March 15, 1996 - Fighter for veterans' causes Anderson dies
Written by Steve Sanson
Thursday, 19 April 2007
By Ed Koch LAS VEGAS SUN Castle "Cass" P. Anderson, a World War II veteran who founded Veterans in Politics and fought tirelessly for the rights of ex-military members, has died in Las Vegas.
He was 77. Anderson, diagnosed with stomach cancer two weeks ago, died Thursday of complications from recent surgery at Sunrise Hospital and Medical Center, his family said. Services for the 26-year Las Vegas resident are set for 10 a.m. Wednesday at St. Viator Catholic Church. Visitation will be from 3-8 p.m. Tuesday at Bunkers Mortuary. Interment will be in Memory Gardens.
"He seemed so indestructible for so long," said David Mofchum, president of Veterans in Politics, a veterans advocacy group, and a longtime friend. "He was always ready to pick up the cudgel and fight for veterans' rights when he felt something was wrong. "Cass was not afraid of politicians -- he'd battle them right in their own den. He was the leader, and we just followed."
Others remembered Anderson, who at the time of his death was director and past president of the organization, for his fiery devotion to causes. "Dad was very patriotic," said Cheryl Anderson. "You can tell from his letters (to the editor, to which he contributed significantly over the years) that he was very outspoken." Ken Brown, another Veterans in Politics official and a longtime friend, said Anderson's contributions extended beyond veterans to concerns for senior citizens. "He started the Take a Senior to Lunch program, which benefited about 1,000 local seniors," said Brown, who announced Anderson's death at Thursday's meeting of the Nevada Senior Coalition. "He was given a proclamation from Gov. Bob Miller for that program."
Born June 6, 1918, in Ava, Mo., Anderson was the son of the state's marketing commissioner. His parents named him Castle in honor of the 1920s dance team of Irene and Vernon Castle. Throughout his life, he was called Cass for short. In 1941, Anderson married the former Rosemary Brewster, whom he met in Kansas City, Mo., in 1937. That same year, Anderson, who in his prime stood 6 feet 4 inches and weighed a robust 200 pounds, enlisted in the Army at Fort Leavenworth, Kan.
He was wounded during the Japanese raid on Dutch Harbor, Alaska, on June 3, 1942. Anderson rose in rank to sergeant during his nearly four years in the service. After the war, Anderson worked 25 years in the insurance industry in Kansas City. He moved to Las Vegas in 1970 and worked for 16 years until his retirement as a baccarat executive at Caesars Palace. He also opened the poker room at the Barbary Coast. Anderson was past commander of the Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 18 in Kansas City, VFW Post 8774 in Las Vegas and Military Order of the Purple Heart Chapter 711 in Las Vegas. He also was a life member of the Disabled American Veterans and VFW, among others.
In addition to his daughter and his wife, Anderson is survived by two sons, Paul Anderson and Gregory Anderson, and Gregory's wife, Cheryl, all of Las Vegas; three other daughters, Mary Anderson and Debbie Berrafato, and her husband, Frank, all of Las Vegas, and Susan Ciabattari and her husband, Rich, both of Hercules, Calif.; two brothers, Bob Anderson and Wayne Anderson, both of Kansas City; seven grandchildren and four great-grandchildren. Anderson