Name and Photo submitted by Amber M Ferrari

Clifford Paul Ferguson was born March 23, 1920 in Drumright, Creek Co., Oklahoma to Franklin Leslie & Tressie Gertrude Winkcompleck Ferguson. In Brooklyn, New York City, NY Clifford married Treva Smith. They were married twice and divorced twice. His 2nd wife Lillian Viola Gish shares his marker in the Frot Smith National Cemetery. Lillian was origanly from Bonanza, Sebastian Co., Ar. and she had been previously married to Samuel M Edwards. Clifford enlisted in the US Navy Feb 6, 1940 in Philadelphia, Penn. On the 1940 census his residence is in Rhode Island where he is livivng at the US Naval Training Station, Newpor Rhode Island, His rank was an apprentice seaman (AS). The 1940 census states his residence in 1935 had been Lock Haven, Pennsylvania and he had a 8th grade education. Clifford's draft registration card dated February `1, `1946 at Stillwater, Payne Co., Oklahoma says he has recntly been discharged from the military. Clifford Paul Ferguson passed away March 25, 1998 at Muldrow, Oklahoma. His burial was at the Fort Smith National Cemetery. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Funeral services for Clifford P. FERGUSON, 78, of Muldrow were held at 10 a.m. Monday at Muldrow First Baptist Church. Burial was in U.S. National Cemetery in Fort Smith, Ark. Mr. FERGUSON died Wednesday, March 25, 1998 in a Fort Smith hospital. Clifford earned several medals over the time of his service shown below. Medals from left to right: 1st - WWII Victory Medal - Awarded to those who served in the armed forces between the dates of 7 December 1941 and 31 December 1946. 2nd - WWII Occupation Medal - Awarded for 30 or more consecutive days of duty in one of the occupied territories after World War II. 3rd - Asiatic Pacific Campaign Medal honors United States Military personnel who carried out service during World War II in the Pacific Theater between the years of 1941 and 1945. Initially awarded as a service ribbon, the medal was approved in 1947 with General Douglas MacArthur as its first recipient. 4th - American Campaign Medal - The medal was intended to recognize those military members who had performed military service in the American Theater of Operations during World War II. 5th Good Conduct Medal - The medal was intended to recognize those military service members who had served on active duty between September 8, 1939, and December 7, 1941. 6th American Defence Service Medal - The medal was intended to recognize those military service members who had served on active duty between September 8, 1939, and December 7, 1941. 1940 USS Ranger Commissioned at Newport News, Virginia, on June 4, 1934, USS Ranger (CV-4) served in the Atlantic and Pacific and took part in Neutrality Patrols in the Atlantic before United States' entry into World War II in December 1941. The Story of the USS Helena is found.... HERE ...Scroll down to WWII 1941 USS Helena 1942 USS Helena Navy Yard No Date Given on muster below Rank GM3c= Gunner's Mate 3rd Class Petty Officer With his rank it would have been close to the time his service was up. 1945 USS Bennington USS Bennington (CV/CVA/CVS-20) was an Essex-class aircraft carrier in service with the United States Navy from 1944 to 1946 and from 1952 to 1970.