World War II Honoree

Harold Lee Ford

Branch of Service

U.S. Army Air Force

Hometown

Fort Cobb, Oklahoma

Honored By

Robert S. Cox

SERVED IN THE EUROPEAN-AFRICAN-MIDDLE EASTERN THEATER WITH THE 301ST TROOP CARRIER SQUADRON, 441ST TROOP CARRIER GROUP. HIS C-47 'SKYTRAIN' SQUADRON WAS BASED IN ENGLAND, FRANCE AND GERMANY DURING THE WAR. PARTICIPATED IN THE NORMANDY, NORTHERN FRANCE, RHINELAND, ARDENNES-ALSACE (BATTLE OF THE BULGE), AND CENTRAL EUROPE CAMPAIGNS. HIS TRANSPORT UNIT TOOK PART IN AIR ASSAULTS ON NORMANDY, FRANCE, IN HOLLAND AND GERMANY; RELIEF OPERATIONS AT BASTOGNE, BELGIUM; AND AIR TRANSPORTATION IN THE EUROPEAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS. AWARDED THE GOOD CONDUCT MEDAL, AMERICAN CAMPAIGN MEDAL, EUROPEAN-AFRICAN-MIDDLE EASTERN CAMPAIGN MEDAL, AND WWII VICTORY MEDAL. AUTHORIZED THE PRESIDENTIAL (DISTINGUISHED) UNIT CITATION FOR EXTRAORDINARY HEROISM IN ACTION BY HIS SQUADRON IN FRANCE ON JUNE 6-7, 1944 DURING THE D-DAY INVASION. HONORABLY DISCHARGED WITH THE RANK OF STAFF SERGEANT AND ISSUED THE HONORABLE SERVICE LAPEL BUTTON.