World War II Honoree

Wm. Doug Ford

Branch of Service

U.S. Navy

Hometown

Enid, Oklahoma

Honored By

Robert S. Cox

Relationship

Relationship Not Determined

ENTERED MILITARY SERVICE IN 1944. TRAINED INITIALLY IN THE AMERICAN THEATER FOR ENTRY-LEVEL 'BOOT CAMP' AND THEN ADVANCED SPECIALTY QUALIFICATION. FOLLOWING TRAINING, HE WAS ASSIGNED TO THE USS MAGOFFIN. HE PARTICIPATED IN HIS SHIP'S POST-COMMISSIONING AMPHIBIOUS TRAINING, IN THE AMERICAN THEATER OFF THE COAST OF CALIFORNIA IN LATE 1944. THEN SERVED OVERSEAS IN THE ASIATIC-PACIFIC THEATER ABOARD THE ATTACK TRANSPORT SHIP USS MAGOFFIN (APA-199). THE SHIP TRANSPORTED TROOPS AND CARGO IN THE PACIFIC OCEAN AREA UNTIL MARCH 1,1945. THEN BEGAN REHEARSALS AT GUADALCANAL, IN THE SOLOMON ISLANDS FOR THE INVASION OF THE RYUKYU ISLANDS. ON MARCH 27,1945, THE SHIP SAILED FOR OKINAWA, IN THE NORTH WESTERN PACIFIC OCEAN AREA AND PARTICIPATED IN THE LANDINGS ON APRIL 1, 1945. DURING THE BATTLE FOR OKINAWA, HIS SHIP ASSISTED IN DOWNING TWO ENEMY PLANES. THE TRANSPORT THEN CARRIED MEN AND CARGO BETWEEN THE UNITED STATES AND FORWARD AREA PACIFIC BASES. ON MARCH 10, 1946, THE TRANSPORT SAILED FOR SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA FOR INACTIVATION AND WAS DECOMMISSIONED ON AUGUST 14, 1946. AWARDED THE COMBAT ACTION RIBBON, ASIATIC-PACIFIC CAMPAIGN MEDAL WITH 1 BRONZE SERVICE STAR (1 CAMPAIGN), AND WWII VICTORY MEDAL. HONORABLY DISCHARGED AND ISSUED THE WWII HONORABLE DISCHARGE LAPEL PIN.