HELEN, Ga. – A profile of Andrew “Andy” Negra Jr., of Helen, Ga., one of a dwindling number of veterans who participated in the Allied European war effort that led to the defeat of Nazi Germany.
Born: May 28, 1924, near Avella, Pennsylvania.
Service: 128th Army Armored Field Artillery Battalion, 6th Armored Division. He landed on Utah Beach, in Normandy, on July 18, 1944. He fought in the battle of Brest, among other battles. He later served in the occupation of Germany. He was honorably discharged on December 17, 1945.
“Because we saved the world”
It was 1943 and Andrew “Andy” Negra Jr. had just graduated high school. He was considering attending the University of Pittsburgh. “But Uncle Sam pointed that finger at me. ‘I need you.’ And I was summoned.
The third of four children of immigrants from Austria-Hungary, Negra did not express any doubts about joining the service.
“There was a war going on, so I agreed with everyone. I just went into the service with an open mind.”
Now, he proudly claims to be part of the “Greatest Generation.”
“Because we saved the world,” he said.
He has made the return trip to France before, but says his return this year for the 80th anniversary of D-Day is special for the people of Europe and for himself.
“I’m talking about the United Kingdom, France, Germany, Luxembourg, Belgium. They will all come here and it will be 35 different countries,” he told the Associated Press before his trip. “So it’s going to be a very big event. And at the same time I say to myself: they are going to celebrate my birthday”, said Negra, who turned 100 on May 28th.
He considers himself lucky to have survived unharmed.
“I saw a lot of bad things. A lot of death,” he said.
But he also says he met his wife at a dance while he was there.
“The second song they played was “People Will Say We’re in Love”. And I told her, I said – at that time, I’m 19 years old – I told her, I said, this is going to be our song for the rest of our lives. And I only met her ten minutes ago.
As the anniversary of D-Day approached, Negra made plans to visit the scene of one of the most harrowing moments of her life. He recalled being on the road with the 6th Armored Division as part of an effort to retake the French port city of Brest when their column was strafed by five German planes. He left the path and hid behind a well.
“All five of these planes dove into this well,” Negra recalled. “And I was right behind it. So when they strafed, luckily it was brick and solid.”
His plans for returning to France include revisiting the scene.
“They say the well is not there, but the location is there. So, if possible, let’s look at it.”
