World War II Honoree

Andrew William 'Andy' Pirkle

Branch of Service

U.S. Navy

Hometown

Buford, Georgia

Honored By

Stephen Andrew Ratliff

Relationship

Grandson

AFTER GRADUATING BUFORD HIGH SCHOOL, SERVED 1942 TO 1945 MAINLY ON LST-389 WHICH UNLOADED AMERICAN AND BRITISH TROOPS, TANKS, ENGINEERS, TRUCKS, PROVISIONS, DOCTORS AND TANK DESTROYERS, SERVED AS A HOSPITAL SHIP THROUGH D-DAY INVASION AND FACILITATED OPERATIONS DURING INVASION OF ITALY BY DEPLOYING TROOPS AND ARMORED UNITS. ABOARD LST-389, TRAVELED TO MANY PLACES INCLUDING INDIA, ENGLAND, SCOTLAND, FRANCE, ITALY AND U.S. OFTEN ENCOUNTERING ENEMY AIR RAIDS AND FLOATING ENEMY MINES. AFTER LST-389 WAS ACCIDENTALLY RAMMED BY A LIBERTY SHIP, NEARLY SUNK AND SUSTAINED SIGNIFICANT DAMAGE, HONOREE WAS TRANSFERRED FOR BRIEF PERIOD OF TIME TO LST-530 AND THEN TO LST-533.