FReeper Canteen ~ Hall of Heroes: CWO Frederick Ferguson ~ 06 February 2023

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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.

 

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[radu]

Greetings to all at the Canteen!

To all our military men and women, past and present,

THANK YOU
for your service!

[TigerHawk]

SAY HEY!

CHEAP SHOT AT FIRST!

[left that other site]

Hi Everybody!

(((HUGS)))

[TigerHawk]

WHAT?!

YOU GOT QUICKER BLITZ FINGERS THAN ME?!

FIGURES.

GOT WARM FOR US HERE TODAY. FULL MOON RISING @ 5PM. WENT OUT TO SEE. CLOUD COVER SO COMPLETE THAT THERE WASN’T EVEN A DISTINCTIVE BRIGHT SPOT.

HOW’D YOU MAKE OUT?

[radu]

[Kathy in Alaska]

ALMOST!!! I WAS LATE POSTING (TIME GOT AWAY FROM ME AS I WATCHED THE SNOW PLOWS ON MY STREET!!), AND THEN RADU BEAT YOU BY 10 SECONDS.

THE MUNICIPALITY IS GOING TO HAVE TO THINK ABOUT REMOVING, AT LEAST SOME OF, THE PILE IN THE MIDDLE OF THE CUL-DE-SAC.

[radu]

LOL I was just lucky, that’s all.

I’m glad to hear it warmed up up there. It was frightfully cold the last two days.

It was pretty nice here, though a bit windy. Pretty cloudy, too, though not totally. I was able to get some shots of the moon rising and I need to pick out the best one to post.

Bummer you weren’t able to see it at all. That’s usually my luck.

[PROCON]

Good evening Kathy and thanks for honoring tonight’s Hero.

[radu]

Howdy, Kathy.

The snow plow was there today? Shocker! I’ll bet the mountain in the center of the cul-de-sac is huge by now. I doubt it’s going anywhere soon because there’s nowhere to put all the piled up snow. There are long piles at least a story tall all over the place around Lake Hood and I’ve seldom seen trucks showing up to remove any of them. Once in a blue moon we can see some activity.

It’s going to be a real mess if they’re all still around when the spring thaw begins.

[radu]

Howdy, PRO.

How are things up your way? Getting a break from the cold yet like some of us are?

[Kathy in Alaska]

Good evening, radu...has warming started?

The snow plows just came!!! They cleaned up the pile in the middle and it is HUGE!!

And the snow in my yard is out to the street. I have to get some of it removed...and now, because more snow is coming.

[PROCON]

Yo radu!

We've had rain the past 2 days and it's a bit warmer so that was welcome, suppose to be clear and warmer the upcoming week too. Still frigid at nights though.

How are you doing?

[The Mayor]

February 6

The Loneliest Man

Bible in a Year:

• Exodus 39–40
• Matthew 23:23–39

While Joseph was there in the prison, the Lord was with him; he showed him kindness.

Genesis 39:20–21 On July 20, 1969, Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin stepped out of their lunar landing module and became the first humans to walk on the surface of the moon. But we don’t often think about the third person on their team, Michael Collins, who was flying the command module for Apollo 11.

After his teammates clambered down the ladder to test the lunar surface, Collins waited alone on the far side of the moon. He was out of touch with Neil, Buzz, and everyone on earth. NASA’s mission control commented, “Not since Adam has any human known such solitude as Mike Collins.”

There are times when we feel completely alone. Imagine, for instance, how Joseph, Jacob’s son, felt when he was taken from Israel to Egypt after his brothers sold him (Genesis 37:23–28). Then he was thrust into further isolation by being thrown in prison on false charges (39:19–20).

How did Joseph survive in prison in a foreign land with no family anywhere nearby? Listen to this: “While Joseph was there in the prison, the Lord was with him” (vv. 20–21). Four times we’re reminded of this comforting truth in Genesis 39.

Do you feel alone or isolated from others? Hold on to the truth of God’s presence, promised by Jesus Himself: “Surely I am with you always” (Matthew 28:20). With Jesus as your Savior, you’re never alone.

[Kathy in Alaska]

Good evening, ML...((HUGS))...hope the snow is staying away so you are not faced with shoveling.

[luvie]

Frederick Edgar Ferguson
b. August 18, 1939
Former United States Army warrant officer
Medal of Honor recipient
for actions in Vietnam War.
First Army aviator to receive the MOH in Vietnam.
Such bravery!

[Kathy in Alaska]

Hello Veterans, wherever you are!!

[radu]

Yes, it was comfy here today and the sun was in and out. It’ll be a nice week except Wednesday when it’s wet.

I wish you luck getting some of your snow removed from the yard. That mountain is probably pretty darn big by now too. They need to start dumping snow into the sound because they must not have any room left where they normally take it. It just keeps getting piled up but not hauled away.

I’m frustrated at the moment. I got some shots of the moonrise this evening but can’t get the cord to plug into the camera so I can loaf them into the computer. Not sure why. grrrrrrrrrrr

[radu]

Rain’s definitely better than snow. LOL The warmer part sounds good and that it’ll be that way for a while sounds even better. It’ll be pretty much the same here, though our rain will be here Wednesday. Then possible sleet/snow Friday night into Saturday. Boohiss on THAT!

[radu]

Howdy, luvie.

Were you able to fall asleep at a decent hour last night? Have a good day today?