SSG Hilbert E. Anderson & CPT Robert H. Anderson Memorial Scholarship

This scholarship is established by Alan M. Anderson M’09 in honor of his father, SSG Hilbert E. Anderson, and his uncle, CPT Robert H. Anderson, and their service to the United States during World War II. Each of them were wounded in action three times. The purpose of the fund is to provide tuition assistance to one or more students enrolled at Norwich University, and should be awarded to presently serving or honorably discharged veterans of the United States Armed Forces. The scholarship shall be awarded to recipients of the Purple Heart Medal, with priority to those who have been disabled as a result of their wounds received in action or have received multiple Purple Heart awards. Additional consideration will be given to combat veterans, specifically individuals who have received the Combat Infantryman Badge, Combat Action Badge, Combat Action Ribbon, or the equivalent award for participation in actual combat action against an enemy of the United States from their respective branch of service. Individuals presently serving in the Armed Forces of the United States who are in need of funding to timely complete an undergraduate degree completion program may also be awarded the scholarship when there are no recipients meeting the other criteria.

 

 

Staff Sergeant Hilbert E. Anderson (1917-1994), was born in Oelwein, Iowa, the third son of Emil and Hilda Anderson, who immigrated to the United States from Sweden at the tum of the century. He was drafted into the Army of the United States in January 1941, and assigned to the cavalry. Trained as radio operator, he fought with the 91st Cavalry Reconnaissance Squadron, an independent battalion size unit that was attached to a variety of infantry and armored divisions throughout the war. The unit fought in North Africa, Sicily, and Italy in some of the most difficult terrain and conditions of the war. SSG Anderson was wounded in action three times, in Tunisia and twice in Italy, the last time north of Rome. Seriously wounded in July 1944, he spent the next 4 years in hospitals recovering from his injuries, enduring over 125 operations. Honorably discharged in June 1948 with a 100% disability rating, he married, raised two children, and owned and operated a men's clothing store in Postville, Iowa, until retiring in 1978.

 

Captain Robert H. Anderson (1913-1996), was born in Oelwein, Iowa, the second son of Emil and Hilda Anderson. He was commissioned into the Army of the United States as a second lieutenant of infantry following graduation from the ROTC program at Coe College in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, in 1939. Following two years of service, he was recalled to active duty in November 1941. After several years training armored infantry, he was transported to Europe on board the Queen Mary in June 1944 and arrived in Normandy a month later. He became the commander of F Company, 2nd Battalion, 36th Armored Infantry Regiment, 3rd Armored Division and fought through France, Belgium, the Battle of the Bulge, and into Germany. He was wounded in action in November 1944, and again in January and March 1945. Robert suffered from post-traumatic stress for the remainder of his life as a result of the combat in which he participated. He remained in the Army Reserves until retiring as a captain in October 1954. Robert worked for his younger brother, Hilbert, until retirement in 1978.