nine months overseas.
Harold was the son of John and Capitola Scobee Anderson of
El Dorado, KS.
Branch:
Rank
Private First Class
Years
Korean War
Duty
25th Division, 27th Regiment, 3rd Battalion