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15968 Andrews, James Luke
September 09, 1924 - December 10, 1948

usma1946



MEMORIAL ARTICLE
Published Assembly Jan '50

James Luke Andrews, Jr.    No.15968  Class of 1946  Died December 10, 1948 at GUAM, MARIANAS


From an old Georgia coastal town, Jim Andrews went to West Point in July 1943. He substantiated the age-old tradition of a Southern gentleman, and with his subtle sense of humor, his charming personality and his ease of accomplishment, he made friends at every turn. With sincere determination to serve, he could exchange the carefree outlook upon life, whenever the occasion demanded, for the stubborn fighting spirit to stick with the job and see it through.

After graduating from West Point, Jim seemed to carry away with him all that the Academy had to offer in its finest sense. Trained in military leadership as he was, and endowed with mental and spiritual qualities for future development, just at the threshold of physical maturity, he seemed so ready to be of valuable service to his country. What could be more tragic than the news that he had been stricken so suddenly while on duty and within twenty minutes had died of a cerebral hemorrhage on December 10, 1948, in Guam. This was almost too great a shock for his family and friends to bear.

James Luke Andrews, Jr., known as Jim to his home town and as Andy to his West Point friends, was born in Brunswick, GA June 22, 1924, the youngest of three children and the only son of James Luke and Maude Lott Andrews. His parents had always been prominent in business, social and religious activities. Jim early identified himself with the church, becoming a member of the First Baptist Church. Thus, his happy boyhood years were spent in the midst of pleasant surroundings, with kind and understanding parents who gave him every incentive to grow up to be a worthwhile citizen.

He had the usual interests of the average normal American boy. In company with several of his best friends in the summer of 1937, he attended the Scout Jamboree in Washington, DC. For twelve years he attended the public school in his home town, and was graduated from Glynn Academy in June of 1942.

Although his body was not suited to the heavy sports in high school, yet he served as manager of the football team and became one of the best players on the golf team. As a good citizen he was interested in all of the school activities, and early displayed a talent for leadership. During his Junior year he served as a home room representative of the Student Council, and during his senior year he served as Council President, the top-ranking student officer at Glynn Academy.

In November 1941, Jim was sent as a delegate to the Convention of the Southern Association of Student Governments at Memphis, Tennessee, and served as a group discussion leader. Due to his pleasing personality, this discussion group became one of the most popular.

It was at this Memphis meeting that Jim received the inspiration for organizing the Georgia Association of Student Governments.  Making this the main Council project of the year, he saw his idea materialize in March 1942 and served as the first president of the Georgia Association.

Possessing a well-rounded talent for leadership, Jim could, with equal ease, be the dignified presiding officer of an assembly program, dominating and controlling his restless contemporaries, or be the gay and clever master of ceremonies of a school dance. His refined instincts, his good manners, and his sense of humor carried him through all situations.

A typical example of Jim's generosity and thoughtfulness as a leader was demonstrated in the incident of the tuxedo. Although he was fortunate enough to own one and to look very handsome in it, yet he never would wear it to a school dance. He said that there were many boys in school who could not afford tuxedos; and therefore, it was not right for their president to wear one when they could not.

Jim was very happy when he was invited to become one of the charter members of the National Honor Society of Glynn Academy, and in June of 1942, was one of the honor graduates.

After a summer session at Georgia Tech in Atlanta, GA, Jim transferred to the Citadel at Charleston, SC for the winter. While there, he joined the Reserve Corps, was drafted in March and was sent for his basic training to Fort Eustis, Virginia. Right at the termination of this, his appointment came through and he entered West Point in July 1943.

How very much he desired active service at this time is shown later in a letter to his parents during his first class year. "I enjoyed my life in the army and I wanted overseas service. All during my plebe year I wanted to be out with newly met and newly departed buddies fighting a war. Although I have realized by now what my education would mean to me, still I have been consoling myself that I would more than likely have the opportunity to fight. The atomic bomb ended the war abruptly and for the good of a troubled world, but at the same time inflicting a stinging blow to my desire for combat. That disappointment I have swallowed and have today received my class ring. I have it on now and wish that you could see it."

Jim was graduated from the United States Military Academy on June 4, 1946 and commissioned a Second Lieutenant in the Coast Artillery. A week later he was married to Miss Tallulah Mary Deen, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. J. C. Deen of Ocala, Florida.

After a honeymoon of several weeks, the young couple reported to Fort Sill, Oklahoma, where Jim had special training from July until February of 1947. Then, from February until the last of April, they were at Fort Bliss, Texas. On May 28th, Jim sailed for duty in the Pacific.

How vividly the young soldier pictured the new world opening up before him. With keen interest his family and friends followed his experiences in the Pacific. First came the stop in Hawaii, then the assignment on Saipan for three months, and finally the move to Guam.

How eager the young officer was to serve his allotted time so that the government would let him have a house. At last the dream came true and his wife and baby daughter Diane embarked upon the 9,000 mile journey in August 1947, just in time for baby Diane to celebrate her first birthday while crossing the international date line.

Then, the little family was together for four months. Those four months were full to overflowing with happiness. Letters gave us glimpses of the young father and little daughter getting acquainted with each other, the young couple decorating the nursery and planting grass in the yard, the pleasant round of social activity among the warm circle of friends, many of whom had been classmates at West Point.

It was easy to picture Jim riding in a jeep over the twenty-five miles of jungle road to his work, or to anticipate with them the cooler weather that was sure to come after the recent typhoon. His last letter written just a day before his passing related the little family's plans for their Christmas there and their anticipation of returning to the States within eight months.

Although Jim's stay upon this earth was such a short one, nevertheless, he has left us a store of rich and happy memories of such a beautiful life.

Captain P. Tabor, his immediate superior officer, wrote the following to Jim's wife: "I would like to express my deepest sympathy over the recent loss of your husband, First Lieutenant James L. Andrews, Jr., whose death occurred on December 10, 1948, at Guam, Marianas Islands, due to natural causes.
"As a member of this command your husband was liked by all of his associates. He was an excellent soldier, performing all tasks assigned him in a cheerful and efficient manner, thereby winning the commendation of his immediate superiors and the respect of his comrades. News of his death comes as a real shock to all who knew him and his loss will be felt keenly in the organization. I sincerely hope that the knowledge that your husband was an exemplary soldier and died while serving his country will afford you some consolation in your bereavement''.

In a letter to Jim's father and mother, Captain Tabor paid him the following tribute: "Your son was one of the best friends I have ever had in my twenty-one years of service a ----perfect gentleman of a soldier".

Lieutenant H. T. Blow, a friend and classmate wrote:  ''The final honors for your son were a fitting tribute to him. As we boarded the U.S.A.T. General Brewster, everyone dockside and ship side was quiet. A bugle sounded  'Attention'. Your son's Military Police platoon and an Officer's platoon of your son's port also saluted. The American-flag bedecked coffin was lifted slowly.
"Lieutenant James L. Andrews, Jr. was a fine soldier, a real person, and a friend".

Bewildered with grief all during the Christmas season, his family and friends awaited his homecoming, with his wife and baby and a military escort, Lieutenant James C. Inskeep, a former West Point classmate. Finally, on January 5th, he was laid to rest with full military honors. Several of his former comrades at West Point were already awaiting him in the Long Gray Line. 

"They are not dead!
They have but passed 
 Beyond the mists that blind us here 
 Into the new and larger life
 Of that serener sphere"

            ---- M.J.B. and B.L.

 
Personal Eulogy

deceased 

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