Colonel James Daniel Anders (1916-1986)

Anders, James Daniel (1916-1986) Colonel, U. S. Army 1942-1971

Source: Baton Rouge State Times 11-Aug-1965, Page 79 (13-F)

Among the colonel's accomplishments:

• Entered U.S. Army as buck private in 1942 and retired 28 years later as a full colonel.
• Awarded the Silver Star and Bronze Star medals during World War II; and also served in Korea, and Vietnam
• Acted as technical consultant for film, "Teresa" that included actors Rod Steiger, Lee Marvin, and Robert Wagner among its cast
• Testified before a U. S. Senate Subcommittee that included several notable senators of the day; in a hearing also attended by future Attorney General, U. S. Senator, and Democratic presidential candidate Robert Kennedy.
• Served as chief-of-staff at Fort Polk, LA where he built a replica Vietnamese village to prepare soldiers entering that conflict. 

Early Life

Born 09-May-1916 to the Reverend Dan Frank, a Methodist minister, and Lucy Moffet Anders. His obituary states Oil City as his birthplace, however in a newspaper article about his military career, Minden, LA is mentioned as his place of birth. Rev. Anders pastored at several Louisiana churches over his career, including nearby Ida, LA in the early 1920s. The family moved from Jena in 1936, and Rev. Anders served as Oil City pastor until 1938.

Source: Monroe News Star 16-Dec-1936, Page 2


In 1940, James was still living in Oil City, boarding in the home of Henry H. and Maggie Smith Warren, with the occupation of oil pipeline clerk.

Source: 1940 U.S. Census


He married the former Annie Lee Waldron, a long-time resident of Oil City; who is shown below as a student at Louisiana State Normal College, now Northwestern State University.

Source: 1940 LSN Potpourri (yearbook), Page 64


World War II

James enlisted into the U. S. Army on 04-Aug-1942, shown then to be resident of Jefferson, TX.

During WWI, he served in 91st Infantry Division and was awarded the Silver Star.

Source: The 91st Infantry Division in World War II, P398


He rose quickly through the ranks. Starting as a private, he became a second lieutenant only eight months later, and made first lieutenant a year after that.

Source: U.S. Army Register, 1948


Later Military Career

In 1950, then Captain Anders served as a technical consultant for the film "Teresa" Part of the fictional story was set in some of the same areas the captain had traversed during the war. Listed among its cast were actors Rod Steiger, Lee Marvin, and Robert Wagner.

1951 Movie Poster

The original trailer is linked here.

Source: Baton Rouge Morning Advocate 04-May-1950, Page 22 (6-B)

Senate Subcommittee Hearings 

In March 1955, Lt. Colonel Anders was called to speak before the U. S. Senate's Permanent Subcommittee On Investigations regarding the handling of the promotion and discharge of Irving Peress, an army dentist suspected of communist leanings during the "Red Scare" era of the early-to-mid 1950s. This was a continuation of subcommittee activities begun earlier under then chairman, Joseph M. McCarthy, senator from Wisconsin. While  no longer chair, McCarthy was still a member of the the committee.

Service history contained in the official record of his testimony.

Source: Hearings Before The Permanent Subcommittee On Investigations Of The Committee On Government Operations, United States Senate, Eighty-Fourth Congress, First Session, Part 1, March 15, 1955, Page 54

The hearing in which Colonel Anders testified was held 16-Mar-1955. Subcommittee members in attendance included: McClellan, John L. (Chairman) Bender, George H. Ervin, Sam J., Jr. Jackson, Henry M. McCarthy, Joseph R. Mundt, Karl E. Symington, Stuart Also in attendance was General Counsel, Robert F. Kennedy.

Hearings Before The Permanent Subcommittee On Investigations Of The Committee On Government Operations, United States Senate, Eighty-Fourth Congress, First Session, Part 1, March 16, 1955, Page 75 His full testimony is linked here. By 1964, he had been elevated to full colonel.

Source: U.S. Army Register, 1966

The picture below is from a 1965 article about francolins, an asian game bird, being introduced to the greater Fort Polk property for eventual hunting. (Author's observation: It's not mentioned if consideration was given to the potential impact on native species and the local environment.)

Source: Baton Rouge Morning Advocate 21-Nov-1964 Page 45 (10-C) (Anders with francolin)


Among the colonel's accomplishments while at Fort Polk is the creation of a Vietnamese village (shown below) in order to prepare soldiers about to enter that conflict.

Source: Baton Rouge Morning Advocate 28-Feb-1966, Page 20 (6-B)

In 1971, he retired from Ft. Polk chief of staff. recaps career, known as "Mr. Ft. Polk."

Source: Baton Rouge Morning Advocate 08-Aug-1971, Page 32 (8-B)

Civilian Contributions Per his obituary, his civic roles included:

• Past president of Leesville-Vernon Parish Chamber of Commerce 
• Member of the First United Methodist Church of Leesville, where he served on the Administrative Board for 20 years and was a member of the Chancel Choir
• Member of the Leesville Lions Club, the American Legion and the Veterans of Foreign Wars

Colonel Anders passed away 02-Jun-1986 and is buried in Forest Lawn Memorial Cemetery, Leesville, LA.

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