Andrus, Clift “Mr. Chips”, born 12-10-1890 in Fort Leavenworth, Kansas,
one and a half year after Adolf Hitler (did you know). His father was Colonel Edwin Proctor Andrus, graduate of U.S.M.A, and his mother’s name was Marie Josephine, born Birdwell – of Fredericksville, Ilinois. Andrus was a close friend of Major General, Terry “Terrible Terry” Allen





General Andrus’ further assignments are highlighted by his graduation from the field artillery school at Fort Sill in June, 1928, and his graduation from the Command and General Staff School at Ft. Leavenworth in 1930. General Andrus’ command time was highlighted by his command of the 6th Division Artillery, nicknamed “Victory Division”
during March and when the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbour in 1941, General Andrus was commanding the 24th Infantry Division Artillery. During World War II, members of the 24th Infantry Division won 3 Medals of Honor, 15 Distinguished Service Crosses, 2 Distinguished Service Medals, 625 Silver Star Medals, 38 Soldier’s Medals, 2.197 Bronze Star Medals, and 50 Air Medals. The division itself was awarded eight Distinguished Unit Citations for actions during their participation in the Pacific Campaign. His units were credited with being the first to roll, being emplaced and ready to defend the beached within 35 minutes after the first bomb dropped. In combat General Andrus commanded the 1st Infantry Division, Division Artillery, during the division’s battles in North Africa, Sicily and Northern France. His cool demeanor and effective leadership of the Division Artillery meant victory for the division on many occasions. He was presented the Distinguished Service Cross, for extraordinary heroism in connection with military operations against an armed enemy while serving with an Artillery Battalion of the 1st Infantry Division,
in action against enemy forces in July 1943. The 1st Infantry Division, first commander was, two stars General, Donald Cubbison,
of the United states Army the oldest division in the United States Army. It has seen continuous service since its organization in 1917. It was officially nicknamed the “The Big Red One” after its shoulder patch and is also nicknamed “The Fighting First”. However, with typical soldier gallows humor, the division has also received troop monikers of The Big Dead One and The Bloody First as puns on the respective officially-sanctioned nicknames. It is currently based at Fort Rilley, Kansas. Casualties during their European campaign, 4.411 killed in action, 17.201 wounded in action, 1.056 missing or died of wounds. Andrus had a small moustache, greying, sandy hair and gray eyes and smoked a pipe,
played chess and read Dickens and Mark Twain in the field.





Major General Clift Andrus, retired, commanding the First Infantry Division
in its final campaigns of World War II. In 1946 he relinquished the command to Major General Frank William Millburn



Andrus later went on to become the commandant of the Artillery School at Fort Sill, Oklahoma in 1946, and later was appointed the deputy Commanding General of the 2nd Army at Fort George G. Meade, Maryland in March of 1950.
Death and burial ground of Andrus, Clift “Mr. Chips”.



“Mr. Chips” died 29-09-1968 in the Walter Reed Army Medical Center of a heart ailment, at the age of 77. He is buried with all honour, with his wife Marion, who died age 80 in 1979 and his daughter Magarete who was only 10 years old in 1929, on Arlington Cemetery, Virginia USA, Section 7
. Close by in Section 7, the Major General, Commander 35th Division, Paul Baade, First Allied Airborne Army, U.S. 2* Air Force Lieutenant General, Operation “Market Garden”, Louis Brereton, General, Chief of Staff of Sixth Army, George Decker, General, Commander of the 85th Infantry Division, nickname “Custer”
Wade “Ham” Haislip, Brigadier General, Commander U.S. Marine Corps, Lemuel Shepherd Jr. and General, Vice Chief of Staff of the U.S. Army, John Hull.



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