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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.
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