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Adapted from "Captain Charles Lee Ferguson, Medical Corps, United States Navy, Deceased" [biography, dated 2 October 1956] in Modern Biographical Files collection, Navy Department Library.

 
Topic
  • Medicine
Document Type
  • Biography
Wars & Conflicts
  • World War II 1939-1945
File Formats
Location of Archival Materials
  • NHHC-Library

Charles Lee Ferguson

2 December 1902-16 January 1986

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Charles Lee Ferguson was born in Haywood County, North Carolina, on December 2, 1902, son of Horace Chester and Lillian Florence (Noland) Ferguson. He graduated from Waynesville (North Carolina) High School in 1919, and attended the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, from which he received the degree of Bachelor of Science in Medicine in 1928. While attending the latter he was awarded a teaching Fellowship in Anatomy for the years 1926-27, and, 1927-28. In 1930 he was awarded the degree of Doctor of Medicine from the Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, Commissioned Ensign in the Medical Corps of the US Navy on June 26, 1930, he subsequently advanced in rank, attaining that of Captain to date from March 20, 1945.

Upon receiving his appointment in 1930, he reported on July 1 that year, as an intern at the US Naval Hospital, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Upon completing his internship in July 1931, he was next assigned to the Dispensary at the Navy Yard, Philadelphia. He remained there until May 1933, when he was ordered to Fort Washington, Maryland, for duty with the US Army in connection with the Civilian Conservation Corps. While with the Army in this connection, he served as Camp Surgeon and Sub district Medical Supervisor in Pennsylvania and Maryland.

In October 1934 he joined USS Wyoming a Junior Medical Officer, and in September 1936 was detached for instruction at the Naval Medical School, Washington, DC he was Ward Medical Officer at the US Naval Hospital, Philadelphia, from May 1937 until February 1939, when he reported as Medical Officer on board USS Cimarron. In March 1941 he was assigned to the Bureau of Medicine and Surgery, Navy Department, Washington, DC, where he served in the Division of Physical Qualifications and Medical Records.

He reported as Senior Medical Officer of USS Guam in July 1944, and while attached to that cruiser participated in the Okinawa Campaign. From August to December 1945 he had duty as Executive Officer and Chief of Medicine at the US Naval Hospital, Farragut, Idaho, after which he again had duty in the Division of Physical Qualifications and Medical Records in the Bureau of Medicine and Surgery. He remained there until October 1948, after which he had instruction at the University of Pennsylvania Graduate School of medicine at Philadelphia.

In June 1949 he reported as Chief of Medicine at the US Naval Hospital, Portsmouth, Virginia, and on July 6, 1954 was assigned to the US Naval Hospital, National Naval Medical Center, Bethesda, Maryland, assuming the duties of Executive Officer on November 14, 1953. On November 7, 1955 he became Commanding Officer of the U.S. Naval Hospital, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

Captain Ferguson has the American Defense Service Medal; the American Campaign Medal; the Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal with one star; the World War II Victory Medal; the National Defense Service Medal; and the Philippine Liberation Ribbon.

He is a member of Alpha Kappa Medical fraternity, the American Medical Association and the Army and Navy Country Club, Washington, DC.

He died January 16, 1986.

END

Published: Mon Oct 19 11:22:32 EDT 2020