Growing up in Ft. Myers, Florida, Eddie L. Ferguson overcame two major hurdles in his life to become one of the U.S. Navy’s most elite frogmen, and Laurel Ridge Community College, in partnership with Coming to the Table Northern Shenandoah Valley Chapter, is bringing his story to the Middletown Campus just in time for Memorial Day.

“33 Black Frog:  An American Story,” a documentary created by Ferguson’s filmmaker son, Andre Ferguson, will be screened Saturday, May 10, in the Corron Community Development Center. Andre Ferguson will hold a question-and-answer session following the roughly hour-long film, and his 80-year-old father will be a special guest. 

Despite his illustrious career with the Navy’s Underwater Demolition Team – the forerunners to the Navy SEALs – Eddie Ferguson didn’t learn to swim until he was 22.

“The only time he remembers being in the water was when he got baptized in the lake,” said Andre Ferguson.

As an African-American in the South during the Jim Crow era, his father didn’t have access to public swimming pools. However, he grew up watching “Sea Hunt,” a television action series starring a scuba-diving Lloyd Bridges.

“From watching that show, he just wanted to have some adventures at sea,” said Andre Ferguson.

Prior to joining the Navy, his father had taught himself to doggy paddle from information he’d gleaned from books, so he was able to pass his initial screening. On the ship to which he had been assigned, there was racial tension, leaving him unsure he’d be able to spend the 20 years in the service he needed in order to earn his retirement.

On duty one time, Eddie Ferguson heard an announcement about joining a special operations unit, and learned it was for the Underwater Demolition Team. He thought it would be a good way to experience less discrimination.

“The teams were about camaraderie, brotherhood, looking out for each other,” said Andre Ferguson. “They didn’t really see race as much of an issue as it was on the ship.”

In addition to his underwater adventures, Eddie Ferguson, who retired as a chief petty officer, also leapt out of airplanes. He was the first African-American on a Navy skydiving team, according to his son, doing exhibition jumps as part of efforts to recruit more Black men and women into the service.

A U.S. Air Force veteran and a filmmaker, Andre Ferguson said it took some convincing to get his father to agree to the documentary, which is streaming on Amazon Prime and being developed into a feature film.

“It took me 20 years to talk him into this,” said Andre Ferguson, adding his mother, Doris, also has a story worth telling. “When he first saw the finished film, I thought I saw a tear come out of his eye. He was really overwhelmed. He’s very thankful, felt like he got his flowers early.

“‘With 33 Black Frog: An American Story,’ as a filmmaker I am shedding light on a hidden chapter of American military history, chronicling the life of my father, Chief Petty Officer Eddie L. Ferguson, one of the first Black Navy frogmen. Through this personal and historical documentary, I sought out to honor the overlooked contributions of African Americans who have helped to shape today’s Navy SEALs, while using film as a powerful tool for education, cultural preservation, and generational healing.”

As with an October conference, which was based around the discovery of an 1824 newspaper ad advertising the sale of 60 human beings from Belle Grove, the “33 Black Frog” event is an opportunity “to build social empathy,” said Sociology Professor Larry Friedenberg.

“With Andre’s film, I’m hoping to learn more about Eddie’s journey and his impact on others as he challenged and overcame the racial barriers prevalent throughout our nation’s history,” he said.

Bringing the film and the Fergusons to the area fulfills Coming to the Table’s goals of openly and honestly uncovering history, making connections across racial lines, working toward healing and taking action, said Kristen Laise, a co-convener of the regional chapter.

“I think it’s a great American hero story, and it goes to show you there are so many heroes hiding in plain sight,” she said. “There is current conversation about how institutions, including in education and the workplace, should provide access and opportunity. I’m looking forward to the film and seeing an inspiring story of why this is so important.”

The screening event is scheduled for 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. on May 10. Due to limited seating, those wishing to attend are asked to register by going to laurelridge.edu/33.