Allison, William E.

FLOYD JEROME ANDRESS

SERGEANT
U.S. ARMY

Floyd Andress was born May 16, 1922 in Chattanooga, Ohio. His family later moved to the Hartford township. His parents were William and Anna Andress. His siblings were Ruth Studebaker, Grace McBride, Robert Andress, Pearle McMillan, Vera Dusseau, and Donna Wilson. He went to and graduated from Hartford High School. 

Floyd enlisted into the United States Army on November 3, 1942. He was trained at Camp Wheeler, Georgia. He served in Africa, Sicily, and fought along the Anzio beachhead as part of the Co. I, 7th Infantry, 3rd Division. For combat action, Sgt. Andress was awarded the Combat Infantryman Badge. He had also received a citation from his company commander. In a letter to Floyd's parents about the citation the commander stated "Sergeant Andress has always exhibited fine leadership and personal courage. He is liked and respected by his squad, and has the confidence of all men in the company." His sister, Donna, went to Italy long after Floyd's death and received a certificate of honor made out to Floyd from the city of Anzio. Floyd Andress died on May 22, 1944 of wounds received in battle near Valmontone, Italy. His injuries were believed to have been received a few days before the fall of Rome. 

Upon his death, Floyd was temporarily buried in Italy, but his parents put in an application to have his remains returned to the United States. Floyd J. Andress is now interred in the MRE cemetery in Berne, Indiana. 

For his service and sacrifice, Sergeant Andress earned the Purple Heart, American Theatre Campaign Medal, European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal, and the WWII Victory Medal. 

Information researched and collected by Josef Rumschlag, 2014. 

SOURCES

American Legion Post No468, and Berne & Community Business Men, comps. Service Record: World War I and II - Book of Men and Women of Berne, Indiana and Community. Marceline: Walsworth Brothers, n.d. Print.

Berne Witness [Berne] 1944. Print.

Indiana Historical Bureau, comp. Gold Star Honor Roll: Adams County. Bloomington: Indiana War History Commission, 1949. Print. Vol. 1 of Indiana in World War II.

Find a Grave. N.p., 2014. Web. 3 Dec. 2014. http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=54757554.

"Floyd J Andress." Ancestry.com. Ancestry, n.d. Web. 8 Nov. 2014.

SUPPLEMENTARY