Cover photo for Melvin Carl Anderson, Sgt. U.S. Army's Obituary
Melvin Carl Anderson, Sgt. U.S. Army Profile Photo
1912 Melvin 1944

Melvin Carl Anderson, Sgt. U.S. Army

December 15, 1912 — November 25, 1944

Melvin Carl Anderson was born in Kansas City, Missouri to Swedish immigrant parents Carl Olaf Anderson and Ellen Sophia Johnson. The family moved to Stromsberg, Nebraska in 1914 at the urging of Carl’s sister Carolina Hedberg. The family moved to Omaha in 1922 so that Melvin’s father could pursue his career as a cabinet maker.



Melvin spent his formative years in Omaha. He was a member of St. Mark’s Lutheran Church. Mel, as he was known to his family, graduated from Technical High School in 1930. Mel was known as a kind, fun loving guy. He was working for a dry cleaning company prior to entering the Army.



Mel entered the Army from Omaha in 1942. He was stationed at a variety of posts in the US including Bremerton, Washington, Texas and New Jersey. He was reassigned to London, England in February 1944 in preparation of D-Day. Mel’s unit landed at Omaha Beach on 10 June 1944 where he was hit in the arm by a sniper bullet. Mel was returned to England for medical care and to recuperate. He rejoined his unit the end of September 1944.



Company C, 803 Tank Destroyer Battalion was sent to the Hurtgen Forest on the border of Belgium and Germany. The Battle of the Hurtgen Forest was one of the longest battles fought during WWII. Mel was the commander of an M10 Tank Destroyer with a crew of 5. There they and many other units battled for two months to take the forest. On 25 November 1944, Mel’s unit was under heavy fire as they broke thru the forest near Groshau, Germany. Unfortunately Mel’s Tank Destroyer was hit by anti-tank artillery. Melvin, and Cpl Joseph Akers were killed in the attack. The 3 other crew members were able to escape.



Unfortunately no remains were recovered for Mel or Akers. They have been listed as Missing in Action until 10 May 2018 when both men’s remains were identified at the Offutt Air Force Base DNA Lab.



They were buried together as Unknowns at the Rhone American Cemetery in southern France. Both soldiers have been memorialized on the Tablets of the Missing in Margraten, Netherlands.



Preceding Mel in death in 1944 were his brother Elmer in 1909 and his father Carl in 1937. Surviving Mel in 1944 were his mother Ellen, brother Verner Anderson and sister Violette Anderson all of Omaha, sister Edith (John) Richeson, nephew John Richeson and neice Susan Richeson.



Surviving Mel today are nieces Susan-Kelley Anderson, Spokane Washington, Mary (Ed) McGinnis Johnson, Omaha, Maureen (Lowell) Herzberg, Minneapolis Minnesota, and Joani McGinnis, Shenandoah Iowa. Mel is also survived by 8 great nieces and nephews and 18 great great nieces and nephews.

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Service Schedule

Past Services

Memorial Service

Friday, October 12, 2018

Starts at 10:00 am (Central time)

John A. Gentleman Mortuaries - L Street Chapel

4712 South 82nd Street, Ralston, NE 68127

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Burial

Omaha National Cemetery

14250 Schram Road, Omaha, NE 68138

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