[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 151 (2005), Part 19]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages 25811-25812]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




             TRIBUTE TO ERNEST C. FORD, AN AMERICAN VETERAN

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. DANIEL E. LUNGREN

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                      Thursday, November 10, 2005

  Mr. DANIEL E. LUNGREN of California. Mr. Speaker, Veterans Day is a 
special day we set aside to honor all of our brave service men and 
women both past and present. It is a day to remember, a day to honor 
and a day to reflect upon our fellow citizens who, risking their lives, 
were willing to make the ultimate sacrifice. It is a day to honor those 
we know and those we have never met.
  It is my privilege to honor one of our veterans in the Third 
Congressional District of California, Ernest C. Ford. Mr. Ford's story 
was brought to my attention some months ago. Like many of my fellow 
colleagues in Congress, we represent our constituents and are honored 
to have veterans among them. It is their story that humanizes the 
importance of Veterans Day.
  In May of 1927, Charles Lindbergh took off from Roosevelt Field, Long 
Island, New York and flew into aviation history and into the 
imagination of a 5\1/2\ year old boy, ``Ernie'' Ford. With the onset of 
World War II, the young farm boy from Dodge City, Kansas left his 
family and friends to join a cause larger than himself.
  Fifteen years later to the day of Lindbergh's faithful flight, Staff 
Sergeant Ernest C. Ford graduated from advanced flying school at Luke 
Field in Phoenix, Arizona. Like many, in what has been referred to as 
the greatest generation, he served with honor and distinction to 
preserve Liberty and Freedom throughout the world. Flying over 6,500 
hours and 364 combat missions, the most of any pilot in the USAAF 
during World War II, he showed his dedication to duty, honor and 
country.
  On February 6, 1943, Staff Sergeant Ernie Ford, a transport pilot, is 
credited with saving three C-47 planes, their crews, and 87 Australian 
infantry during the battle of Wau in New Guinea, Australia. While the 
battle raged around him, Mr. Ford proceeded to takeoff on a bombed out 
airstrip while under enemy fire. Witnessing his lead plane shot down on 
ascent, he decided to keep his plane low for maximum speed. With the 
plane only 10 to 15 feet off the ground, Ernie Ford escaped the fate of 
his comrades before him and showed

[[Page 25812]]

the remaining C-47s a way to escape the battle.
  For his exceptional service, he won a battlefield commission and was 
promoted to the rank of 2nd lieutenant. At the end of the war in the 
Pacific, Mr. Ford earned 6 Distinguished Flying Crosses, one garnering 
a V for valor, 2 Air Medals, and was recommended for our nation's third 
highest military honor, the Silver Star for his actions at Wau. Along 
with personal recognition, his squadron received three Presidential 
Unit Citations and two Battle Stars. Following World War II, he helped 
stem the tide of communism during the Korean Conflict by flying 21 
combat missions. After 23 years of service, Mr. Ford eventually retired 
with the rank of Major with over 15 decorations.
  The gratitude that all Americans owe to Mr. Ford cannot be expressed 
in mere words alone.
  I will tell you every day that I go to work; I am reminded of our 
veterans and the sacrifices they made by the sight of the many 
beautiful memorials erected in their memory. These memorials represent 
the dogged determination of our veterans and are a reminder of the 
heartfelt gratitude all Americans owe them for their service.
  As President Ronald Reagan on the 40th anniversary of D-Day said, 
``We will always remember. We will always be proud. We will always be 
prepared, so we may always be free.''
  I thank you, Mr. Ford, and all our honored American Veterans for your 
service to our country.

                          ____________________