Andy Aldridge left high school in 1946 and joined the US Marine Corps. He was stationed at El Toro Marine Air Base, Santa Ana, California until his discharge in January 1948. While at El Toro, he obtained his GED certification. After discharge, he worked various jobs for about a year before joining the Veterans Administration in Little Rock. He married in September 1950, and due to his status in the Marine Corps Inactive Reserve, he was called back to active duty in October 1950. He served in South Korea starting February 1951 as a machine gunner until September 15, when he sustained severe shrapnel wounds from a hand grenade.

After several surgeries and rehabilitation at Oak Knoll Navy Hospital in Oakland, California, and Millington Navy Hospital in Memphis, Tennessee, he returned home to North Little Rock, Arkansas. He was medically retired from the Marines due to medical disability and began receiving care from the VA, with a disability rating of 90%.

He resumed employment at the Veterans Administration for a period. A VA Representative suggested he pursue higher education, leading him to apply for admission at UCA (Arkansas State Teacher's College) in Conway under the GI Education Bill, earning a BSE. He then attended the University of Arkansas in Fayetteville, earning an ME degree in 1958.

In 1958, Andy started working at North Little Rock High School, teaching American History for three years before moving to Horace Mann Insurance as an insurance salesman for about three years. He was later hired by the Little Rock School District, initially working in Distributive Education and then as director of the Office of Federal Programs for the district. This program involved testing children to determine needs for innovative support, early childhood education, and identifying children with special needs. He continued in this role until his retirement in 1985. His disability rating was increased to 100% and made retroactive to the original rating.

Andy has been an active member of multiple organizations including Civitan, DAV, VFW, American Legion, Gideons International, Military Order of the Purple Heart, and Park Hill Baptist Church in North Little Rock, AR. He has received the Korean Service Medal, Purple Heart Medal, and UN Medal.

Andy participated in planning, financing, designing, and overseeing the construction of the Korean War Veterans Memorial at MacArthur Park in Little Rock, AR. He and his wife, Ruth, have been married for 61 years and have two sons, four grandchildren, and nine great-grandchildren.