Medal of Honor recipient graces JROTC luncheon

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Maricopa High School Air Force JROTC Cadet Joseph Reyes with Maj. Fred Ferguson, Medal of Honor recipient at the JROTC Armed Forces Officer's Day Luncheon. Submitted

At a JROTC Armed Forces Day luncheon Nov. 22, the special guest was Medal of Honor recipient and retired U.S. Army Maj. Fred Ferguson.

Ferguson is the only living recipient of the Medal of Honor from Arizona. Originally from Texas, Ferguson relocated to Phoenix and joined the Army in 1958. He was serving as a chief warrant officer and helicopter pilot in the 1st Cavalry Division in Vietnam on Jan. 31, 1969, when he voluntarily piloted his aircraft under heavy fire to rescue personnel from a helicopter that had crashed.

Ignoring warnings to stay clear of the area, Ferguson landed his helicopter in a confined area of an enemy-controlled city and rescued five passengers while taking mortar and anti-aircraft fire.

“One of three things was going to happen to those five guys. They were going to get killed, they were going to get captured or they were going to get rescued. And there was only one scenario that we would accept,” said Ferguson, also deflecting credit by recounting the other brave soldiers who volunteered to ride in his chopper during the daring rescue.

He is one of just 3,454 Medal of Honor recipients since the award was established in 1862. Now, his image will deliver the mail — one of 23 Vietnam War heroes being recognized on a new special issue stamp.

The Chandler resident, however, was quick to pass credit on to others during a ceremony in his honor.

“The thing belongs to all of us who have served,” Ferguson said.

There were 258 Medal of Honor recipients from Vietnam. Maj. Ferguson is the only one from Arizona pictured on the special edition stamp sheet.