Clift Andrus

Clift Andrus
Born	(1890-10-12)October 12, 1890 Fort Leavenworth, Kansas
Died	September 29, 1968(1968-09-29) (aged 77) Washington, D.C.
Place of burial	Arlington National Cemetery
Allegiance	United States of America
Service/branch	United States Army
Years of service	1912-1952
Rank	Major General
Commands held	1st Infantry Division
Battles/wars	World War I World War II Operation Torch Battle of the Kasserine Pass Allied invasion of Sicily
Awards	Distinguished Service Cross Distinguished Service Medal Silver Star (2) Legion of Merit (2) Bronze Star Medal (2)

Clift Andrus (October 12, 1890 – September 29, 1968)^[1] was a highly decorated American United States Army general with the rank of Major General. He is most noted for his service as a Commander of 1st Infantry Division at the end of World War II.

Early years

Clift Andrus was born on October 12, 1890 at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas as a son of army colonel, Edwin Proctor Andrus and his wife Marie Josephine (néé Birdwell). After attending a Shattuck-Saint Mary's in Faribault, Minnesota, Andrus began to study a Civil Engineering at Cornell University. Entered the Army in spring of the year 1912, Andrus was commissioned a Second Lieutenant on 24 April 1912 in 4th Field Artillery Regiment.

Then he served as a battery officer in his new regiment at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas and after three months was transferred to Fort Russell in Wyoming.

In 1915, Andrus was assigned to the Army Field Artillery School at Fort Sill for additional training.

Second World War

At the beginning of the World War II, Colonel Andrus served as an Executive officer at Schofield Barracks, Hawaii. Andrus stayed in this capacity until May of next year, when he was promoted on May 22 to the rank of Brigadier General. Subsequently he was transferred to the 1st Infantry Division under command of major general Terry de la Mesa Allen, Sr., where he was appointed an Division Artillery Officer.

Andrus participated with the 1st Infantry Division in the several battles of the North African Campaign and was subsequently awarded with the Distinguished Service Cross, Silver Star and other awards.^[2]

Life after War

In June 1946, Andrus was transferred to the Fort Sill, Oklahoma, where he was appointed the Commander of local Artillery School. Andrus served in this capacity until April 1949, when he was transferred to the General Staff in Washington, D.C., where he became a Director of Organization & Training Division.

His last assignment was at Fort Meade, Maryland, where he was appointed a Deputy Commander of the Second United States Army under command of Lieutenant general Edward H. Brooks. Major general Andrus finally retired from the Army on October 31, 1952.

Major general Clift Andrus died on September 29, 1958 at the age of 77 years in Washington, D.C. and he is buried at Arlington National Cemetery together with his wife Marion Eleanor Lightfoot Andrus (1899 - 1979).^[3]

Summary of Military Career

Decorations

Major general Clift Andrus received a lot of military decorations for bravery or distinguished service. Here is his ribbon bar:^[4]

Dates of rank

	Second Lieutenant, Regular Army: April 24, 1912
	First Lieutenant, Regular Army: July 1, 1916
	Captain, Regular Army: May 15, 1917
	Major, National Army: July 3, 1918
	Lieutenant Colonel, National Army: October 24, 1918
	Major, Regular Army: July 1, 1920
	Lieutenant Colonel, Regular Army: August 1, 1935
	Colonel, National Army: October 16, 1940
	Colonel, Regular Army: September 1, 1941
	Brigadier General, Army of the United States: May 22, 1942
	Major General, Army of the United States: March 17, 1945
	Major General, Regular Army: January 24, 1948

References