RIP, Andy Andreasen
LIRight sends us the news that oldest living cavalryman, Andy Andreasen, has passed at the ripe young age of 96. A lot of history is gone with him apparently. From the 11th ACR (Blackhorse) website;
Andy Andreasen was born in Dazinder, Denmark on March 17, 1916. He died of heart failure and complications on October 5th at the age of 96. Andy joined the Regiment in 1934 as a horse cavalryman, and was with them in 1936 and 1937 as they transitioned to armored cars – he was a crew member on the first armored car of the Regiment. He became an American citizen at age 21 in 1937.
Andy later served in Alaska with the 32nd Infantry and the 4th Infantry, and was with the 4th when World War II broke out. He was in the Battle of Attu (May 11-29, 1943) to retake the Aleutian Islands (part of Alaska) from the Japanese, who had occupied the island since October, 1942. The battle was intensive (often hand to hand) and only 29 of the 2900 Japanese solders survived to surrender, causing the Japanese to surrender their only presence on American soil.
You should go to the link and check out the cool pictures of Andy in the horse Cav. He lived in a period that spanned men arriving in battle on horseback to arriving on the battlefield at 40 miles per hour on 26-ton beasts.
Category: Blue Skies
Ya know, if there had been “real” cavalry, I might have been tempted to join the Army!? Nah…rest-in-Peace Top.
The History Channel had an excellent program about the Aleutian Islands Campaign and highlighted one of the greatest fighting forces devised by the U.S. military – Castner’s Cutthroats. Largely considered in history as the forgotten battle – it was overshadowed by the Guadalcanal battle occurring about the same time. Naval intel codebreakers were credited for anticipating Japanese intent to land forces on Alaska.
The Japanese soldiers were bad enough, but the harsh environment of the Alaskan wilderness TKO’d many American G.I.s from lack of provisions to trench foot. Castner’s Cutthroats were instrumental in turning the tide against the Japanese as they taught the American forces the skills to thrive in a hostile environment w/ minimal logistical support. HC occasionally runs the program on weekend mornings and almost always during Veterans day.
Oh for the chance to record the living historty of a real Horse Solider.Rest in Peace, Sir. Joe
One of the regular events that the horse cavalry participated in was called combined training or 3-day eventing, in which a horse and rider were individually tested in a cross country or steeplechase course over fences, stadium jumping, which is now called show jumping, and dressage. The object was to determine the horse/rider team’s command of overland terrain and their teamwork in jumping fences and in dressage, in which the rider and horse have to work together with signals at a nearly invisible level.
It used to be that the US Cavalry participated in this part of the Olympics until the horse cavalry was basically disbanded. Now it’s been taken up the rest of the equestrian world, at all levels of competition that start with kids in Pony Club events and lead eventually to the Olympics. In this year’s Olympics, the USET in Eventing was ‘way down at the bottom of the barrel. The best they could do in the team standings was 5th X-country, 7th Jumping, and 7th dressage. But it’s a lot of work and long hours, and it’s not an easy sport to engage in.
We are diminished. RIP Sir.
On Fiddler’s Green…
God speed.
RIP sir. Also, don’t know if you’ve mentioned it, Budd Lynch who was a PA announcer for the Detroit Red Wings passed away at age 95. He lost his right arm at Normandy.
RIP Andy. Had the pleasure of meeting Old Bill at a 1st Cav Reunion in 2003. Old Bill had a very similar linage as Andy but never wanted to ride in the iron coffins.
Nice, thanks Jonn!
Well done, soldier.
Another bit of Cav trivia is that many of the old 30’s wild west movies used the Cav as extras during filming. Sometimes they were the good guys, sometimes the bad guys, sometimes both.
Wish I had recorded exactly which of those old movies my Dad had said, “Oh, we were in that one.” “Yellow Ribbon,” starring John Wayne, is likely one of them? Seems like the original “Stage Coach” was another? Even he was not sure how many there were or the names of them all because they often did not know themselves. Apparently they also filmed some assorted charges, chases and such for use wherever they were needed later.
Yep, must now go deal with the allergies. They seem to have become quite an issue this morning for some reason.
Rest in Peace Trooper!
Thanks ever so much for your sevice and dedication to the Regiment.
Allons,
John Skiffington
E Trp, @nd SQGN, 11 ACR
Viet Nam 66-67