Ferguson, Danforth Brooks

Born February 28, 1895, in New York City. Son of Farquhar and Juliana Armour Ferguson. Educated Harstrom's Tutoring School, New York, and in Paris. Joined American Ambulance, France, October, 1914. Joined American Field Service, April, 1915; attached Section Two until August, 1915. Returned to America. Enlisted U. S. Coast Artillery. To France, with 42d Coast Artillery. Died of pneumonia, October 20, 1918. Buried Dannemarie. Body transferred to an American Cemetery in France.

WHILE studying in Paris in 1914 Danforth Brooks Ferguson of New York City first became involved in the World War. From that time until he finally gave his life on October 20, 1918, except for a short visit home to the United States in 1917, Ferguson's career forms a paragraph in the story of American devotion to the cause of France and Civilization.

"One cannot be in Paris without feeling and seeing the wonderful spirit of national heroism which is holding this country up," he wrote to a friend shortly before he enlisted in Section Two of the American Ambulance Field Service early in 1915.

Inspired by that expression of staunchness at which so many Americans later marvelled, he served with Section Two in the region of Bois-le-Prêtre and Pont-à-Mousson where he and his fellows did remarkable service.

Ferguson thoroughly enjoyed his work with the French, being imbued with a high sense of devotion to the cause. According to his comrades, while not having performed any spectacular feats, his part, however small, was done always with a good feeling which showed that his heart was in his work.

"I'm out here now doing a man's work," he wrote. "While we don't get into a great deal of danger, at least we can feel that we who have had the good fortune to have lived and studied in France can in a small measure repay her. And when the United States finally comes in to help La Belle France, perhaps the entente cordiale of these few ambulance sections will help the good feeling along."

In another letter he said, "I carried forty wounded today and am dead tired. Perhaps a great many of the wounded won't live for more than a few hours, poor fellows."

Danforth Ferguson was born on February 28, 1895. A large part of his education he received at the Harstrom's Tutoring School. He went to Paris to study early in 1914 and was caught in the backwash of the war at its opening stages. He remained in Paris until he enlisted in an ambulance section in the spring of 1915. During the summer of that year he was stricken with pneumonia from which his convalescence and recovery required many months. He subsequently came back to this country for a short time but returned to France, enlisting as a private in the Coast Artillery. He was attached to Battery A of the 42d Coast Artillery when he died a victim of influenza on October 20, 1918. His body rests in the little burial ground at Dannemarie.

• Tribute from Memorial Volume of the American Field Service, 1921