He was born in Glendive, Montana on June 08, 1952, the son of John Henry and Donna Marie Strom; brother of Mary Kay Jackson, Jean King, John Strom, Donna Petroff, Lyla Blazer, and Lisa Strom. Following his high school graduation from Sacred Heart High School, Miles City, Montana in 1971, he enlisted in the United States Marine Corps where he served 22 years of active duty before retiring in 1993. He held career positions of Finance, Inventory Control and Material Management. For half of his career, Andy was selected for special duty as a Systems Analyst. While attached to this elite group, he was tasked with analyzing and reporting on the effectiveness and efficiency of Marine Corps units worldwide. During his tenure in the USMC he received numerous meritorious commendations. He was recognized as “an outstanding individual, mature beyond his years and experience” whose outstanding performance and untiring devotion to duty were in the highest tradition of the Marine Corps and the United States Naval Service.
Andy met Meiyeh Chou while stationed in Okinawa, Japan and married on July 25, 1979. They were blessed with a beloved daughter, Eifeh Maria Strom, on February 09, 1986. Andy and his family have been residing in Oceanside, California since 1989.
After retiring from the military in August 1993, he embarked upon a new project as a researcher on World War II history and technology, which he has worked on for the past 17 years. Andy, also known as Dru, had gained recognition for his work and accomplishments as an international author and lecturer on this subject, to include a multitude of television, radio, and print media. Diligent and devoted to his work, he will be remembered for his accomplishments.
Survivors include his wife Mei of Oceanside; daughter Eifeh; mother Donna Marie Strom of Miles City, Montana; five sisters: Mary Kay Jackson of Billings, Montana, Jean King and Donna Petroff both of Miles City, Montana, Lyla Blazer and Lisa Strom both of Mandan, North Dakota; and brother John Strom of Hudson, Wyoming.
He was preceded in death by his father John Henry Strom.
Andy will be sorely missed by all those who dearly loved, admired, and respected him.
A celebration of Andy's life will be held on Tuesday, February 7th at 10:00am in the Eternal Hills Memorial Chapel in Oceanside; a graveside burial will immediately follow.
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