ST. SIMONS ISLAND, GA. | Ernest Andrus, 92, has one more river to cross - and a birthday to celebrate - on his San Diego to St. Simons Island walk and run that he started in October 2013.

The World War II Navy vet and at least three dozen others covered the 4 miles from F.J. Torras Causeway to a marina just short of St. Simons Island. All that separates him and his goal of reaching the Atlantic Ocean and East Beach are the Frederica River and 3.86 miles. He'll celebrate his 93rd birthday with family Friday and walk the rest of the way Saturday for an 8:30 a.m. finish.

The walk is a fundraiser in hopes of getting LST 325, the only operable tank-landing ship from World War II, back to Normandy on June 6, 2019, for the 75th anniversary of the D-Day invasion. Andrus served on an LST in the Pacific during the war.

With Andrus on Thursday were a daughter, two stepdaughters and two great-grandsons, Jacob and Joshua Kocher who came from Chaska, Minn. Also, John Williams, a member of the City Council of Mobile, Ala., came to join Andrus on this walk. Williams said he met Andrus when he passed through Mobile.

"He came into my district to start,'' Williams said. "I walked with him two days, and I told him I was going to be here. He said you're like all the other politicians who say they'll be there but never show up.''

Williams got on Interstate 10 at Mobile Wednesday and drove to Jacksonville, then to Georgia.

"I'll be there Saturday,'' he said.

Andrus' stepdaughter Sandy Suelzle, who came from Alaska, will be with him after the run is finished.

"Ernie and I are going to drive his motor home back to Alaska,'' she said. "That's the next thing on his bucket list."

After covering more than 2,600 miles since he set out from the Pacific Ocean in October 2013, she thinks her stepfather will miss the walk.

"I think he's going to miss getting up in the morning and doing that,'' she said.

Those who walked with Andrus on Thursday carried flags and many of those leaving St. Simons honked their horns as they passed.

Things weren't quite as pleasant, however, for those coming onto the island. With one of two eastbound traffic lanes closed, vehicles were backed up the length of causeway and about a quarter mile onto U.S. 17. The Glynn County school board said its buses experienced some delays, but nothing drastic.

Everyone is encouraged to dress in red-white-and-blue and to come to the former U.S. Coast Guard station at East Beach at 8:30 a.m. Saturday to congratulate Andrus on completing his trek. Those who want to walk the last few miles with him should be at the Coast Guard station between 5:45 and 6 a.m. to ride shuttles to the island entrance where they can join Andrus and a couple of his family members. Because of the annual kingfish tournament, there will be no parking available at the start.

Also, there will be a "meet and greet" for Andrus between noon and 3 p.m. at American Legion Post 166 at Gascoigne Bluff. Halyard's Catering and Southern Soul Barbecue will provide food.

To contribute to LST 325 or to learn more about the walk, consult the website coast2coastruns.com or look for Ernie Andrus on Facebook.

Terry Dickson: (912) 264-0405