Gerald Ford - Forgotten War Hero

Posted by Christopher Eger Dec 26, 2006

Today we have lost a great American, former President Gerald Ford died peacefully at his ranch in California. He will be memorialized for his precedent setting presidency and his time devoted to public service in the House of Representatives. However, before he was Congressman Ford, Vice-president Ford, or President Ford, he was Lieutenant Ford of the United States Navy Reserve.

A lawyer by trade, Ford became a warrior during World War Two, joining the navy and serving on the newly minted light aircraft carrier USS Monterey (CVL-26) attached to Admiral Halsey's Third US Fleet of fast carriers fighting the war in the pacific. Ford endured kamikaze attacks and the constant threat of combat for two years. On December 18, 1944, the Monterey along with the rest of the Third Fleet became engulfed in a fierce typhoon. During the midst of fifty to sixty foot seas and 70mph winds a fire was started in the hangar deck which soon racked the ship from stem to stern. Admiral Halsey, never one to give up, signaled to the ships captain to abandon the vessel. The ships captain refused and decided to attempt to save the ship.

Lt. Ford led a damage control team into the hell of the enflamed hangar deck and fought the blaze until morning. They removed the dead and dying. They put their ship back together when it all seemed lost. The Monterey survived the war and so did Ford.

Years later Ford inherited a white house on fire and instead of blame and scandal he united his country and put it back together when all seemed lost.

History does repeat itself.