Herbert "Andy" R. Anderson
Era: Vietnam
Military Branch: Army
Herbert “Andy” R. Anderson
He served in the Vietnam War.
He served in the U.S. Army, Detachment A-411, Company D, 5th Special Forces Group. He was assigned to Camp My Phuoc Tay, and served there as Medical Specialist of the detachment.
He was a Specialist Fourth Class.
Born March 25, 1944.
Son of Herbert K. and Evelyn Anderson of Virginia, Minnesota.
He died in action on January 16, 1968, in a mortar attack on the medical dispensary.
He was decorated with the Silver Star.
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Dedication Address of the Anderson Clinic
(Delivered June 14, 1968, in Can Tho, South Vietnam)
This dispensary is dedicated today in memory of Specialist Fourth Class Herbert R. Anderson, RA17722387, United States Army, Detachment A-411, Company D, 5th Special Forces Group who gave his life for his country on 21 January 1968. This soldier, twenty-three years old when he met his death, entered the service in 1965 from the State of Minnesota. Arriving here in Company D in August 1967, he was assigned to Camp My Phuoc Tay, and served there as Medical Specialist of the detachment. The sympathy and humanity he displayed in the performance of his duties there quickly earned him the respect and admiration of all who knew him, American and Vietnamese alike. The rapport he achieved with his counterparts was evidenced by the fact, that at the time when his body was recovered, it was surrounded by the Camp Strike Forces soldiers came to pay their last respects to one who had been a friend as well as an advisor. His courage and leadership in the field on numerous combat operations were proved repeatedly, and his actions were in keeping with the highest traditions of Special Forces and the military medical profession to which he has dedicated his life. It is most fitting that this dispensary, dedicated his life. It is most fitting that this dispensary, dedicated to the care of both Americans and Vietnamese, should be named in memory of Specialist Anderson, who was so deeply concerned for the care of both.
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(The following letter was received by the veteran’s father.)
COMPANY “D”
5TH SPECIAL FORCES GROUP (AIRBORNE), 1ST SPECIAL FORCES
APO San Francisco 96215
29 June 1968
Mr. Herbert K. Anderson
418 – 8th Street
Virginia, Minnesota 55792
Dear Mr. Anderson,
Our Group Headquarters has referred to us your inquiry of June 10, 1968, concerning your son’s awards. No recommendation for award was submitted for him other than the Silver Star which he received.
As you may be aware, both the Detachment Commander under whom he served were killed in action, and accordingly we cannot determine whether one of them might have intended to recommend him for on action in the time period you mentioned in your letter. Most of the award recommendations for his detachment were prepared at this Headquarters and interviews of the survivors did not disclose any other proposed award for your son.
We would like to take this opportunity to inform you that a new dispensary, to replace the one destroyed by a VC mortar attack, has been recently constructed here at Can Tho. This was named in your son’s memory on 14 June 1968, in tribute to the dedicated service he rendered. The dedication was made by LTC Ludwig Faistenhammer Jr., Commanding Officer of Company D. The ribbon was cut by Colonel Aaron, Commanding Officer of the 5th Special Forces Group (Airborne) and by CPT Bohannan Group Surgeon. Present at the ceremony were LTC Nguyen Thahn Chuan, Vietnamese Special Forces Commanding Officer of Company D, and members of the Group and Company Staffs. The dispensary has a thirty bed capacity, and will be for the care of American and Vietnamese Special Forces and Camp Strike Force personnel. The inclosed photographs show the dispensary and the dedication. LTC Ludwig Faistenhammer Jr., Commanding Officer of Company D, is shown making the address. A copy of his remarks at the dedication ceremony is attached. Facing him (with his back to the column) is Col Harold R Aaron, Commanding Officer of 5th Special Forces Group. At Col Aaron’s left is LTC Nguyen Thanh Chuan, Vieetnamese Speecial Forces Commanding Officer of Detachment C-4, Company D, LTC My, province Chief of Kien Tuong Province and LTC Nagle, Commanding Officer of Detachment B-41. The other photographs show the dispensary itself. The words “BENH-XA BIET KICH QUAN C4” MEAN IN Vietnamese “Dispensary, Camp Strike Forces, C4”. The camp Strike Forces are the indigenous forces who serve at our camps throughout the Mekong Delta.
FOR THE COMMANDER:
NICHOLAS SELLERS
Captain, Armor
Adjutant
Source: Herbert K. Anderson, father
