Andrew Ference

Andrew Charles Ference (Drew) was born in Uniontown, Pennsylvania on November 4th 1920. He was a first generation American citizen, born to immigrant parents from Czechoslovakia. After completing high school in Uniontown in 1937, he enrolled part-time in classes at Penn State University to study biology and anatomy. In 1942, Drew was drafted by the U.S. Army and completed training as an Army Medic. He served with the Army's 199th General Hospital Division stationed in Rennes, France. He was awarded the Distinguished Service Medal for "extremely meritorious service" in 1945, on completion of his military service. While in Europe, he became fluent in French and German, adding to his fluency in English, Latin, Slovak. When Drew left the military, he enrolled at (Case) Western Reserve University in Cleveland, Ohio. With the funding help of the G.I. Bill, he obtained a B.A. degree in Romance Languages in 1949. He returned to Uniontown, PA briefly after graduation, and applied to the State Department in the Foreign Service. Drew served nobly in State Department from 1949-1954. He underwent formal training in Washington, D.C. and served briefly in Prague, Czechoslovakia. In 1950, Drew was transferred to Paris. He was a "Research Assistant" in the Security Trade Control Section of the Foreign Operations Administration in Paris. Family said that he was a respected cryptographer and translator. The U.S. government documented that Drew resigned his position in August 1954 because of "ill health" and committed suicide. After months of agonizing family inquiry, it was discovered that Drew committed suicide at age 34 because of his forced resignation pursuant to President Eisenhower's Executive Order 10450. Drew is one of many tragic victims of the Lavender Scare. Drew Ference was deeply loved by family and friends.