Robert Evers of the Covington Veterans Foundation recently wrote an account of two brothers of the same family in Andalusia who were killed during World War II – John Wylie Catrett, who was killed during the battle of North Africa in 1943, being shot by a sniper when trying to escape the flames of a tank and Jimmy Jackson Catrett who died in the battle of Peleliu Island in the South Pacific in 1944, where Marine as well as Army divisions fought for the capture of an airfield that was located on Peleliu Island.
In September of 1953, an Andalusia Star News article reported that the loss of the family of Mr. and Mrs. Andrew Jackson Catrett of the 320th floor of Stewart Street was compounded in the middle of August when an additional son staff sergeant Roy Catrett, a veteran of Korea was on board an Army bomber that crashed into Atlantic Ocean on a routine training flight to Europe. Mrs. Catrett was already included on a list Gold Star Mothers of the Covington region in 1947, as recorded and filed in the files from the Andalusia Post Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW).
The native from Andalusia Pvt. Roy Catrett had been a student at Andalusia High School and was later awarded a degree at the end of August in 1947. He was a graduate from United States Army Air Force Communications School located at Scott Field, Illinois with the top marks in his class, as Radio Operator.
Catrett is mentioned in a news publication as “a wonderful illustration of the men currently working with the newly established Regular Army Air Forces.”
Catrett was in active service with the Army Air Forces from the time of his joining on Maxwell Field, Alabama on September 16th 1946. He was a Private. with the San Antonio, Texas Army Air Base. After completing the course, it prepared him to become an operator to maintain and operate his ground and air ground communication apparatus to the Air Forces.
Arriving at Okinawa in the month of October 1947, in his very first assignment overseas Catrett worked as radio operator for the 1962nd Airways and Air Communications Service Squadron of the 13th Air Force. Airman Roy Catrett was promoted in 1949 to the rank of Sergeant in 1949, the 13th Air Force Headquarters announced.
The Andy Hi-Lite October 1, 1950 edition reads, “Several graduates have entered the business of marriage…….Margaret Jane Cremer who works in Doctor Juanita McDonald’s office to Roy Catrett. The husband of Margaret Jane is currently serving in Korea as a member of her husband in the Air Force.”
On June 22nd, 1950 issue in The Andalusia Star News reported, “The marriage of Miss Margaret Jane Cremer, daughter of Mr. J.J. Cremer and Mrs. J. J. Cremer and Sgt. Roy Catrett took place at an event of elegance and simplicity in the home of Mr. and Mrs. William Oscar “Bud” Catrett, who resided in Montgomery. The wedding was performed in the presence of the families and close friends of the couple……Following the ceremony, Sgt. Catrett, his wife and he left on a brief honeymoon before departing for Eglin Field, Florida where Sgt. Catrett is stationed.”
The 6 August 1953 issue of The Andalusia Star News reported, “Hopes Are Held for Roy Catrett. Margaret Cremer was the ex-wife of Roy Catrett. said to that her mom Mrs. J. J. Cremer via long distance phone she was told that their husband (Staff Sgt. Roy Catrett) was among 14 members of the crew of the plane which is missing. Catrett was assigned to Travis Air Force Base near Sacramento, California for about two years following a time in Korea. His wife was also on the ground in California. She had no clues on whether or not her husband was a survivor, even the fact that there was evidence that an English ship had rescued one person dead at the scene of the crash and also saw five others on the raft.”
August 13 53 – “Hopes were dim for Roy Catrett Hope was fading during the week of Staff Sergeant. Catrett, who was working as an radar operator aboard the tragically-dead Army bomber that sank onto the Atlantic Ocean last week. It took eight hours following the incident when the survivors first discovered.”
October 8 53 October 8, 1953 “Coolness that Sgt. Roy Catrett Prior to the Atlantic Crash is Lauded – Mrs. Roy Catrett, widow of the Andalusia airman who was killed in the explosion of a bomber on the night of August 4th, has received letters from her husband’s commander and chaplain informing her of their sorrow for the loss.”
Captain William Vinyard in relating his experience with the incident and efforts made to save the plane that crashed into the freezing sea about 500 miles to the west of Ireland wrote “That radio engineer, Sergeant. Catrett was communicating with my aircraft for 50 minutes prior to the crash. I was flying with 88 wives and kids of American military personnelacross across the Atlantic in the Slick Airways DC-6B when I was informed by London of the fact that an aircraft in my vicinity was having trouble. Radio operator of the Air Force plane informed us that he was experiencing two engines that were roaring in addition to one that was not producing any power and all located on the right. When we asked him how tense this was, he replied”I think we’ll be able to make it. We’re heading towards Shannon, Ireland .’
“The Vinyard plane set the location for other rescue vessels that went around the area, but did not see any lifeboats or wrecks. They were forced to leave as their fuel ran out.”
Star News Editor Ed Dannelly wrote “Those of us who tend to ignore or not appreciate the freedoms we have in a Democracy may want to take an instant to think about the one Andalusia family. The couple of Mr. and Mrs. Andrew J. Catrett has sacrificed their three boys on the cross of their service to our nation. Who else has done more?”
While researching the details for this article I was able to obtain stories from a variety of living relatives of the family, including Robert Cremer, brother of the late Margaret Jane Cremer Catrett, Billy as well as Joyce Catrett, son and daughter of another Catrett family member, William O. Catrett.
It is believed that brother W. O. Catrett was also in the Army during WWII and was the fourth brother of the very same line of household. He was among the soldiers who landed during the battle of Normandy on Utah Beach. He was able to make it back to Montpellier, France, was wounded, then was transferred for treatment in Birmingham, Alabama to recover and was then sent back for Europe. W. O. is known in the region known as “Cat” was a Andalusia native and known as a well-known law enforcement officer in the area throughout his time in ABC. ABC Board.
Then I questioned his daughter: “How do you think your father manage through the years, when he lost three brothers during their army duty?” She said, “In silence.”
The film “Saving Private Ryan”was made during 1998 the cat’s friends called him to discuss the film, she said, and informed him about the film. He promptly told the kind acquaintance, “One time living through it is sufficient!” I guess that is the reason his friend, my dad, who is who is also a veteran of WWII did not want to go to Pearl Harbor or the Pacific Islands to attend any of those post-war Navy reunions.
Another approach to look at this issue that should encourage us all. Here’s how he reacted to his life’s challenges. Veteran Mr. W. O. Catrett was employed at a responsible and lucrative police force job, was a loving and supportive wife, two exceptional youngsters who went on to have significant professional careers, a plethora of acquaintances and a home that he bought and then bought.
The funeral notice of Mr. A. J. Catrett father of four sons, which appeared in the newspaper of June 23, 1960 Andalusia Star News. Catrett, 68, was a retired timber explorer loved by his spouse Ida as well as his son W. O., two daughters and two siblings, a stepbrother and seven grandchildren. The personnel of the Covington County Sheriff’s Office and officials from the Andalusia City Police Department, the State Highway Patrol, and officers from the A.B.C. Board attended the funeral rites, where a the final tribute was offered in the Old Union Primitive Baptist Church close to Burnt Out with burial in the Brantley Cemetery.
It is believed from their children that the couple Mr. as well as Mrs. A. J. Catrett were the parents of thirteen children born in the 1920s and 1930s. There were only sixlived until they reached adulthood. 4 boys were in the military during the 1940sand 1950s with one survivor Some record, wouldn’t you think?
The Covington Veterans Foundation strives to not ever forget veterans both dead and living who served with courage our country. This 2023 Veterans Day story is to honor and pay tribute to these four brothers, and to the family of Catrett.
“Those we cherish never leave us. They’re with us every day, never seen, not heard But always close Loved, Always missed and deeply dear.”
-The author, Sue Bass Wilson, AHS Class 1965, was a former music teacher for choral groups and real estate broker and a long-time ally of the Covington Historical Society. She can be reached at [email protected].
The article Recall When: The Third Catrett child killed during the line of duty was first published at The Andalusia Star-News.
