FReeper Canteen ~ Hall of Heroes: CWO Frederick Ferguson ~ 16 November 2015

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[Kathy in Alaska]

 

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---

~ Hall of Heroes ~

CWO Frederick Ferguson

Info from here and here and here.

           

Frederick Edgar Ferguson (born August 18, 1939) is a former United States Army warrant officer and a recipient of the United States military's highest decoration, the Medal of Honor, for his actions in the Vietnam War.  He was the first Army aviator to receive the Medal of Honor in Vietnam.

Frederick E. Ferguson was born on August 18, 1939, in Pilot Point, Texas. He attended Phoenix Union High School in Phoenix, Arizona. Ferguson joined the Navy after he graduated from high school in 1958, and served for four years as an aviation storekeeper.

He applied to the Army's Warrant Officer Program, and was appointed to the rank of Warrant Officer in 1966. Ferguson completed Army Aviation School in 1967 and was immediately deployed to Vietnam as an aircraft commander and Section Leader of

Company C, 227th Aviation Battalion, First Cavalry Division, Airmobile.

On January 31, 1968, Ferguson commanded a Bell UH-1 supply helicopter near the city of Hue, during the Tet Offensive. He heard a distress call from the wounded crew of a helicopter which had been shot down over the enemy-controlled section of the city. Ferguson ignored warnings to stay away from the area because of heavy anti-aircraft fire, and flew along the Perfume River toward the survivors at a low altitude and maximum speed.

He stayed on course despite heavy fire from enemy occupied buildings and boats and landed in a confined area near the survivors despite limited visibility. The helicopter was severely damaged by exploding mortar fragments while the wounded soldiers were loaded, but Ferguson ignored the damage and pushed the helicopter back through the heavy enemy fire along the river to safety. His actions successfully saved the lives of the five survivors and rescued them from a hostile area. Ferguson was awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor, which was presented to him on May 17, 1969, by President Richard Nixon at the White House.

In July 1969, after completing the Armor Officer Basic and Advanced Courses, Ferguson was promoted to Captain. He remained on active duty and served as Commanding Officer of an armor company from 1970 to 1971. In 1972, Ferguson entered the Arizona Army National Guard. He was promoted to Major in 1975 and assigned to command the 997th Aviation Company of assault helicopters. He became Executive Officer of the 997th Aviation Battalion in 1978 and served in that capacity until 1982. Ferguson then served as a Technician Instructor Pilot with the Guard until 1997.

In his civilian life, Ferguson has held various positions and involves himself in numerous organizations. From July 1972 to July 1979, he was sales manager and then vice president of Arizona Janitor Supply. Ferguson then worked as a benefits counselor at the Phoenix office of the Veterans Administration from 1979 to 1984.

In 1998 he piloted air ambulances for Omni Flight Helicopters, supplementing the services of the Native American Air Ambulance of Arizona. Beginning in 1999, Ferguson has worked at the Arizona Department of Veterans Services, and became Deputy Director of the department in 2000. He is a member of several organizations for veterans and for pilots, including his role as a councilor for the Scottish-American Military Society. Frederick Ferguson is married with two children.

Chief Warrant Officer Ferguson's official Medal of Honor citation reads:

For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty. CWO Ferguson, U.S. Army distinguished himself while serving with Company C. CWO Ferguson, commander of a resupply helicopter monitoring an emergency call from wounded passengers and crewmen of a downed helicopter under heavy attack within the enemy controlled city of Hue, unhesitatingly volunteered to attempt evacuation. Despite warnings from all aircraft to stay clear of the area due to heavy antiaircraft fire, CWO Ferguson began a low-level flight at maximum airspeed along the Perfume River toward the tiny, isolated South Vietnamese Army compound in which the crash survivors had taken refuge. Coolly and skillfully maintaining his course in the face of intense, short range fire from enemy occupied buildings and boats, he displayed superior flying skill and tenacity of purpose by landing his aircraft in an extremely confined area in a blinding dust cloud under heavy mortar and small-arms fire. Although the helicopter was severely damaged by mortar fragments during the loading of the wounded, CWO Ferguson disregarded the damage and, taking off through the continuing hail of mortar fire, he flew his crippled aircraft on the return route through the rain of fire that he had experienced earlier and safely returned his wounded passengers to friendly control. CWO Ferguson's extraordinary determination saved the lives of 5 of his comrades. His actions are in the highest traditions of the military service and reflect great credit on himself and the U.S. Army.

 

Please remember the Canteen is here to honor, support and entertain our troops and their families.  This is a politics-free zone!  Thanks for helping us in our mission! 

[PROCON]

Evening ladies and thanks for honoring our Hero!

[Kathy in Alaska]

Hello Veterans, wherever you are!!

[Kathy in Alaska]

Good evening, Pro...did you have a nice, quiet day?

Today’s high was 8. Did my errands and now just staying warm.

[Kathy in Alaska]

United States Marine Corps Band ~ National Anthem

[mountainlion]

It was a nice quite day here, the Broncos lost.

[Kathy in Alaska]

Please note: The author of the Hall of Heroes is StarCMC.

Sending out prayers for Arrowhead1952 as he recovers from his horrible fall.

~ Hall of Heroes: CWO Frederick Ferguson ~

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[MoochPooch]

Evening, Kathy. Boy, do we need our heroes more than ever!

[Kathy in Alaska]

Good evening, mountainlion...((HUGS))...sorry about your Broncos.

Do you have lots of snow? We have less than 4” and it’s 7 degrees and dropping.

[SandRat]

[PROCON]

Hi Kathy!

Zach surprised me and came over after Church to have lunch and hang out until just a few minutes ago.

Getting ready to watch the Seahawks-Cardinals game.

Off to work early tomorrow.

Brrr up north, stay warm!

[The Mayor]

Freep mail me to be on or off the Daily Bread ping list

Shared Struggles

November 16, 2015

Share each other’s burdens, and in this way obey the law of Christ. â€”nlt

Galatians 6:2

April 25, 2015, marked the 100th commemoration of Anzac Day. It is celebrated each year by both Australia and New Zealand to honor the members of the Australian and New Zealand Army Corps (ANZAC) who fought together during World War I. It marks a time when neither country had to face the dangers of war alone; soldiers from both countries engaged in the struggle together.

Sharing life’s struggles is fundamental to the way followers of Christ are called to live. As Paul challenged us, “Share each other’s burdens, and in this way obey the law of Christ” (Gal. 6:2 nlt). By working together through life’s challenges we can help to strengthen and support one another when times are hard. By expressing toward one another the care and affections of Christ, the difficulties of life should draw us to Christ and to each other—not isolate us in our suffering.

Difficulties in life can draw us to Christ & to each other.

By sharing in the struggles of another, we are modeling the love of Christ. We read in Isaiah, “Surely He has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows” (Isa. 53:4 nkjv). No matter how great the struggle we face, we never face it alone.

Thank You, Father, that I don’t have to walk my life’s journey alone. You are near.

Read more about the nearness of God in The Lord Is My Shepherd at discoveryseries.org/hp952  

>We can go a lot further together than we can alone.

Insight:

In Galatians 6:2 Paul instructs the Galatian believers to carry each other’s burdens. However, in verse 5 Paul says that each person should carry his own load. In the case of carrying each other’s burdens, we are to do so in the context of someone caught in sin (v. 1). However, in the case of carrying our own load, it is so that we do not compare ourselves to others and become unduly disheartened by our progress (or lack of it). J.R. Hudberg

[mountainlion]

I had maybe 2 inches but it is mostly melted. There will be more snow and a week of cold but nothing really bad. I am still getting firewood but I think I have more than enough.

[EXCH54FE]

Good evening Kathy

(((Hugs)))

One more Great Day!! Just love it, keep them coming :-)

Some family stopped over for a weeks visit from Las Vegas, had fine old time. Even found a very good IHOP, a new one in town that I will visit often.... :-)

[SandRat]

[Kathy in Alaska]

Good evening, Mooch....you sure got that right!

We do so need our heroes. And I know we have them.

[Kathy in Alaska]

In first....Pro grabs the gold!!

[Kathy in Alaska]

And in second....mountainlion snags the silver!!

[SkyDancer]

Hai - Hawks FB party. (((HUGS)))

[Kathy in Alaska]

And rounding out the top three....Mooch bags the bronze!!