Group to LT Arthur E. Anderson, US Navy

Group of three to A. Anderson, US Navy: Distinguished Flying Cross, wrap brooch, Navy strike, with one gold star, unnamed; Air Medal, wrap brooch, with 7 gold stars on the ribbon, unnamed; Purple Heart, split brooch, privately hand-engraved “A. Anderson/Okinawa/April 6, ‘45″.

The only officer with this name the Navy lists as wounded in action in World War II was Lieutenant Arthur Edward Anderson, from Los Gatos, California, who was commissioned in September 1941 and served through January 1946. The date on the Purple Heart, April 6, 1945, marked the start of the Japanese operation Kikusui I, which launched massive kamikaze attacks, against US Navy forces off Okinawa. It is likely that Anderson flew from one of the escort carriers off Okinawa, but further research is necessary.