Al Ferguson was born in Bayonne, NJ, on May 21, 1929. He served in the United States Army from March 1951 to December 1952. After training at Fort Dix, NJ, he served with the 176th Armored Field Artillery, I Corp, Eight Army, Korea.
Al achieved the rank of sergeant having served in the Winter Offensive, November, 1951, and the Spring Offensive, April 1952.
Among the awards Al received were the Army Commendation Medal, Korea Service Medal with two battle stars, United Nations Service Medal, and the Korean Presidential Unit Citation.
Following is the text of a Meritorious Service citation Al received:
COMMENDATION RIBBON WITH METAL PENDANT
Sergeant ALBERT W. FERGUSON, US51031651, Artillery, United States Army. Sergeant FERGUSON, a member of Headquarters Battery, 176th Armored Field Artillery Battalion, is cited for meritorious service in Korea during the period 22 January to 11 August 1952. Serving as Noncommissioned Officer in Charge of a Field Artillery Wire Team, Sergeant FERGUSON was charged with establishing and maintaining the wire communications system serving the battery’s command post and fire direction center and with laying telephone lines to forward observation posts. Often passing through mine fields and working under the direct observation and fire of the enemy, Sergeant FERGUSON displayed outstanding leadership and tireless devotion to duty, and consistently carried out the intricate details attendant to his position in an exemplary manner. The meritorious service rendered by Sergeant FERGUSON throughout this period contributed immeasurably to the success achieved by his battery in accomplishing its mission and reflects great credit on himself and the military service.
Al is retired, lives in Ocean Pines and continues to be very active with the American Legion, Synepuxent Post 166 in Ocean City, MD.