
Rank and organization:
Chief Warrant Officer, U.S. Army, Company C, 227th Aviation
Battalion, 1st Cavalry Division (Airmobile). Place
and date: Hue, Republic of Vietnam, 31 January 1968. Entered service at: Phoenix,
Ariz. Born:
18 August 1939,
Pilot
Point,
Tex. Citation:
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 passenger and crewmen of a downed helicopter under heavy attack within
the enemy controlled city of Hue, unhesitatingly
volunteered to attempt evacuation.
Despite warning 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.