Stanley Ferguson

Stanley Ferguson

I was born in St. Louis Missouri on August 26, 1924. I graduated from high school in June of 1942. On December 28, 1942 I joined the Navy at the Mart Building in St. Louis. I went by train to Great Lakes training Station for my basic Training. After basic, I went to Pharmacy School at Great Lakes and remained there a short time after completing my coursework until I was sent to Treasure Island in San Francisco Bay. From there, I was assigned to Aiea Hospital at Honolulu for about six weeks, and went aboard the U.S.S. Nassau where I was stationed until the end of the war.

I was in the Medical Division, and worked in the sick bay, operating room, and the ward taking care of patients. Many of you may remember the plane that was being loaded aboard our ship. It was on the Hanger Deck when shells were fired from the 50 caliber machine guns. These shells went through the deck and into the GE dunk line on the deck below. A number of shipmates were hit by them. One of our shipmates was injured severely, and was given a normal dose of morphine to ease his suffering. Suddenly her turned very pale and told us what a good job we were doing. He seemed to be in real peace. He then just closed his eyes and passed away.

At the end of the was, I was on Treasure Island waiting to be discharged when I asked to serve at the German Prisoner of war camp. There were about 800 prisoners, at this camp on Treasure Island, guarded by the U.S. Army. According to articles of Geneva, we were required to have one medical representative in the camp. As a Pharmacist Mate 2nd Class, I Qualified for this. I spent about two months at this prison camp, then I told them I was ready for my discharge and I was replaced. I went by train to Lambert Airport in St. Louis, via two street cars with seabag and hammock including the mattress, where I was discharged.

About five weeks later I got a job working at Jefferson Barracks typing up discharges for Army Personnel. I worked there until I went to St. Louis College of Pharmacy in September of 1946. I graduated from College in June 1950. I have worked for about three pharmacies: Knight Drug, Kock Drug and Medicare Glaser. I retired in April 1990.

I was married on October 5, 1946 to Jacqueline Sontag, at a suburb of St. Louis called Lemay, at St. Andrew Catholic Church. We have 9 children, 17 grandchildren, and 2 great-grandchildren. We lived in St. Louis right after I retired, and then moved to a place called Lake Kah-tan-da, five miles south of Perryville, Missouri. We had this property for about 20 year before my retirement.