George L. Ferguson

The Distinguished Service Cross is presented to George L. Ferguson, Sergeant First Class, U.S. Army, for extraordinary heroism in action near Bois-de-Manheulles, France, November 9, 1918. While making a reconnaissance of the enemy’s advanced positions, Sergeant Ferguson, alone, routed a German machine-gun squad, who were setting up a machine-gun along a road over which our troops were advancing. He continued the reconnaissance with the battalion commander until the latter was fatally wounded, and then assisted him to a dressing station, being subjected to heavy machine-gun fire the entire time.

The President of the United States takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star Medal to George L Ferguson, Private First Class. Co. M, 141st Inf. Regt., for gallantry in action on May 31, 1944 in Italy. P.F.C. Ferguson’s heavy machine gun section had participated in a forced night march to cut off the enemy garrison in a bele­aguered strong point. Shortly after day light the battalion made contact with the energy and deployed for a fight. Operating in support of a rifle company* the machine gun section received severe sniping and point blank fire from self-propelled guns.   When the enemy counter attacked in strength P.F.C. Ferguson and the other members of the machine gun section greeted them with devastating fire and inflicted many casualties. Approximately a company of enemy threatened the left flank. Quickly moving their guns to an exposed position only 25 yards from the nearest enemy P.F.C. Ferguson and his companions used a free traverse to place such effective fire on the onrushing foe that those not killed or wounded were panicked into scattered disorganization and made easy to capture. Thus the threat was dispelled largely because Of the quick-witted courage of P.F.C. Ferguson and bis comrades. His gallant action reflex great credit upon himself and the Armed Forces of the U.S.