Interview Andy J. King

William F. King (1923-1989), husband of Margaret F. King (1925-2022) and father of Andy J. King (1960) was one of the many Americans who entered Luxembourg as young US soldiers in December 1944 to liberate our country from the Nazi terror. 

Throughout December, Andy is retracing the footsteps of this father, who was a 21-year-old American soldier in the 26th Infantry Division, called the Yankee division, during the liberation and the following Battle of the Bulge. 

Thanks to his extensive research, Andy found out that the 26th Infantry Division moved through areas including Steinfort, Beckerich, Redange, Wiltz and Clervaux during the critical Winter of 1944-1945. 

On this deeply personal journey, Andy honours the memory of both his father and his late mother, Margaret King. It also reflects his desire to inspire and support young people, a sentiment he attributes to his own experience as the father of 20-year-old son Nickolas and which is also reflecting his father’s aspiration to guide adolescents during his professional career as a psychologist after the war, taking advantage of the GI bill, allowing veterans to get a college education.

Where do you come from ?

I’ve lived in California since I was three years old, and for the past 33 years, I’ve called San Francisco home.

Is it your first time in Luxembourg ?

Yes, it’s my first time in Luxembourg, but definitely not my last.

How did you come up with the idea to visit Luxemburg in the footsteps of your father ?

On my Mom’s 90th birthday in December 2015, we gathered at her home and shared many memories, letters, and photographs that my Mom had saved from the years that she and my Dad raised me, my brother, and three sisters. Two of the items shared that day were my Dad’s Honorable Discharge papers from January 1946 and a 1945 “Grapevine” newspaper from the Yankee Division, a newspaper that was published periodically and provided to the troops as they fought in the European Theater of Operations (“ETO”) from September 1944 to May 1945. Intrigued, I began researching his story.

Wikipedia provided first details about his division, and when I saw a picture of the 26th Infantry Division monument in Moyenvic, France in this article, I realized for the first time I could travel to see these locations.  I did extensive research and reading over the following nine years regarding the general path and activities of the Division, and with help from professional researchers, I obtained the Morning Reports from my Dad’s unit, the Headquarters Battery of the 101st Field Artillery Battalion. These reports provided exact positions.

I was immediately drawn to the period of time in Luxembourg and felt a strong desire to visit these places.

How do you remember your father ?

My father was a kind and caring man with a great sense of humour and a deep love for his family. He was thoughtful and naturally curious about the world around him. Having lived through the war, he developed a strong sense of fairness and understood the importance of helping others and fostering harmony.

What did your father share about his experiences during the war ?

Like many other veterans, he shared very little. I can only recall three occasions when he mentioned it, and each time it was just a brief remark, provoked by movies or a magazine cover in the early 1970’s.
I believe the experiences were so traumatic that suppressing such memories was a natural way to move forward with life.

How was it for you to discover the places your father had been to during war ?

Walking through the woods and fields where my Dad’s division fought was both amazing and overwhelming. It wasn’t just the places that moved me but also the genuine warmth and heartfelt gratitude of the Luxembourgers, which touched me deeply.

What did you experience in Luxembourg ?

Exploring the battle sites in the countryside and forest, made easily accessible by the free public transport, even to the smallest villages, was truly meaningful. 
Over the past two weeks, I’ve been deeply touched by how diligently and respectfully Luxembourgers preserve the memory of the war and their gratitude toward their American liberators. I have experienced such warm and hospitable welcomes that I have become friends with so many people that I will remain in touch with and plan to see again on my next journey to Luxembourg.  

The commemoration ceremony in Rambrouch left a lasting impact on me. Watching schoolchildren learn about the past and being equipped with the tools to remember was a genuinely moving experience.

What message do you have for the younger generation in Luxembourg ?

You have the power to shape the world you want to live in and create a bright future. Stay curious - ask questions, especially to your parents, about their lives and experiences. Their stories and feelings can teach you valuable lessons and inspire you.

Let us always remember William and all the young people who risked and sacrificed their lives so that we can live peacefully in freedom and democracy.