He was commissioned a second lieutenant in the U.S. Army Air Corps in 1939 and received his pilot wings at Kelly Field, Texas.

He became engineering officer for the 80th Bombardment Squadron at Manchester Air Base, New Hampshire in June 1941.

He was one of the few "unlimited card" pilots of the ferrying command who were authorized to fly at their own discretion and during adverse conditions.

[1] In 1947 he was assigned as assistant chief of staff, Headquarters Air Transport Command, Washington, D.C.

He attended the National War College at Fort McNair, Washington, D.C. from August 1958 to June 1959.

On 1 August 1972 he began serving as senior member, United Nations Command, Military Armistice Commission, Korea.

In April 1964, the International Supreme Council, Order of DeMolay, awarded Anthis its Legion of Honor.

He was the first recipient of the Air Force Association's Citation of Honor Award for outstanding work in counterinsurgency in Southeast Asia.