Oliver "Andy" Lorraine Andersen

Oliver Lorraine "Andy" Andersen of San Antonio, Texas, passed away on Saturday morning, January 28, 2023, at the age of Ninety-Three. He was born on November 16, 1929, in Virginia, Nebraska, where he grew up in a rural farming community. He graduated from Berthoud High School in Berthoud, Colorado, in 1947. While working on a dam construction project in Estes Park with his father, he was convinced by several retired Navy chiefs that he should join the Navy. So, in September of 1948, he began his career at the Naval Training Center in San Diego, Ca. During his enlistment between September 1948 and September 1958, he qualified as Second Class and First Class Divers and served at the Escape Training Tank at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii. He then served aboard the USS CHANTICLEER (ASR-17), USS SPERRY (AS-12), USS FLORIKAN (ASR-9), and the USS NEREUS (ASR-17). Andy's newfound love of the ocean and diving also brought him the love of his life. In 1951 while attending the Navy's Deep Sea Diving School at the Washington Navy Yard in Washington, DC, he met, by way of mutual friends, the former Lula Laniece Swearingen. They married shortly thereafter in the Chapel of the Roses in Chula Vista, CA, and set off with the new task of managing a military career while starting a family. During this period, he also served under combat conditions during the Korean Conflict. He later participated in "Operation Hardtack," providing diving support during a series of nuclear tests conducted by the United States at Eniwetok & Bikini Atolls located in the Marshall Islands in the Pacific. Attaining the grade of Shipfitter Chief Petty Officer and Commissioned as a Chief Warrant Officer in October 1958, he served a tour as Repair Officer on the aircraft carrier USS SHANGRI-LA (CVA-38). He then transferred to the Naval Ordnance Test Station as a Diving Officer in Pasadena, California. Here, he participated in developing the pop-up capability for the Polaris missile, ASROC, and gained designation as an HE02 (heliox) Diving Officer. In December 1962, he was redesignated as a Limited Duty Office (LDO) in the grade of Lieutenant Junior Grade, graduating from the Navy's Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) School in Indian Head, Maryland. Upon completing his training, he served as an EOD Officer at the Naval Station Rota Spain. While there, he participated in the search and recovery of nuclear weapons lost near Palomares, Spain, as well as other unexploded ordnance around the Mediterranean. Next, he returned to Indian Head and became a Special Weapons and Guided Missile Department Head. Soon after, he transferred to Charleston, SC, to serve aboard the USS WRANGELL (AS-12) as the First Lieutenant, EOD, Weapons, and Deck Officer. The Wrangell toured the Mediterranean and served under combat conditions off the coast of Viet Nam. Among the significant highlights of his naval career, from August 1969 to July 1971, he was given command of the USS PENOBSCOT (ATA-188) with a homeport in Newport, RI. Following his command of the PENOBSCOT, Andy returned to the EOD community as the Surface Munitions and Range Safety Officer at the Naval Weapons Laboratory in Dahlgren, VA, followed by another return to Indian Head as the Training and Executive Officer of the EOD School. (NAVSCOLEOD). Andy's final service of duty to the Navy was as the Executive Officer of the EOD Facility in Indian Head. Having risen through the ranks from Seaman Recruit to Commander, Andy's personal awards included the Meritorious Service Medal, Navy Commendation Medal, Navy Achievement Medal, Navy Unit Commendation (2), Meritorious Unit Commendation, Korean Presidential Unit Commendation, Good Conduct Medal (3) and the National Defense Medal (2). He also wears various citations and campaign medals from the Korean Conflict and Vietnam and the Expert Pistol Badge. Additionally, he proudly wore insignia designations that included his roles as Surface Warfare Officer (SWO), Diving Officer (DV), Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) Officer, and "Command at Sea," indicating his command of a commissioned warship in the US Navy. After retiring from the Navy and using the knowledge and skills he developed during his military service, Andy found employment with companies such as Princeton Gamma-Tech, Foster and Wheeler, and Applied Ordnance Technology. A voracious reader of military history, Andy also enjoyed hunting, gunsmithing, fishing, traveling, and spending time with his granddaughter at the beach. He is preceded in death by his father, Oliver Thomas Andersen, and his mother, Martha Alberts Andersen. He is survived by his wife of 70 Years, Lula Laniece Andersen, Daughter Dixie, Son Dale, Daughter-in-Law Sasha, and Granddaughter Maria, along with many nieces, nephews, and people who feel as if they are an adopted part of our family. The family would like to thank Yvonne, the staff at PAM Health at Home, the nurses at Bridgeway Hospice, and the many specialized doctors and nurses who cared for our loved ones in a compassionate and caring manner. Family and friends are invited to attend a Memorial Service at King of Kings Lutheran Church, 13888 Dreamwood Dr., San Antonio, Tx 78233, on Saturday, February 18, 2023, at 11:00am. Visitation with the family will begin following the service. Out-of-town friends are invited to join the memorial by visiting the live stream of the service King of Kings. (www.satx-kingofkings.church/home) In lieu of flowers, please consider making a donation in his honor to the EOD WARRIOR FOUNDATION http://weblink.donorperfect.com/donate_eod_warrior