by Denise Etheridge
White County News
Local celebrity and World War II Army veteran Andy Negra turned 101 on May 28. Negra won’t travel to Normandy, France, to observe the anniversary of D-Day this year like he did in 2023 and 2024. Those trips were organized by the Best Defense Foundation and Delta Air Lines.
Instead, he enjoyed three separate cakes and stretched his birthday celebration with friends and relatives out over a week prior to his actual birthday.
“We had supper at Mully’s Nachoochee Grill on Friday night,” Mary Owen, Negra’s daughter, said. She said they also hosted an open house at her father’s home, and Nacoochee Methodist Church held a reception for him. Owen said the family kept Negra’s actual birthday quiet.
“We had a lot of family come in from out of town,” she said.
Negra has three children, two grandchildren, four great-grandchildren and six great-great grandchilren.
Owen said all the grandkids call her dad “Gramps.”
Negra joined the Army on Aug. 2, 1943, according to bestdefensefoundation.org. He went through basic training at Ft. Bragg in North Carolina, and was sent to Wales in 1944 where he was assigned to the 6th Armored Division, 128th Armed Field Battalion. Negra fought in the Battle of the Bulge, took part in the battle for Bastogne, Belgium and helped penetrate the Siegfried Line. In 1945, battalions in Negra’s division liberated Buchenwald concentration camp. Negra later served in the Occupation of Germany with the 2nd Armored Division before being honorably discharged, according to his Best Defense Foundation bio.
Negra, who was born in Pennsylvania, moved to White County 34 years ago.
