Ford (FFG 54) - Naval Cruise Book

Page 6 text:

PATRICK OSBORNE FORD was born in San Francisco, California, on 2 May 1942. At the age of 15 he moved to Phoenix, Arizona, where he attended Camelback and North High School. Shortly after graduation, Ford enlisted in the Navy on 24 July 1959. He completed basic training at the Naval Training Center, San Diego, California, and received orders to report to the Naval Station, Adak, Alaska. On 12 February 1961, he reported aboard the destroyer JAMES E. KYES (DD-787) where he served as a Gunner ' s Mate until the end of his enlistment on 25 April 1963. Petty Officer Ford reenlisted on 11 February 1965 and served at the Naval Station, Long Beach, California. On 4 March 1966, he was transferred to the Naval Support Activity, Danang, Republic of Vietnam, where he was ordered to report aboard the USS GEORGE K. MACKENZIE (DD-836). Following completion of his tour aboard the MACKENZIE, Ford was subsequently transferred to the USS HENDERSON (DD-785) where he remained until the end of his second enlistment on 30 August 1967. Ford reenlisted for a second time at the Naval Receiving Station, San Francisco on 15 September 1967. He was ordered to the Naval Amphibious Base, Coronado, California, for River Patrol Craft Training. On 2 February 1968, Petty Officer Ford was directed to report to the Naval Support Activity, Saigon, Republic of Vietnam. He was assigned to Task Force 116 (OPERATION GAME WARDEN), River Squadron Five on 18 February 1968. For the next five months, he served as a patrol river boat (PBR) sailor, monitoring the traffic of the many rivers and coastal waterways of the area. On June 21, 1968, GMG2 Ford was serving as the after gunner aboard PBR-750 as part of a two boat patrol operating in the upper My Tho River near the town of Cai Be. The boats were maneuvering down the river when they spotted a sampan fleeing into a nearby canal. PBR-750 gave chase and captured the sampan one hundred meters further up the canal. As the patrol boat returned to the river with a Viet Cong suspect and the captured sampan in tow, it was ambushed by a Viet Cong patrol who unleashed an overwhelming barrage of heavy machine gun fire and rockets. Two explosive B-40 rockets struck PBR-750 immediately killing the patrol leader, Lieutenant William E. Dennis and the boat coxswain, Boatswain ' s Mate First Class Scott C. Delph. Within seconds the patrol boat was ablaze and out of control, heading directly for the Viet Cong positions. As the PBR veered toward the river bank, at least four additional rockets struck the craft. Ford, being seriously wounded in the initial barrage, tenaciously maintained a steady volume of return fire from his aft machine gun station until he perceived that the boat was out of control. In the face of enemy gunfire and with his clothes on fire. Ford assisted three seriously wounded shipmates from the PBR into the water. Only after insuring that all surviving crew members had left the boat did Ford make his way into the water. He was the last man alive to leave what was left of PBR-750. Soon after Petty Officer Ford entered the water, he was killed by a burst of enemy machine gun fire. However, as a result of his fearless devotion to duty, he saved the lives of two of his shipmates. For his extraordinary heroism in battle on 21 June 1968 and in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Navy, Petty Officer Ford was posthumously awarded the Navy Cross.

Page 5 text:

This cruise book is dedicated to thie memory of PATRICK OSBORNE FORD wtiose courage and tenacity in ttie face of the enemy never faltered, and to all crew members, past and present, who have helped instill those same qualities within the hull and upon the decks of the USS FORD.

Page 7 text:

COMMANDER JOHN D. PRICE CAPT. USS FORD (FFG 54) Commander Price is a native of Elkhart, Indiana, and received his commission in August 1968 after complet- ing Officer Candidate school in Newport, Rhode Island. He has served in Operations, Engineering, and Executive Officer Billets in USS GEARING (DD 710), USS OUELLET (FF 1077), and USS WADDELL (DDG 24). Additional sea duty assignments include Aide and Flag Lieutenant for Commander Amphibious Group Two and Chief Staff Officer for Commander Destroyer Squadron Seventeen. Commander Price ' s assignments ashore included duties on the Commander in Chief Pacific Fleet ' s staff as an inspector for the 1 200 PSI Propulsion Ex- amining Board and as Head of the Combat Systems Support System Branch, Office of the Chief of Naval Operations, Washington, D.C. Commander Price holds a Bachelor of Science Degree from Indiana University, a Master of Science Degree from the U.S. Naval Postgraduate School, and is a graduate of the Industrial College of the Armed Forces, Washington, D.C. He has been awarded the Meritorious Service Medal, the Navy Commendation Medal with gold star in lieu of a second award, and the Navy Achievement Medal.