Great-Grandfather John Francis (Frank) Andrews
Sometime in his late 30s or 40s he secured a job with the Federal Government. Am not certain what his job entailed at that time. Following World War II, he spent time in China as part of the UNRRA (United Nations Relief and Rehabilitation Administration) task force. At the time of his retirement from his office in NYC, his position was as a civilian employee of the Air Force.
During the construction of the DEW (Distant Early Warning) Line at the Arctic Circle, he was responsible for overseeing delivery of all the goods necessary for constructing the Line. A demanding job indeed as the window of opportunity was small because of the severe weather. In that capacity, he traveled extensively in Greenland, Alaska and Canada and possibly Iceland. He also accomplished his goal of traveling to and in all 50 states. As a dedicated amateur photographer and writer, he chronicled his travels. At the time of his widow’s death in 2001, a relative of hers who cleared out the house disposed of the items at the New Jersey landfill. I have just a few given to me in earlier times.
He loved Christmas so it was especially poignant that he died December 25, 1988.
By his late 30s, he had lost much of his hearing but that in no way diminished his good humor. I remember the early hearing aid with a wire from the very visible device in his ear to the battery he carried in his shirt pocket. When improperly adjusted, it screeched loudly until corrected. It is amazing he could accomplish so much in the business world in spite of having such a handicap.
- Nannie, April 9, 2007.
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