Knights of Peter Claver host Gulf Coast conference in Mobile

May 15, 2023

By ROB HERBST
The Catholic Week
MOBILE – Ret. Cpl. Robert Curtis Andry of St. Peter the Apostle Parish in Chastang was a founding member of the Knights of Peter Claver Gulf Coast District about 80 years ago.
Now 98 years old, the Knights of Peter Claver ensured the dedicated World War II veteran and Purple Heart recipient’s legacy will last on.
The KoPC Gulf Coast District announced during its 75^th annual District Senior Conference at the Mobile Marriott hotel on May 6 that its annual “man of the year” award will be named the “Robert Curtis Andry Claver Man of the Year Award.”
“He is the reason we are here today,” said District Deputy Joe Piernas.
Andry was in attendance to present the award to Leonard Stiell of Prince of Peace Parish in Mobile. Grand Lady Marjorie Seltzer of St. James Major Parish in Prichard was named the 2023 Lady of the Year by the Knights of Peter Claver Ladies Auxiliary.
Since being initiated into the Knights of Peter Claver in 1943, Andry has written many fascinating chapters to his amazing life.
Born and raised in Bucks, Ala., Andry was drafted out of high school. He was part of Gen. George Patton’s all-black soldier 761^st Tanker Battalion and was a gunner on a Sherman tanker that was struck by a German mortar shell in France.
Severely wounded, fellow soldiers pulled Andry out of the tank. He was buried and hidden in a shallow trench until medics were able to retrieve him nearly 12 hours later.
Andry was immediately taken to a London hospital, before eventually returning to the U.S. and finally back home to Bucks.
The 761^st Black Tank Battalion went on to liberate 30 villages and multiple concentration camps.
At home, Andry was married for 72 years to Lillie Andry before she passed away in 2021. Together, they had included eight children, 13 grandchildren and 13 great-grandchildren.
Andry has been a dedicated and lifelong parishioner of St. Peter the Apostle Parish. Following the presentation, Andry thanked his elders for raising him in the faith and talking to him about the Knights of Peter Claver.
But plenty sharp being only two years away from 100 years old, Andry noticed women outnumbered the men at the conference. He told the men they had to pick up their game.
“They’re slacking,” he said.