Andrew Haldane

Who was Andrew Haldane?

Andrew Allison Haldane, known as Andy and nicknamed "Ack-Ack", was an officer in the United States Marine Corps in the Pacific theatre during World War II. He was shot and killed during the Battle of Peleliu. Haldane is "one of the most revered figures in the history of the U.S. Marines."

Haldane was born in Lawrence, Massachusetts and lived in Methuen, Massachusetts most of his life. He graduated from the Searles High School in 1935. He attended St John’s Prep in Danvers, then Bridgton Academy in Bridgton, Maine.

He graduated from Bowdoin College in Brunswick, Maine, where the memory of Captain Haldane is honored annually by presenting the Haldane Cup to the graduating senior who has displayed outstanding qualities of leadership and character. At Bowdoin he was captain of the football team and president of the student council, and he was voted most popular senior in 1940. He became assistant football coach at Bowdoin in October 1941 after graduating that June. He had planned to coach for a season before joining the Marine Corps, but he was called up after coaching for a mere two weeks.