Colonel Edwin W. (Andy) Anderson, Jr. retired from the U.S. Army after 30 years of service on September 30 2005.

Colonel Anderson began his military service via a Reserve Officer Training Corp (ROTC) scholarship to the University of Georgia in the fall of 1969. He completed both a Bachelors and Masters Degree in Business Administration, was commissioned in the Engineer Corps, and entered active duty in October 1975 at Fort Belvoir, Va. He completed the Engineer Officer Basic Course and Airborne training in February 1976 and served his first three years as a combat engineer platoon leader and company executive officer in Neu Ulm, Germany.

He then was assigned to Fort Bragg, N.C. in 1980 where he served for two years as a company commander in the 82nd Airborne Division. Staying at Fort Bragg, he served as the 5th Special Forces Group Airborne (SFG) (A) Engineer for two years and completed the Special Forces Qualification Course in 1983. In October 1984 he was assigned as an ROTC instructor at the University of Iowa where he served through June of 1988.

Colonel Anderson then attended the Army’s Command and General Staff College at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas, and returned to Fort Bragg to command Company A, 3rd Battalion, 5th Special Forces Group (Airborne), until June 1990. He then served as the Executive Officer of the battalion, which was reflagged as 1st Bn, 3rd SFG (A). He deployed with the battalion to Saudi Arabia in January 1991, and served in that position throughout its participation in Operation Desert Storm. Upon returning to the United States, he was reassigned to the U.S. Army Special Forces Command (Airborne), Fort Bragg, N.C., as the chief of operations and G-3.

He was later selected for battalion command and commanded 2nd Battalion, 1st Special Warfare Training Group (Airborne),US Army John F. Kennedy Special Warfare Center and School (USAJFKSWCS), at Fort Bragg. He commanded the Advanced Skills Battalion for two years and then served as the Assistant Deputy Chief of Staff for Operations for the U.S. Army Special Operations Command until June 1995.

Colonel Anderson was selected to attend Senior Service College and graduated from the Air Force War College at Maxwell AFB, Ala. He then had a follow on assignment there as the U.S. Army liaison to the Air Force Wargaming Institute and the Air War College.

He returned to Fort Bragg in 1997 to the U.S. Army John F. Kennedy Special Warfare Center and School and served as the Chief of Staff for two years, the Special Warfare Training Group Commander for two years and the Director of Training and Doctrine for three years. He most recently deployed in support of the Global War on Terrorism (GWOT) as the J-3 of Combined Joint Task Force Horn of Africa in Djibouti, Africa.

His awards and decorations include: two Legions of Merit; Bronze Star Medal; the Defense Meritorious Service Medal; seven Army Meritorious Service Medals; two Army Commendation Medals; National Defense Service Medal; Southwest Asia Service Medal; Kuwait Liberation Medal; Canadian, German, French, and Venezuelan Airborne Badges; Master Parachutist Badge; Combat Infantryman Badge; Special Forces Tab; and the German Silver Cross of Honor.

He and his wife, Jan Berry Anderson, were married in their hometown of Washington, Georgia, in 1975, and have two sons, Frank and Eddie. They will make Fayetteville, N.C., their home upon retirement.