During this operation, his platoon was advancing through the jungle near Cam Lo Combat Base when they were ambushed by North Vietnamese forces.

After graduating from senior high school, Anderson attended Los Angeles Harbor Junior College for a year and a half.

On February 28, 1967, during Operation Prairie II, Private First Class Anderson was killed when he covered a grenade with his body to save his platoon.

Company F was advancing in dense jungle northwest of Cam Lộ in an effort to extract a heavily besieged reconnaissance patrol.

Private First Class Anderson's platoon was the lead element and had advanced only about 200 meters when they were brought under extremely intense enemy small arms and automatic weapons fire.

His personal heroism, extraordinary valor, and inspirational supreme self-sacrifice reflected great credit upon himself and the Marine Corps and upheld the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.