World War II Honoree

John T. 'Jack' Ford

Branch of Service

U.S. Army Air Force

Hometown

Crockett, Texas

Honored By

Robert S. Cox

ENTERED MILITARY SERVICE AND TOOK PART IN THE AVIATION CADET PROGRAM. UPON GRADUATION, AWARDED HIS SILVER PILOT WINGS AND COMMISSIONED A SECOND LIEUTENANT. SERVED AS A B-17 'FLYING FORTRESS' BOMBER PILOT IN THE EUROPEAN-AFRICAN-MIDDLE EASTERN THEATER IN ENGLAND WITH THE 96TH BOMBARDMENT GROUP, 8TH AIR FORCE. COMPLETED 25 SUCCESSFUL MISSIONS. WORE BLACK COWBOY BOOTS EMBLAZONED WITH A WHITE TEXAS STAR ON BOMBING MISSIONS TO SHOW HIS STATE PRIDE. ON SPECIAL OCCASIONS, WAS KNOWN TO 'BUZZ' THE BASE AIRFIELD IN CELEBRATION UPON HIS RETURN FROM A MISSION. AWARDED THE DISTINGUISHED FLYING CROSS, PURPLE HEART FOR WOUNDS RECEIVED IN ACTION, AIR MEDAL, AMERICAN CAMPAIGN MEDAL, EUROPEAN-AFRICAN-MIDDLE EASTERN CAMPAIGN MEDAL, AND WWII VICTORY MEDAL. CONTINUED IN U.S. AIR FORCE SERVICE AFTER THE WAR UNTIL HIS RETIREMENT WITH THE RANK OF COLONEL. ISSUED THE HONORABLE SERVICE LAPEL BUTTON.