In Memory of

US Army Air Force: Lt.
Melvin L. Anderson
Lake Norden, South Dakota
Hamlin County
January 10, 1914 – April 1942
MIA – Pacific Ocean – SW of Hawaii

Melvin L. Anderson was born in Lake Norden, South Dakota on January 10, 1914.  His parents are Richard and Eleva Anderson.  He had siblings Myrtle, Harry, Clarence, Ray, Elida, and Valda.  Anderson’s attended Lake Norden school and Huron College.  He graduated from Lake Norden High School in 1932 and in 1940 from Huron College where he played baseball and basketball and was a member of the boxing team.  Anderson worked as a teacher, and coached both track and basketball for Plankington High School.  He never married and he had no children.

Melvin enlisted in the United States Air Force in 1940 and was trained in Randolph Field, San Antonio, Texas.  He was sent overseas in 1941 to Hickham Air Base in Honolulu, Hawaii.  Anderson held the rank of Lieutenant in the 22nd division Bomb Group, 2^nd Squadron.  He left Honolulu on a military assignment, but did not reach his destination, therefore considered missing in action during the month of April, 1942.

Anderson perished in the Pacific Ocean, southwest of Hawaii in April, the year 1942.  He flew his B26 Bomber from Honolulu, and never arrived at his assigned destination.  Melvin L. Anderson’s original burial was in the Pacific Ocean.

The survivors at the time of his death were his siblings Myrtle, Harry, Clarence, Ray, Elida, and Valda.  Elida is the current survivor.

This profile is respectfully submitted by Brandy Buller, seventh grade, with the help of her English teacher Jennifer Weber, May 2002. Information from this profile was received from Eunice Anderson, sister-in-law to Melvin Anderson.