World War II Honoree

Dexter Ford

Branch of Service

U.S. Navy

Hometown

Middleville, New York

Honored By

M. J. Lynett

JOINED THE NAVY'S '90-DAY-WONDER' OFFICER TRAINING PROGRAM IN 1942. SERVED TWO YEARS AS A GUNNERY OFFICER ON THE DESTROYER USS WHIPPLE DD-217 HUNTING SUBMARINES IN THE ATLANTIC AND PACIFIC. UNDERWENT NAVY FLIGHT TRAINING AT PENSACOLA, FLORID IN 1944. PILOTED FOUR-ENGINE PB4Y-2 PRIVATEERS OVER THE CARIBBEAN AND SOUTH ATLANTIC. HE AND HIS CREW WERE PREPARING TO FLY TO OKINAWA TO FIGHT IN THE BATTLE OF JAPAN WHEN THE HIROSHIMA ATTACK ENDED THE WAR.