Burdette Eugene Anderson was born on April 28, 1949 at a hospital in Halstead ND. He was the youngest of 6 siblings. The Boeing boom drew his family to the Seattle area. He lived there through 1993.
Instead of waiting to be drafted, Burdette enlisted in the Army on December 9, 1969. He served with Co. B, 5th Bn, 10th Infantry at Cu Chi, Viet Nam during the “Tropic Lightning” campaign. He was discharged honorably with two Bronze Stars and one Purple Heart. Upon his return home he married his first wife. That marriage ended in divorce after more than 20 years and a diagnosis of early onset Parkinsons at the age of 35.
Burdette worked his life in mechanics, machining and hydraulics. His diagnosis did not prevent him from his passions which included floating the Yakima River, long distance running, bicycling Seattle to Portland (in one day), and swimming in Lake Washington. He completed a Penticton Iron Man Triathlon.
