Retired Iraq War veteran comes back home to serve area youth
Then-Major Harold V. Anderson
Veterans Day is a good day to appreciate the service of a man like Col. Harold V. Anderson, a kid from the southeast side of Cleveland who retired recently from active military service in the US Army after 33 years.
In his early years, Anderson’s leadership skills were on display on the basketball court where he was a standout high school basketball player and team captain of his Cuyahoga Community College team. During his 1983 college season, Anderson was the leading scorer and Most Valuable Player, receiving First Team All-Conference honors. After graduating from Tri-C, Anderson entered Pan American University in Edinburg, TX where he continued his stellar on-court performances.
Notwithstanding his basketball prowess, Anderson struggled financially at Pan American. [The school is now known as the University of Texas-Pan American.] Money was one of the reasons he signed up with the military. As he recalls, “There were two main reasons I joined. The first was my father and brother proudly served in the Army, and I was fascinated by their stories of service. [Also] I was a collegiate athlete that was short on college credits and funds to graduate. I went on over to the ROTC department to inquire about joining, and ultimately, enlisted in the Army Reserves and joined the Reserve Officer Training Corps.”
Graduating from UT Pan Am with a B.S. in education, Anderson was commissioned a Second Lieutenant, Adjutant General Corps. Serving with commitment and distinction, Anderson discharged many assignments, even serving for a time [1993] in his hometown as Platoon Leader, 428th QM Company, Cleveland, Ohio.
Twice deployed to Iraq, Anderson was assigned in 2003 to Operation Iraq Freedom Camp Victory, Kuwait as a Platoon Leader 2/741st AG Company. Upon his return in 2006, Anderson served on active duty at HQDA G3/57 as an Action Officer at the Pentagon. He was re-deployed to Operation Iraq Freedom Victory Base Complex, Iraq in 2009 as Human Resource Directorate Task Force Twister.
Anderson's last military assignments were Deputy Chief of Staff, 94th Division Fort Lee, Virginia, April 2018, and Assistant Deputy, GI, FORSCOM Fort Bragg, North Carolina, June 2019 – July 2021.
Anderson credits the promise that he made to his mother to earn a college degree, and the invaluable support that he received from his wife, also a veteran, as contributing factors toward his long military career. He says further that “the camaraderie with my soldiers, mentors and military leaders motivated me to excel.”
The colonel was decorated with many honors during his long military career, including the Legion of Merit, Meritorious Service Medal four oak leaf clusters, Army Commendation Medal two oak leaf clusters, Global War on Terror Service Medal, and the National Defense Service Medal with Bronze Star.
“The most rewarding part of serving in the military was being associated with our past African American military brothers and sisters", says Anderson. "Knowing that I have walked in the same footsteps as they have is a great feeling. I am proud to say that I served my country with the greatest, upmost respect as a U.S. citizen.”
While in the army, Anderson earned a Master of Educational Leadership from University of Texas, Arlington. He has put both of his education degrees to use, both as a teacher and through his fraternity. Returning home, Anderson became a full-time physical education teacher for East Cleveland City Schools.
A Life Member of the local Delta Alpha Lambda Chapter of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc., Anderson has served as the chapter’s director of education and also as chair its of My Brother’s Keeper program. He’s currently chapter Vice President and serves as the fraternity’s Midwestern Region Military Affairs chairman.
As chairman of the frat’s Thurgood Marshall Oratorical Debate Education Project, he guides a program that has engaged more than 350 middle and high school students in thought-provoking experiences designed to enhance their research and analytical skills.
Last year he was awarded the Distinguished Alumni Award from Cuyahoga Community College.
Husband to Mitzi and proud father of Terence and Toni, Col. Harold V. Anderson continues to live “answering the call of servant leadership” for his country, community, and family.
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