CW3 Michael F. Anderson

26 February 1991, Saudi Arabia

160th SOAR

Chief Warrant Officer Three Michael F. Anderson of Frankfort, Indiana, died on 21 February 1991 while supporting Operation DESERT STORM.

Anderson joined the Army in 1979 to be a helicopter pilot. After graduating from Warrant Officer Candidate School, he completed his flight training at Fort Rucker, Alabama, in 1980. His first assignment as an Aviation Officer was with Company D, 158th Aviation Battalion at Fort Campbell, Kentucky. He later served in Company C, 101st Aviation Battalion, 101st Airborne Division, then known as Task Force 160. Operation URGENT FURY in Grenada was his first combat mission as part of this unit.

On 21 February 1991, CW3 Anderson was copiloting a UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter on a mission to evacuate a badly injured soldier. On the return flight, the helicopter encountered a sandstorm in northwestern Saudi Arabia that cause it to crash, killing all onboard. He was assigned to Company C, 1st Battalion, 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment at the time of his death.