World War II Honoree

Carl L Andrus

Branch of Service

U.S. Army

Hometown

Canesteo, New York

Honored By

The Biddle and Andrus Families

Relationship

Grandson

SERVED WITH THE 26TH INFANTRY REGIMENT OF THE 1ST INFANTRY DIVISION. HE MADE AMERICA'S FIRST EVER AMPHIBIOUS ASSAULT IN NORTH AFRICA WHERE HE FOUGHT IN THE BATTLE OF KASSERINE PASS AND WENT ON TO HELP PUSH THE GERMAN ARMY OUT OF NORTH AFRICA. HE THEN LANDED IN SICILY AND FOUGHT HARD FOR SEVERAL MONTHS BEFORE BEING RELOCATED TO ENGLAND TO PREPARE FOR THE INVASION OF NORMANDY. HE MADE THE LANDING AT OMAHA BEACH ON THE SECOND WAVE AND CONTINUED TO HELP IN THE LIBERATION OF FRANCE. HE AND HIS REGIMENT CONQUERED THE GERMAN CITY OF AACHEN WHICH WAS THE FIRST GERMAN CITY OF THE WAR TO BE TAKEN BY THE AMERICANS. FOR HIS ACTIONS IN THE BATTLE OF AACHEN, HE RECEIVED THE BRONZE STAR. HE AND THE 26TH THEN MOVED INTO THE HUERTGEN FOREST IN GERMANY WHERE HE WAS INJURED BY TREE BURST SHRAPNEL IN HIS ARM AND SHIPPED HOME.