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Edgar Clessie Andrews, Jr.

6 September 1905 - 

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Edgar Classie Andrews, Jr., was born in Swansboro, North Carolina, on September 6, 1905, son of Edgar C. and Mary Wilson Andrews.  He attended Mt. Holly, North Carolina, High School, and in 1926 was graduated from High Point College, High Point, North Carolina, with the degree of Bachelor of Arts. He received the degrees of Bachelor of Sacred Music and Bachelor of Theology from Eastern Baptist Theological Seminary, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania., in 1929 and 1939, respectively. In 1931-1932 he was Student Pastor of the First Baptist Church, Milford, Delaware, and on September 9, 1932, was ordained to the Baptist Ministry. He served as Pastor of the First Baptist Church of Stedman, North Carolina in 1933-1934, and for two years thereafter was Pastor of the Rich Fork Baptist Church in Thomasville, North Carolina.

On October 20, 1936, he was appointed Acting Chaplain, with the accompanying rank of Lieutenant (junior grade) in the US Navy. He subsequently advanced in rank, attaining that of Captain in the Chaplain Corps of the Navy, to date from July 1, 1955.

Assigned on November 3, 1936, to the Bureau of Navigation, Navy Department, Washington, DC, he served in the Chaplain's Division until January 1937, when he joined the USS Wright, small aircraft carrier, as Chaplain Similar duty on board the USS Chaumont, a transport, and the USS Cincinnati, light cruiser, followed until March 1940, when he returned to shore duty. He served at the Naval Operating Base, Norfolk, Virginia, for a year, then was transferred to the Naval Training Station, Norfolk, where he was on duty at the outbreak of World War II in December 1941.

In June 1942 he was ordered to Headquarters Ninth Naval District, Great Lakes, Illinois, and after a year's service there, was ordered to the USS Louisville, in which he served as Chaplain from August to October 1943.  He then joined the USS Colorado, a battleship which during the next eighteen months participated in the Gilbert, Marshall and Marianas operations, took part in the capture and occupation of Saipan, Guam, Okinawa Gunto and Tinian, and in the Western Carolines and Luzon operations. He was awarded the Purple Heart Medal for wounds received in action on July 24, 1944, during the bombardment of enemy shore installations on Tinian, and received a Gold Star in lieu of the second Purple Heart Medal for wounds received on March ll, 1945, during the Okinawa operation.

Detached from the Colorado in July 1945, he returned to the United States, and in September reported for duty as Chaplain at the Naval Training and Distribution Center, Treasure Island, San Francisco, California. In April 1946 he was transferred to duty at the Naval Hospital, Oakland, California, where he remained for almost three years. From March 1949 until August 1950, he had duty at the Naval Station, Sangley Point, Luzon, PI, and during that period served additionally on the Staff of Commander Naval Forces, Philippine Islands.

Service on the Staff of Commander Military Sea Transportation Service, Northern Pacific Area, at Headquarters, Seattle, Washington, preceded his assignmont in April 1952 as Staff Chaplain for the Military Sea Transportation Service, Washington, DC. Detached in February 1954, he next had duty afloat as Chaplain of the USS Iowa, and two years later became Division Chaplain, Second Marine Division, Fleet Marine Force, located at Camp Lejeune, North Carolina. Under orders of August 5, 1958, he was transferred to duty as District Chaplain, Tenth Naval District, with Headquarters at San Juan, Puerto Rico.

In addition to the Purple Heart Medal with Gold Star for a second similar award, Captain Andrews has the China Service Medal; American Defense Service Medal; American Campaign Medal; Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal with one silver and two bronze stars (seven engagements); World War II Victory Medal; National Defense Service Medal; and the Philippine Liberation Ribbon. He also received a Letter of Commendation from the Commanding Officer of the USS Colorado for his "alertness and calmness"  in the performance of his duties as the Chaplain of the Colorado during the engagement with eneny forces at Tinian on July 24, 1944. The letter stated that, though wounded himself, he remained at his post of duty caring for the wounded and the dead. He later received a letter of Appreciation for his work while serving as Chaplain for the Military Sea Transportation Service in the Northern Pacific Sub Area.

END

Published: Wed Sep 19 08:42:34 EDT 2018