Naval History and Heritage Command

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George William Ferguson was born in Lincoln, Nebraska, July 9, 1911, son of Mrs. Julia Ward Ferguson of St. Joseph, Michigan, and the late George B. Ferguson. After graduation from high school, he attended Nebraska Wesleyan University, 1920-1930, and the University of Nebraska, receiving the Bachelor of Science and, in 1934, the Doctor of Dental Surgery degrees. From 1936 to 1939 he had postgraduate work there, and later at Georgetown University, Washington, DC, where he obtained the Master of Science degree in 1949. He was commissioned Lieutenant, junior grade, US Naval Reserve, on December 3, 1937, transferring in 1942 to the US Navy, Dental Corps, and subsequently was promoted to Commander to rank from November 5, 1945.

He was engaged in the private practices of dentistry eight years, and was on the staff of St. Elizabeth’s and the Lincoln (Nebraska) General Hospital, until ordered to active duty in March, 1942, reporting to the Naval Training Station, San Diego, California. He served as Dental Officer successively aboard USS Altamaha from August, 1942 to February 15, 1943, and at Naval Air Station, Pearl Harbor, Territory of Hawaii, the next year. Reporting in March, 1944 to the US Naval Midshipman School, Columbia University, New York, New York, he was Dental Officer until January 10, 1945.

During the period January, 1945 to March, 1949, he was on duty at the Naval Dental School, National Medical Center, Bethesda, Maryland, where he served as Instructor and member of the clinical staff, and from September, 1947 he also had temporary additional duty at the National Bureau of Standards as guest research worker.

In May, 1949 he reported to the US Naval Advanced Base, Bremerhaven, Germany, as Dental Officer, where he is presently on duty.

Commander Ferguson has the American Defense Service Medal, American Campaign Medal, the World War Ii Victory Medal, and the Navy Occupation Service Medal, Europe Clasp. He is a member of the American Dental Association; International Association for Dental Research, and Omicron Kappa Upsilon, honorary dental fraternity.

He died December 19, 2002.

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