HELEN, Ga. — A profile of Andrew “Andy” Negra Jr., of Helen, Georgia, one among a dwindling variety of veterans took half within the Allies’ European struggle effort that led to the defeat of Nazi Germany.
BORN: Might 28, 1924, close to Avella, Pennsylvania.
SERVICE: Army’s 128th Armored Subject Artillery Battalion, sixth Armored Division. Landed on Utah Seashore in Normandy on July 18, 1944. Fought within the battle of Brest amongst different battles. Later served within the Occupation of Germany. He was honorably discharged on Dec. 17, 1945.
“BECAUSE WE SAVED THE WORLD”
It was 1943, and Andrew “Andy” Negra Jr. had simply completed highschool. He was considering of attending the College of Pittsburgh. “However Uncle Sam had that finger pointed at me. ‘I would like you.’ And, I used to be drafted.”
The third of 4 youngsters born to immigrants from Austria-Hungary, Negra expressed no qualms about coming into the service. “There was a struggle occurring, so I went together with all people else. I simply went into the service with an open thoughts.”
Now, he proudly lays declare to being a part of “The Best Technology.”
“As a result of we saved the world,” he stated.
He has made the journey again to France earlier than however says his return this yr for the eightieth anniversary of D-Day is particular for the folks of Europe, and for himself.
“I’m speaking about the UK, France, Germany, Luxembourg, Belgium. All of them are coming to this and there’ll be 35 completely different nations,” he advised The Related Press forward of his journey. “So it’s going to be a reasonably large occasion. And on the similar time, I’m saying to myself, they’re going to rejoice my birthday,” stated Negra, who turned 100 on Might 28.
He considers himself fortunate to have survived unhurt. “I noticed numerous dangerous issues. Quite a lot of dying,” he stated.
However he additionally recounts assembly his spouse at a dance whereas he was deployed there. “Second tune they performed was ”Individuals Will Say We’re in Love.” And I advised her, I stated — at the moment, I’m 19 — I advised her, I stated, that is going to be our tune for the remainder of our lives. And I solely knew her ten minutes.”
Because the D-Day anniversary approached Negra was planning to go to the scene of one among his life’s most harrowing moments. He recalled being on the highway with the sixth Armored Division, a part of a push to retake the French port metropolis of Brest, when his column was strafed by 5 German planes. He scrambled out of his half-track and hid behind a nicely.
“These 5 airplanes all dove for that nicely,” Negra recalled. “And I used to be behind that nicely. So, once they strafed, happily it was a brick one, and strong.”
His plans for his return to France embody revisiting the scene. “They are saying the nicely’s not there, however the location is there. So, if attainable, we’re going to we’re going to go see that.”
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