Lt. Colonel Willie Eric “Billy” Anderson served with the U.S. Army Air Corps during WII from July 1943 through February 1946. He was stationed on Tinian (Marianas group), where he flew 29 missions over Japan in the B-29 Super Fortress as a navigator-radar bombardier.

He served in the U.S. Air Force during the Korean war from December 1950 through September 1952. His awards include the Distinguished Flying Cross, Air Medal with three oak leaf clusters, Asiatic-Pacific Campaign ribbon with two bronze service stars.  He retired as a Lieutenant Colonel in the USAF Reserve.