"I'll try to get this [letter] finished if the Nips will let me," but the "Nips" didn't oblige him.

George William Anthony was born in Santa Cruz, California, on August 18, 1925, to Mr. and Mrs. Charles W. Anthony. George attended Branciforte Elementary School and in the fall of 1940 entered Santa Cruz High School. He took a "continuation course" before leaving school in October 1943 to work at the Santa Cruz Freezing Plant where his father was a foreman. Later he relocated to San Joaquin County and was employed as a commercial vehicle driver.

George Anthony was inducted into the service on June 23, 1944, and began his infantry training at Camp Joseph T. Robinson at Little Rock, Arkansas. Upon completion of his basic infantry course, he trained with the 184th Infantry Regiment of the 7th Infantry Division at Fort Ord, California, until December 1944, when the division was ordered to the Pacific Theater. The regiment traveled to Seattle, where he telephoned his parents for the last time.

Private First Class Anthony and his unit were transported to the Philippines and participated in the battles of liberation taking place in early 1945. After a short rest, the 184th was loaded aboard troop carriers to participate in the April 1st invasion of Okinawa. In his last letter he said that he was feeling fine and told his parents not to worry, "I'll try to get this finished if the Nips will let me. I'm in a fox hole trying to scribble." Two days later on May 2, 1945, George W. Anthony died of wounds he received during earlier combat operations.

His remains were later returned to the United States and reburied at the Golden Gate National Cemetery in San Bruno in 1949. His awards included the Bronze Star and Purple Heart.

(NARA2; USDVA; SCHSC Pg. 5; SCSn May 28, 1945 1:6)