Ernest L. Anderson was born in Iowa in 1924. His parents were Oscar and Tilda A. (nee Brackey) Anderson. His paternal grandparents were Iver Anderson (b. ca 1846) and Olene Berg (b. ca1849), both born in Norway. His maternal grandparents were T.A. Brackey and Bertha Stensrud; the former born in Norway and the later born in Iowa.

In 1930, Ernest is living with his parents and siblings Bernice O., Adeline T., Orean A., LeNore J., Theola O., Telford B., Norman A. & Donald H. on a farm in Center township, Winnebago county, Iowa.

1st Lt Ernest L. Anderson of Winnebago Co., IA was a P-38 fighter pilot in the 95th Fighter Squadron, 82nd Fighter Group, Army Air Corps. He was shot down and KIA on April 22, 1945, in the Po Valley, Modena province, North Italy. He is buried in the Florence American Cemetery and Memorial in Florence, Toscena, Italy. He was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross, Air Medal with 4 Oak Leaf Clusters and the Purple Heart.

~sources:
1) biography compiled by S. Ferrall for the Winnebago co. IAGenWeb from several sources, including information sent by Carlo Mondani of Modena province, North Italy; the 1925 Iowa State & 1930 US census; the American Battle Monuments Commission.

2) small photo of Lt. Anderson was contributed by Ken Moen who located it in a scrapbook of clippings from the Lake Mills Graphic.
3) large photo of Lt. Anderson was contributed by Dean Peterson, original source of photo was the Lake Mills Graphic

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