LTC ANDREW O. DRENKHAHN To TAPS

Lt Col. ANDREW O. DRENKHAHN, U.S. Army, Retired. Andrew O. Drenkhahn, age 88, of Fayetteville, NC, died peacefully Monday morning, August 22, 2016, at Hospice Care of St Elizabeth in Edgewood, KY, after a valiant battle against cancer. Andy was born March 21, 1928, in Danbury, Iowa, one of 6 children of the late Andrew and Anna Drenkhahn. Sadly, his father was killed in a vehicle accident only a week after Andy was born, leaving Anna to raise all 6 children alone. Andy had a meager but happy childhood, growing up in the depths of the Great Depression with little money but lots of love in the family. After graduation from Danbury High School, Andy attended college at the University of Iowa for one semester before enlisting in the US Army 5 days before his 18th birthday on 2 March 1946. He served as a clerk typist in the 504th Parachute Infantry Brigade, before separating from the Army in 1947 to continue his college education. He graduated from Colorado College in 1950, earning a Bachelor of Arts degree in Business Administration & Banking. He then received a reserve commission in the US Army, becoming an infantry officer. He served in combat as a platoon leader in the Korean Conflict before returning to the United States to serve as a company commander at Fort Campbell, KY, completing both Advanced Infantry Officer’s and Jumpmaster training. In 1955, Andy received a regular commission in the US Army and was re-branched into the Finance Corps, completing assignments in Germany and Fort Bragg, where he served as the finance officer for the Army Special Forces and where he met his wife, Janice McLean. He and Janice were married on 29 December 1963 in Maxton, NC, and immediately went to Bangkok, Thailand, where Andy taught at the Royal Thai Army School of Finance. Andy continued to serve his country as a finance officer at Fort Rucker, AL, before receiving orders to deploy to the Vietnam War. He returned to Fort Bragg in December 1968 after a year in combat, eventually becoming commander of the 18th Airborne Corps Finance battalion. He retired from service with the US Army on 31 January 1973, with over 26 years of faithful service. Andy earned many awards and decorations for his service in the US Army, including the Legion of Merit, Bronze Star, Meritorious Service medal, Korean Service medal, and Vietnam Service medals. After retiring from the U.S. Army at the rank of Lieutenant Colonel, Andy became a successful businessman, founding College Realty, Inc., where he was principal broker and president. Andy was a member of numerous Military, Veterans, Fraternal, and Philanthropic organizations and associations, to include the Masonic Lodge and National Sojourners. He served in various leadership positions in these organizations, to include Master of Clifford Duell Masonic Lodge No. 756, President of National Sojourners NC Chapter No. 97, Commander of Cornelius Hamett Camp, and National President of National Sojourners. His philanthropic efforts were most evident in his work with the National Sojourners Americanism Committee, where he raised scholarship funds over the years to send hundreds of NC high school students to the leadership conference at Freedoms Foundation at Valley Forge, making a lasting impact on the best of American youth. Including his parents, Andy was preceded in death by two brothers, Lawrence and Clarence; and three sisters, Viola Rogge, Violet Olson, and Evelyn Kennaley. Andy will be dearly missed by his wife, of 52 years, Janice; three children, Jane Drenkhahn, Vance (and Kelly) Drenkhahn, and Elizabeth (and Reynard) Wellman; and 3 grandchildren, Charlotte, Connor, and Cullen Drenkhahn. Memorial service will be at 10 a.m. Monday, September 12, at Peace Presbyterian Church, 3203 Ramsey Street, Fayetteville. A commitment service will follow the memorial service at 12 p.m. at Sandhills State Veterans Cemetery, 400 Murchison Road, Spring Lake. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Spirit of America Educational Foundation, c/o National Sojourners Inc., 7942-R Cluny Court, Springfield, VA 22153.