Frank L. Anders
Encyclopedia
Frank LaFayette Anders was a United States Army
soldier received the Medal of Honor
for actions during the Philippine-American War
. He went on to become a noteworthy engineer, businessman, amateur military historian and politician.
, Dakota Territory
, in what is now Fort Abraham Lincoln State Park, North Dakota
. His father, formerly a Union Army
soldier died of complications related to his wounds in 1890, and Anders, at age 15 began work with the Northern Pacific Railroad and became a machinist
.
and after starting his second enlistment was deployed to the Philippines
.
. His medal was officially awarded on March 3, 1906.
Citation:
in 1899, he worked for mining interests and in 1902, armed with only a seventh grade
education and a few months at Dakota Business College
(1895) , he decided to attend Ripon College
and after graduation in 1906 he became the first person awarded a scholarship
by the University of Wisconsin–Madison
where he studied Civil Engineering
and was initiated into Acacia Fraternity
in 1907, and was chief engineer with Utah Smelting Corporation from 1909 until 1920. In 1918, he was commissioned a Captain in the Corps of Engineers
and stationed in Fort Dodge, Iowa
. In 1919 he was transferred to Fort Riley
where he was in charge of hospital
s and also served in Washington, D.C.
and at the Henry Ford Hospital
in Michigan
. Major Anders died in 1966, and was the oldest surviving recipient of the Medal of Honor at his death.
United States Army
The United States Army is the main branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for land-based military operations. It is the largest and oldest established branch of the U.S. military, and is one of seven U.S. uniformed services...
soldier received the Medal of Honor
Medal of Honor
The Medal of Honor is the highest military decoration awarded by the United States government. It is bestowed by the President, in the name of Congress, upon members of the United States Armed Forces who distinguish themselves through "conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his or her...
for actions during the Philippine-American War
Philippine-American War
The Philippine–American War, also known as the Philippine War of Independence or the Philippine Insurrection , was an armed conflict between a group of Filipino revolutionaries and the United States which arose from the struggle of the First Philippine Republic to gain independence following...
. He went on to become a noteworthy engineer, businessman, amateur military historian and politician.
Early years
Anders was born in Fort Abraham LincolnFort Abraham Lincoln
Fort Abraham Lincoln State Park is located seven miles south of Mandan, North Dakota. The park is home to On-A-Slant Indian Village, the blockhouses and the Custer house...
, Dakota Territory
Dakota Territory
The Territory of Dakota was an organized incorporated territory of the United States that existed from March 2, 1861, until November 2, 1889, when the final extent of the reduced territory was split and admitted to the Union as the states of North and South Dakota.The Dakota Territory consisted of...
, in what is now Fort Abraham Lincoln State Park, North Dakota
North Dakota
North Dakota is a state located in the Midwestern region of the United States of America, along the Canadian border. The state is bordered by Canada to the north, Minnesota to the east, South Dakota to the south and Montana to the west. North Dakota is the 19th-largest state by area in the U.S....
. His father, formerly a Union Army
Union Army
The Union Army was the land force that fought for the Union during the American Civil War. It was also known as the Federal Army, the U.S. Army, the Northern Army and the National Army...
soldier died of complications related to his wounds in 1890, and Anders, at age 15 began work with the Northern Pacific Railroad and became a machinist
Machinist
A machinist is a person who uses machine tools to make or modify parts, primarily metal parts, a process known as machining. This is accomplished by using machine tools to cut away excess material much as a woodcarver cuts away excess wood to produce his work. In addition to metal, the parts may...
.
Active Service and War years
In 1894 Anders enlisted in the National GuardUnited States National Guard
The National Guard of the United States is a reserve military force composed of state National Guard militia members or units under federally recognized active or inactive armed force service for the United States. Militia members are citizen soldiers, meaning they work part time for the National...
and after starting his second enlistment was deployed to the Philippines
Philippines
The Philippines , officially known as the Republic of the Philippines , is a country in Southeast Asia in the western Pacific Ocean. To its north across the Luzon Strait lies Taiwan. West across the South China Sea sits Vietnam...
.
Medal & Citation
On May 13, 1899, Anders was one of eleven men later awarded the medal for actions which took place against the Philippine Rebels. These men, part of Young's Scouts caused 300 members of the enemy to retreat before their sudden chargeCharge (warfare)
A charge is a maneuver in battle in which soldiers advance towards their enemy at their best speed in an attempt to engage in close combat. The charge is the dominant shock attack and has been the key tactic and decisive moment of most battles in history...
. His medal was officially awarded on March 3, 1906.
Citation:
With 11 other scouts, without waiting for the supporting battalionBattalionA battalion is a military unit of around 300–1,200 soldiers usually consisting of between two and seven companies and typically commanded by either a Lieutenant Colonel or a Colonel...
to aid them or to get into a position to do so, charged over a distance of about 150 yards (137.2 m) and completely routed about 300 of the enemy who were in line and in a position that could only be carried by a frontal attack.
Post-war service and death
After returning to the United StatesUnited States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
in 1899, he worked for mining interests and in 1902, armed with only a seventh grade
Seventh grade
Seventh grade is a year of education in the United States and many other nations. The seventh grade is the seventh school year after kindergarten. Students are usually 12–13 years old. Traditionally, seventh grade was the next-to-last year of elementary school...
education and a few months at Dakota Business College
Dakota Business College
Dakota Business College was a small, private college in Fargo, North Dakota. It was established in 1890 by F. Leland Watkins and was still owned by the Watkins family when it finally closed in 1978....
(1895) , he decided to attend Ripon College
Ripon College (Wisconsin)
Ripon College is a liberal arts college in Ripon, Wisconsin, USA. It offers small class sizes and intensive mentoring to students. Ripon has a chapter of Phi Beta Kappa--one of the nation's most prestigious honor societies. Alumni have high rates of success in the workforce as well as acceptance...
and after graduation in 1906 he became the first person awarded a scholarship
Scholarship
A scholarship is an award of financial aid for a student to further education. Scholarships are awarded on various criteria usually reflecting the values and purposes of the donor or founder of the award.-Types:...
by the University of Wisconsin–Madison
University of Wisconsin–Madison
The University of Wisconsin–Madison is a public research university located in Madison, Wisconsin, United States. Founded in 1848, UW–Madison is the flagship campus of the University of Wisconsin System. It became a land-grant institution in 1866...
where he studied Civil Engineering
Civil engineering
Civil engineering is a professional engineering discipline that deals with the design, construction, and maintenance of the physical and naturally built environment, including works like roads, bridges, canals, dams, and buildings...
and was initiated into Acacia Fraternity
Acacia Fraternity
Acacia Fraternity is a Greek social fraternity originally based out of Masonic tradition. At its founding in 1904, membership was originally restricted to those who had taken the Masonic obligations, and the organization was built on those ideals and principles. Within one year, four other Masonic...
in 1907, and was chief engineer with Utah Smelting Corporation from 1909 until 1920. In 1918, he was commissioned a Captain in the Corps of Engineers
United States Army Corps of Engineers
The United States Army Corps of Engineers is a federal agency and a major Army command made up of some 38,000 civilian and military personnel, making it the world's largest public engineering, design and construction management agency...
and stationed in Fort Dodge, Iowa
Fort Dodge, Iowa
Fort Dodge is a city and county seat of Webster County, Iowa, United States, along the Des Moines River. The population was 25,206 in the 2010 census, an increase from 25,136 in the 2000 census. Fort Dodge is a major commercial center for North Central and Northwest Iowa. It is located on U.S...
. In 1919 he was transferred to Fort Riley
Fort Riley
Fort Riley is a United States Army installation located in Northeast Kansas, on the Kansas River, between Junction City and Manhattan. The Fort Riley Military Reservation covers 100,656 acres in Geary and Riley counties and includes two census-designated places: Fort Riley North and Fort...
where he was in charge of hospital
Hospital
A hospital is a health care institution providing patient treatment by specialized staff and equipment. Hospitals often, but not always, provide for inpatient care or longer-term patient stays....
s and also served in Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, "the District", or simply D.C., is the capital of the United States. On July 16, 1790, the United States Congress approved the creation of a permanent national capital as permitted by the U.S. Constitution....
and at the Henry Ford Hospital
Henry Ford Hospital
Henry Ford Hospital, the flagship facility for , is an 805-bed tertiary care hospital, education and research complex located in Detroit ....
in Michigan
Michigan
Michigan is a U.S. state located in the Great Lakes Region of the United States of America. The name Michigan is the French form of the Ojibwa word mishigamaa, meaning "large water" or "large lake"....
. Major Anders died in 1966, and was the oldest surviving recipient of the Medal of Honor at his death.
Marriage and personal life
in 1910, Anders married Mary Bertha Hargrave and had two children Franklin and Marion.See also
- List of Medal of Honor recipients
- List of Philippine–American War Medal of Honor recipients