Frederick P. Anthony – Colonel, United States Marine Corps

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Frederick P. Anthony, Colonel, United States Marine Corps, (retired) on September 3, 2008, at the Inova Mt.Vernon Hospital.

Colonel Anthony, 77, passed away, surrounded by his wife and daughters. Wife, Donna L. Anthony of 53 years, daughters Lisa K. Anthony of Virginia Beach and Paula A. (George H.) Rusher of Arlington. Fred is also survived by his grandchildren, Nicholas and Cori Rusher of Nokesville, Virginia; sister, Helen Williams and niece, Judy Wenger of Owing, Maryland.

He was a graduate of the Christ Church School in Saluda, Virginia, and Roosevelt University in Chicago. He also was selected to attend the Naval War College in Newport, Rhode Island, and graduated in 1977. He served his country in the United States Marine Corps for 31 years.

In lieu of being drafted into the Korean War, he enlisted in the United States Marine Corps in 1951, giving up his scholarship at William and Mary, and served his tour of duty as an infantryman. Once returning to the United States, he applied for and then successfully completed OTS and Flight School. Colonel Anthony's aircraft of choice was the Skyhawk and he loved the challenge of carrier landings.

He was an aviator in the Vietnam War, flying over 270 missions and was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross.  He and his wife Donna were married on August 21,1955, in Newport News, Virginia, leaving the next day for California, where he was stationed at El Toro Marine Air Base, Santa Ana, Californa. His other duty stations included Beeville Naval Air Station, Texas; Cherry Point, North Carolina; Parris Island, South Carolina; Maxwell Air Force Base, Alabama; Glenview Naval Air Station, Illinois; Headquarters EUCOM, Stuttgart, Germany; Fourth Wing, New Orleans, Louisiana, and several overseas tours in Japan and Australia. Colonel Anthony and his family took advantage of these locations, traveling as much as they could.

His last duty station was Marine Headquarters in Arlington, Virginia. After his ‘retirement', Colonel Anthony continued to serve the Corps as the Head of the Medals and Decorations Department for fourteen years.

Since his diagnosis with pancreatic cancer in September 2006, Fred fought bravely to beat his disease. He loved to spend time with his family (and his dogs), follow all current events (particularly politics), and analyze the stock market daily.

He will be forever missed by his devoted family.

Burial with Full Military Honors is scheduled for November 19, 2008 at 11 a.m. at Arlington National Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made in Fred's memory to the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network at www.pancan.org.

ANTHONY, FREDERICK P
COL   US MARINE CORPS
KOREA, VIETNAM

  • DATE OF BIRTH: 12/21/1930
  • DATE OF DEATH: 09/03/2008
  • BURIED AT: SECTION 64  SITE 3205
    ARLINGTON NATIONAL CEMETERY

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