Major General Norman J. Anderson - Retired
Major General Anderson, who saw his last tour of duty as the Deputy Chief of Staff of the Atlantic Command in Norfolk, VA, retired from ACTIVE duty June 30, 1972.
Norman Jacob Anderson was born in Manitowoc, WI, and graduated from high school in Glendale, CA. He then attended the University of California at Los Angeles where he was a member of the ROTC unit, and graduated in 1934 with a B.A. degree in History. He also completed one term of postgraduate study at Stanford University. In January 1936, he was appointed an Aviation Cadet in the USMCR and the following month was assigned active duty as a student Naval Aviator at Pensacola, Fla. He was designated a Naval Aviator February 26, 1937, and subsequently assigned to aviation duty at Quantico, VA and again at Pensacola. While at Quantico he was appointed a Marine Reserve second lieutenant.
In April 1940, when his active duty period expired, Second Lieutenant Anderson joined American Airlines as a pilot. A year before WWII broke out, he requested reassignment to active duty and returned to Pensacola as an instructor. He was integrated in the regular Marine Corps February 25, 1941, as a first lieutenant. When the war began, he was serving as Aide to the Commanding General, 1st Marine Air Wing. He was promoted to captain in February 1942, and to major in August 1942.
Ordered overseas, he served as pilot and Assistant Operations Officer with MAG-25 in the Solomon’s from August 1, 1942 to September 1, 1943. Later, he flew over 100 bombing missions as Commanding Officer, Marine Bombing Squadron 423, in the Bismarck Archipelago, and Philippine campaigns, from February 1944 to September 1945. For heroism and distinguished service during this period, he was awarded three Distinguished Flying Crosses and seven Air Medals. He was promoted to lieutenant colonel in March 1944.
Following the war, Lieutenant Colonel Anderson returned to the United States, and served until Feb 1947 at Marine Corps Air Station, El Toro, CA, sequentially as Executive Officer, Air Base Group 2, and then Commander, Aircraft Engineering Squadron 21. Assigned next to Marine Corps Schools Quantico, VA, he completed the Junior Course in August 1947, and then was retained as Chief of the Air Section of the Junior School. In March 1950, he became Deputy Commander of MAG-33.
With the outbreak of hostilities in Korea, Lieutenant Colonel Anderson sailed in mid-July 1950 for the Western Pacific aboard the USS Badoeng Strait with elements of MAG-33, including its Headquarters Squadron, its Service Squadron, its Air Control Squadron, and Marine Fighter Squadron-323 with 18 F4U-5s. As a pilot flying with VMF-323 based aboard the Badoeng Strait (affectionately known as the BingDing), he earned the Silver Star Medal, his 4th DFC, and his 8th through 10th Air Medals.
Lieutenant Colonel Anderson was assigned to the Pacific Fleet Evaluation Group in March 1951. While serving in this capacity, he was promoted to Colonel in December 1951 and the following June he returned to the U.S.
In August 1952, Colonel Anderson entered the National War College in Washington, DC. Upon graduation in June 1953, he was ordered to head the Air Section, Tactics and Techniques Board, at Quantico, for three years. In June 1956, he was assigned to HQMC and served as Chief of the Policy Analysis Division until June 1959. In September, after six weeks of intensive flying with the Jet Transition Training Unit at Olathe, KS, he reported to the 1st MAW in the Far East. In December 1959, Colonel Anderson assumed command of MAG-11, Atsugi, Japan, which, during the succeeding 12 months, operated at various times from airfields and aircraft carriers throughout the Western Pacific as part of the Marine Corps mobile ready forces. Reporting again to the National War College in Jan 1961 for special staff work.
In August 1961, he reported to HQMC for duty as Deputy Assistant C/S (G-3), and was promoted to Brigadier General in November 1961. In May 1962, upon the reorganization of the Office of the DC/S (Plans), he was designated as the Assistant to the DC/S (Plans) for Joint Matters. The following July, Brigadier General Anderson was assigned duty as DC/S (Air).
Detached from HQMC in November 1963, he was assigned duty as Assistant Wing Commander, 2nd MAW, Cherry Point, NC. He was designated Commanding General, Marine Corps Air Bases, Eastern Area and Commanding General, MCAS Cherry Point in March 1964. While serving in the latter capacity, he was promoted to major general in January 1966. For his service as Commanding General, 2nd MAW, from May 1966 until May 1967, he was awarded the Navy Commendation Medal.
Ordered to the Republic of Vietnam in June 1967, he assumed duty as Deputy Commander for Air, Ill MAF and CG, 1st MAW, and earned the Distinguished Service Medal and his 11th Air Medal.
Brigadier General Anderson's medals and decorations include the Distinguished Service Medal with gold star; Silver Star; Distinguished Flying Cross with three gold stars in lieu of subsequent awards; Air Medal with two silver stars in lieu of second through eleventh awards; Navy Commendation Medal; Presidential Unit Citation with two bronze stars in lieu of second and third awards; Navy Unit Commendation; American Defense Service Medal; American Campaign Medal; Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal with two bronze stars; WWII Victory Medal; National Defense Service Medal with one bronze star; Korean Service Medal with three bronze stars; Vietnam Service Medal with one bronze star; National Order of Vietnam (5th Class); Vietnamese Cross of Gallantry with palm; three Korean Presidential Unit Citations; United Nations Service Medal; and Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal. [[https://slsp.manpower.usmc.mil/GOSA/biographies/rptBiography.asp?PERSON_ID=405&PERSON_TYPE=General]]