Anson Duane Geiger

Captain Anson D. (Bill) Geiger, USN (Ret.), was born June 4, 1922, in Marysville, KS. His parents moved to White Cloud, KS before settling in St. Joseph, MO where he spent his schooling years, graduating from Lafayette High School in 1940. He was an excellent student and athlete, winning the State Championship in the 120-yard high hurdles in 1940. During his senior year he joined the Naval Reserve to facilitate his ambition to enter the United States Naval Academy. He attended Admiral Farragut Academy at Toms River, NJ on a scholarship and continued his drilling with the Naval Reserve. In the spring of 1941, he took regular entrance exams for the USNA and received an appointment from Senator Clark of Missouri; he entered the Naval Academy in the summer of 1941. While in the Naval Academy he received varsity letters in track and tied the Naval Academy record in the 220-yard low hurdles. He graduated on June 7, 1944, with the class of 1945 and was commissioned an Ensign U.S. Navy. He was married to Doris Jean Sawyer, of Washington, D.C. on June 8, 1944. Deployed to the Pacific in WWII, as Executive Officer in LSM 116 (Landing Ship Medium), he participated in the invasion of Okinawa and the initial occupation landings in Japan. He completed flight training and received his wings in 1947. He flew fighters and light attack aircraft off carriers with commands of Attack Squadron 195 and Commander of Carrier Air Group 21. During his career he made nine deployments in the Western Pacific in ships. During the Vietnam War he commanded the USS Washburn, an Attack Cargo Ship in the Amphibious Force. Captain Geiger held a Bachelor of Science degree from the Naval Academy, a Masters in Education from Stanford University and was a graduate of Armed Forces Staff College. He retired from the Navy in 1969. Captain Geiger was a Staff Engineer in the Honeywell Aerospace and Defense Group in Washington, D.C. and Minneapolis, MN for 15 years, retiring in August 1984. Captain Geiger was an avid hunter and fisherman and a member of the Scottish Rite. He is survived by his two daughters, Marilyn Geiger of Amissville, VA and Jeannie Geiger of Annandale, VA, two grandchildren, and two great grandchildren. A celebration of life gathering for Anson will be held Saturday, May 20, 2023 from 1:00 PM to 3:00 PM at Murphy Funeral Home, 1102 W. Broad St., Falls Church, VA 22046.