Earl Anderson - 2nd Lieutenant

Rank: 2nd Lieutenant
Date Of Birth: May 5, 1839
Date Of Death: Jul 15, 1918
War / Conflict: World War I
Hometown: Des Moines, Iowa
Gold Star Hall - Wall Location: East Wall (by Entrance Door)
Class Year: 1915
Service Branch: Army
ISU Major: Electrical Engineering

Biography

Civilian Life

Earl Granville Anderson was born in Joliet, Illinois and grew up in Des Moines, Iowa. While in high school, he developed a great dislike for everything pertaining to Germany. He objected to studying the German language and acquiesced only when he was threatened with expulsion. 

Military Career

Perhaps Anderson's disgust for Germany served as the impetus for his enlistment in the army in June of 1917. He was commissioned Second Lieutenant with the army engineers. He sailed for France on 6 December 1917 and was put in command of Company D, 6th Engineers. In writing the Alumni Secretary on 29 June, he said: “Today just about finishes my first six months. One service stripe is now due. This has been a varied experience for me. Have seen service with the three armies on the Western Front, American, British, French."

On 1 July 1918,  Lieutenant Anderson received orders to return to the United States, but upon reaching Paris the order was countermanded and he returned to the front line. At midnight on 14 July 1918, Germany renewed their offensive on the Western Front. The German bombardment focused on Château-Thierry, France where Anderson was stationed. He died in a field hospital near the front lines on 15 July 1918, from wounds he received that day in the abdomen and thigh.