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| PFC Paul Ferguson served with the 25th Infantry Division in the Caraballo Mountains of Luzon. https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/73408855/paul-w_-ferguson http://www.privateletters.net/featured_barberphotos.html |
Paul W. Ferguson never had a chance to reach 100 years old today. Instead, he sacrificed his life for our freedom.
He was born on April 27, 1919 in Madison, Alabama. His parents Orman and Cassie were both born in Tennessee. His father worked as a farmer. Paul had two older sisters, two older brothers, five younger sisters, and one younger brother. By 1940 Paul was still living at home, having completed eight years of education and working as a farmer. He married his wife Margaret on December 20, 1941.
He was drafted into the army on February 25, 1942. He was sent to the Pacific in May 1942. He would never see his family again. He became a private first class in Company C, 1st Battalion, 35th Infantry Regiment, 25th Infantry Division (nicknamed "Tropic Lightning").
The 25th ID was stationed on Oahu when the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor. Ferguson joined as a replacement before it was moved to Guadalcanal in November 1942 and helped complete the defeat of the Japanese defenders in January and February 1943. PFC Ferguson was wounded in action while on Guadalcanal.
In September 1943 the 25th ID captured Vella Lavella. It landed on Luzon on January 11, 1945. By then end of February, the 25th ID had moved off the central plain and was fighting the Japanese in the Caraballo Mountains. PFC Ferguson was killed in action during this part of the Luzon campaign on March 20, 1945.
His grave is at Gatlin Cemetery in Ardmore, Alabama. His widow never remarried and died in 1998.
Last year on this date I profiled Donald Hansen, 7th Infantry Division. You can read about Donald here.
On behalf of the fallen, if you would like to see more people become aware of this project to honor the WW2 fallen, be sure to share with others on Twitter, Facebook, etc. Thanks for your interest!
I created this video to explain why I started this project: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vXt8QA481lY.
Please consider joining the public Facebook group to increase the exposure of this project. Go to: WW2 Fallen 100
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