Ferguson, Edward A. (Edward Ammon), 1924-

Edward A. Ferguson was born Nov. 21, 1924. He served in the U.S. Army in the Pacific Theater during World War II, and reached the rank of a Tech Sergeant in the 240 Engineers Construction Battalion.

From the description of Reminiscences of war : World War II journal of Edward A. Ferguson, 1941 to 1946. 1995. (Utah State University). WorldCat record id: 58449122

Edward Ammon Ferguson (1924- ) was born in Spanish Fork, Utah. In 1943 Ferguson enlisted in the US Army and was trained as a surveying engineer before being deployed to the Pacific. He was stationed on various islands in the Phillippines and on New Guinea and served in the Japan occupying force before being honorably discharged in 1946.

From the description of Edward A. Ferguson World War II correspondence, 1943-1946. (Utah State University). WorldCat record id: 71850915

Edward Ammon Ferguson was born November 21, 1924 in Spanish Fork, Utah. He received his education in the common schools of the area and graduated from Payson High School in 1943. In June 1943 Ferguson enlisted in the U.S. Army and was deployed to Fort Douglas, Utah for preliminary military testing. Later that month he was transported to Fort Abbot, Washington to continue training and assigned to the 240th Engineers Construction Battalion. In September 1943 Ferguson was sent to Sacramento Junior College to study engineering and surveying where he remained until January 1944 when he was transferred to Fort Belvoir, Virginia to continue his studies. Following Ferguson's graduation from Army Engineers Surveying School on April 1, 1944 he was transferred back to Sacramento. The following month he boarded the USS General John Pope before arriving at Buna, New Guinea in June.

Ferguson was transferred to Finschhafen, New Guinea in July and in August he was transferred to Hollandia, New Guinea. Once in Hollandia, Ferguson was assigned to be the H&S Company surveyor and began plans to construct an airfield in the nearby jungle. In November 1944 Ferguson was transferred aboard a naval vessel to Leyte, Philippine Islands and in route his ship was attached by the Japanese Airforce. He arrived safely at Leyte and worked for the next month as an army surveyor while facing daily bombing raids and attacks from the Japanese. During December 1944 while in route to Mindoro, Philippine Islands, the convoy Ferguson was sailing with came under heavy attack at the Sulu Sea. Ferguson was on deck when a kamikaze attack hit his ship, the LST # 749, which caused it to sink. Ferguson had to dive overboard and swim to a nearby boat to be rescued.

Ferguson spent the next few months in various locations, including Mindanao, Cotabato, and Cagayen in the Philippine Islands. In November 1945 he was transferred to Japan and served as an occupying force in Yokahma. He remained in Japan for over two months before boarding the USS Gordon for transport back to the United States. Ferguson was honorably discharged from the U.S. Army February 3, 1946 at Fort Douglas, Utah.

On February 13, 1946 Ferguson married Jean Hiatt. Later that year he enrolled at Utah State University and graduated in 1949. He accepted a job with Utah Mortgage & Loan Corporation at Logan, Utah where he worked until his retirement. Ferguson currently resides in Utah.

Source: Ferguson, Edward A., "Reminiscences of War: The World War II Journal of Edward A. Ferguson," unpublished manuscript, 1995.

From the guide to the Edward A. Ferguson World War II correspondence, 1943-1946, (Utah State University. Special Collections and Archives)