Andrew Jackson Gandy Jr.
Andrew Jackson Gandy, Jr. was born October 20, 1924 in Chattanooga, Tennessee. He was the son of Andrew Jackson Gandy, Sr. and Mary Lou Saffles. His siblings include Roscoe, Ruby, and Gladys Gandy.
For his actions on November 12, 1942 aboard the USS San Francisco he was awarded the Navy Cross:
The President of the United States of America takes pride in presenting the Navy Cross Posthumously to Seaman Second Class Andrew Jackson Gandy, Jr. NSN 6402368, United States Naval Reserve, for extraordinary heroism in the line of his profession as Gunner, while serving on board the Heavy Cruiser U.S.S. San Francisco CA-38, during an engagement with Japanese naval forces near Savo Island in the Solomons on the night of on 12 and 13 November 1942. With a complete disregard for his own personal safety, Seaman Second Class Gandy courageously refused to abandon his gun station and fearlessly remained at his gun. In the face of certain death from an onrushing enemy torpedo plane that had been set on fire, he maintained his accurate gunfire until the plane crashed on his station. He was killed in action. His unflinching bravery and gallant conduct were in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.
General Orders Commander South Pacific Area and Force Serial 066 November 24, 1942
Action Date November 12 – 13, 1942
Service Naval Reserve
Rank Seaman Second Class
Division U.S.S. San Francisco CA-38
Seaman First Class Andrew J. Gandy was Buried at Sea. He is memorialized at Fort William Mckinley, Manila, The Philippines.
The Chattanooga Daily Times, 9 December 1942
Word was received yesterday that Andrew J. Gandy Jr., son of Mr. and Mrs. Andrew J. Gandy, 4105 Sixteenth avenue, has been killed in action with the fleet in the Pacific. Young Gandy was recently decorated with the Naval Cross by Admiral William E. Halsey for heroi action aboard ship in the victorious Guadalcanal battle of Nov. 12 and 13. He was one of the twenty-nine men aboard a cruiser who continued to fire on the enemy although a flaming torpedo plane was diving directly at them. Though the highter officers had been wiped out, Gandy and twenty-eight other seamen damaged a Jap battleship, which later sank; set fire to an enemy cruiser and sank a Jap destroyer. All twenty-nine men were decorated for this feat.
The official communication from Rear Admiral Randall Jacobs, of the navy department, sent to Mr. and Mrs. Gandy apprising them of the death of their son on Dec. 2, read as follows: “The navy department regrets to inform you that your son, A.J. Gandy Jr., seaman second class, was killed in action in the Pacific.” The 17-year-old boy attended East Lake Junior High School. He is survive by two brothers, Robert and Roscoe, and three sisters, Ruby, Gladys and Mabel Lee Gandy.
On Sunday, December 12, 1943, the U.S.S. Gandy (DE-764) was christened by Miss Ruby Mae Gandy of Chattanooga, Tennessee and slid down the ways of the Tampa Shipbuilding Company, Tampa, Florida. Its namesake was Andrew Jackson Gandy, a gunner aboard the cruiser, San Francisco, who lost his life in the battle of Guadalcanal. Seaman Gandy and the rest of his gun crw remained at their stations firing at an attacking Jap suicide plane until it crashed into their gun. For this heroic action these men were posthumously awarded the Navy Cross.
- Rank: Seaman Second Class
- Date of birth: 20 October 1924
- Date of death: 12 November 1942
- County: Hamilton
- Hometown: Chattanooga
- Service Branch: Navy
- Division/Assignment: USS San Francisco (CA-38)
- Theater: Pacific
- Conflict: World War II
- Awards: Purple Heart, Navy Cross
- Burial/Memorial Location: Manila American Cemetery, Fort Bonifacio, Manila, Philippines
- Location In Memorial: Pillar X, Middle Panel
- Contact us to sponsor Andrew J. Gandy
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