Joseph E. Ford
2nd Infantry Division
15th Field Artillery Battalion
Joe Ford served in Korea and was assigned to the 15th Field Artillery Battalion, Battery B. He was wounded during an enemy engagement on February 12th 1951, when an enemy shell exploded near his position, hit by the shrapnel in the right hip. He remained on the battlefield to await medical attention. Unfortunately, the next day he was captured by enemy troops as were many other members of his unit. He did not want to complain to his captors of his wounds not knowing how they would react or what they would or would not do. So, he managed the best he could, with the help of other POWs.
After 2½ years in captivity, Joe was finally repatriated on 13 Aug 1953. When asked if he had any wounds or injuries that needed to be treated and if there were, they would send him to Japan for that treatment. Since he lived with it while in captivity all this time and did not want to go to Japan…for who knows how long. He said nothing. He just wanted to go home! The shrapnel remained in his right hip and there was no official record of his wounding. However, research uncovered the suffering and hardships he endured during his captivity, to include a forced march with no boots in winter weather, little food and no medical attention. There was sufficient documentation to support the submission of his Purple Heart. Joe finally received the Purple Heart and the Prisoner of War Medal.
Joe’s awards and decorations include the:
Combat Infantry Badge
Purple Heart
Prisoner of War Medal
Army Good Conduct Medal
National Defense Service Medal
Korean Service Medal w/2 silver
United Nations Service Medal – Korea
Presidential Unit Citation
Republic of Korea War Service Medal
Republic of Korea Presidential Unit Citation w/1 OLC
Asheville, N Carolina (2013)
Comments