Lucky Bag Yearbook

From the 1969 Lucky Bag:

GERALD JOHN ANDERSON, JR.

Jer came to Navy from the University of Arizona where he was a member of Delta Upsilon fraternity. Jer enjoyed the good life and tried his best to make his four years the best possible. He was never one to turn down a party in or out of the Hall. Staying out of trouble with the Executive Department became an art with him. Jer knew how to play hard and work hard. Attending Culver Military Academy before college gave him an insight into the requirements of military life. Being a natural athlete, he was able to make intramural sports successful. With Jer’s gifted personality and willingness to work, he will be a great credit to the Naval Service.

Loss

Gerald was lost on July 16, 1970 when the aircraft he was piloting crashed near Whiting Field, Pensacola, Florida.

Other Information

From the November 1970 issue of Shipmate:

Lt. (jg) Gerald John Anderson, USN, died 16 July when his aircraft crashed at Whiting Field near Pensacola, Fl. Funeral services were held in the Whiting Chapel.

A native of Tucson, Az., he attended Culver Military Academy and the University of Arizona before entering USNA. He graduated from the Naval Academy in June 1969.

Lt. Anderson was assigned to NAS Pensacola for flight training after graduation. He had been there just over a year when the accident occurred.

He is survived by his widow, Terry Lyle Anderson, and Mr. and Mrs. Richard Culler of Tucson, AZ.

He is buried in Pensacola, FL.

He was survived by several other family members, including his brother, COL Craig Henry Anderson, USA (Ret)¹.

Remembrances

From “The Legacy of the Class of 1969”:

Jerry grew up in Tucson, Arizona and graduated from Culver Military Academy in Culver, Indiana, in 1964. After graduation he attended University of Arizona in Tucson. He was initiated into Delta Upsilon fraternity. He was a leader at Culver and his high school experience in a military environment prepared him well for the rigors of the Naval Academy.

Addison Jones’ recollections:
Jerry was active in Company sports - flag football and his favorite was fieldball. He served on the committee that designed the Class of 1969 ring. He was so unselfish with his time. During one restriction period he collected music around the brigade to create two 1200-foot reels of current rock and roll songs from 1956-1967 for his roommate. He made friends easily.

One night he had a knock on his door. It was a 3/c leaving the academy but wanted to give Jerry a gift for his friendship. It was a bottle of Tequila. Jerry was one the disc jockeys for the Academy radio station.

Each week he would play music he selected for the Brigade. He would get other classmates to join him. He had a Roberts reel to reel player in his room with the latest tapes.

He married his academy sweetheart, Terry Culler. Together they had one son, Michael. Naval aviation had been Jerry’s desire from Induction Day. He went to Pensacola in one of the first classes after graduation. It was at Pensacola that Jerry lost his life on July 17, 1970. During a formation flight training the OPS Officer cleared his flight for landing at Whiting Field. Jerry broke his aircraft into low clouds over the airfield. His vision was obscured resulting in crashing into the ground near the airfield.

He is buried in the Barrancas National Cemetery at the Pensacola Naval Air Station with Vietnam on his gravestone.

A memorial fund was established in his name shortly after his death. Proceeds were donated to USNA to be used at the Academy’s discretion.

References