Bill Gray wrote on 2004-07-12 20:25:42.0
Comments: Hi,
It is always so amazing and so awesome to watch a situation unfold, knowing that you are experiencing God's hand at work. Since September 2003, I have been involved in just that kind of situation. And there is no doubt in my mind that God has orchestrated everything that has happened in the last several years.
In 1956-57, I was in the Air Force, stationed at Osan AFB (K55), Korea, in the 311th Fighter-Bomber Squadron, 58th Fighter-Bomber Wing, 5th Air Force. I was an enlisted man, working in the Radar/Fire Control Sighting System Section. There was a pilot, Lt. Bob Ford, whom I admired very much. On March 11, 1957, Lt. Ford was killed in an F-86F fighter aircraft crash. That day also was my mother's 40th birthday. Most of the enlisted men and officers who were at Osan during that one year period, I have forgotten. I can see many faces; I can remember some names. However, because I admired Lt. Bob Ford so much, I have always had vivid memories of him. Many time over the 48 years which have passed since his death; when talking with friends about my time in Korea, I always have told them about Bob Ford, because I recall him so fondly.
On September 11, 2003, about 3:00 AM, I was checking my e-mails and getting ready to sleep. One e-mail had a link to the Korean War Project web site. Since I was in Korea around that time, I was curious. I went to the Korean War Project web site, found my unit, and started reading messages left there over the years by others who were in the 311th FBS. At this point, I was just scanning the messages, because I wanted to get in bed.
Then, like a thunderbolt --- a name jumped out at me. It was a message about Lt. Bob Ford. The message read:
HEADER: 1 /Lt. Robert A. Ford, Jr KIA NAME: Elizabeth (Libby) Ford COMMENTS: 1/Lt. Robert A. Ford, Jr. was killed in Korea on March 11, 1957 after being extended over in Korea longer than he was supposed to serve due to the fact that he had been accepted to attend the University of Illinois to get his Masters Degree. They didn't know what to do with him before school started so they held him over there longer than he should have been there; consequently he was killed because of a faulty plane he was flying.
Her message was posted on September 11, 1999 --- I found it on September 11, 2003 --- four years to the day after she posted it. God brought me together with Libby Ford --- after almost 50 years. I truly believe this happened because He wants Libby Ford to have closure. And I will do everything in my power to honor the task God has given me.
Let me give you a short history lesson. In 1950, the North Koreans attacked South Korea, an American ally. President Truman sent American troops to Korea to help our South Korean allies. The president could send troops if he called it a "police action" --- not a war. This way he did not have to go to congress for approval.
This "war that was not a war" continued from 1950 to 1953, when a "cease fire" was signed. However, no peace treaty was ever signed; so technically we were still at war; only sitting under a so called "cease fire." To this day, no peace treaty has ever been signed with North Korea. So, technically, the Korean War is still an active war; only sitting under a cease fire. And we all know how binding a "cease fire" is --- one little flare, and boom, you are shooting again.
In 1956-57, when Lt. Bob Ford and I were in Korea, there was a definite probability of the war flaring up again. Because of this, everyone in Korea at that time was in a potential war situation. So, we, and especially our pilots, took the responsibility of being prepared and ready to heart. When our pilots went up in a simulated bombing or dogfight exercise; they knew that the next exercise might just be for real. This was the situation we lived under at that time.
So, technically, when Lt. Bob Ford was killed on March 11, 1957 --- America was still at war with North Korea.
When the Korean War Memorial was being planned; Libby Ford, Bob Ford's widow, sent a request to have Bob Ford's name included on the memorial. She was refused, because Lt. Ford had not been killed between 1950 and 1953, the day of the cease fire.
Libby Ford was devastated. This was the culmination of 47 years of frustration for this widow of one of our fallen warriors. When Bobby's death occurred, Libby received a letter from Washington DC giving her one explanation; and later another from Korea giving a different explanation. She was confused, grieving, and angry. They sent home 30 pounds of a 220 pound man in a body bad, for burial. This was all she had left of the man she loved, the father of her two children; the man who had gone to Korea to serve his country.
Over the years, she has attempted to get a full report on Lt. Bob Ford's death. After about 20 years, she finally was able to get a copy of a censored report --- with many pages missing and many areas blacked out --- even Bobby's date of birth, as though this was a big military secret. Libby was frustrated and angry. She had lost the one man she would ever love, the father of her two small children, and, even after 20 years, still could not get a complete report from the U.S. government telling her what really happened.
The rejection by the Korean War Memorial was the final straw. Out of total frustration, Libby posted the message above on the Korean War Project web site. At least Bob Ford would have this one small memorial; because no one else, especially the government he died serving, cared.
It was at this point that God brought Libby Ford and me together. Four years, to the day, after Libby posted her memorial, I found it, and the next morning I called her. I introduced myself and told her of my memories of Bob. She asked if I would write my memories for her, for Bobby's children, for Bobby's grandchildren, and for Bobby's family. I told her I would, but, had no idea where to start.
The next day, I sent out e-mail inquiries. The very next day, I received an early morning call from Kirtland AFB, New Mexico. The gentleman told me that my message had been sent to him from Maxwell AFB, Alabama. This man sent the accident report to Libby and me. It was still censored and blacked out --- after almost 50 years. I really don't think that after all that time there is any security problems or risks, national or otherwise. Yet, the Air Force still refused to send a complete, uncensored report to Libby. And the photos they sent are seventh level xerox copies of xerox copies --- virtually useless. You and I both know that these record still exist, in original form, in either hard copy or on film. But, the Air Force still will not release copies of uncensored originals.
After months of communications, we received a letter from an Air Force Colonel at Kirtland AFB, telling us that this was all the regulations said he had to send. And if we wanted to get more information, we should write to the Secretary of the Air Force at the Pentagon.
Now, at this point, most people would just give up. Which is what the Colonel was counting on. But, Libby has gone through almost 50 years of wondering, frustration, and grief, never remarrying; always cherishing the memory of Bobby. This was not the time to give up. So, we wrote a letter to the Honorable James G. Roche, Secretary of the Air Force, Headquarters US Air Force, Washington DC, and waited. Several months later, we received another letter from that same Air Force Colonel at Kirtland AFB in New Mexico, responding in the same tone, for the Honorable James G. Roche. In other words, telling us to stuff it. The Honorable James G. Roche had just forwarded our letter to this Colonel, which did not care to help us in the first place, for him to do whatever he wanted. In other words, Libby and I had been caught in one of the Air Force "Catch 22" situations.
Well, my Friend, we will not stuff it. Over the last six months I have been building a Lt. Bob Ford Memorial web site on the internet. Now that it is almost finished, we intend to take our case higher. If going higher in our government than the Honorable James G. Roche will not get a full report and some closure for Libby; then we will take our case to a higher court --- the people of the United States. We will send letters to Oprah, we will send letters to news anchors, we will send letters to anyone who will listen --- asking why America is making so much effort to honor military men and women killed and wounded in Iraq and Afghanistan --- but, refuses to provide closure for the widow of a Warrior who fell almost 50 years ago.
I invite you to visit the Lt. Bob Ford Memorial web site. The latest pages I have just finished are LIFE IN THE 311th FIGHTER-BOMBER SQUADRON, OSAN AFB (K55), KOREA -- 1956-57 -- PARTs 1, 2, 3 --- my memories of that year. For those of you who were in Korea, before or after that year; this will most likely bring back many memories. I have included as many photos as I could find to add more depth to the memoirs.
Now, click on this URL and learn more about an American hero:
1/Lt. Bob Ford Memorial Web Site: http://www.ourchurch.com/member/h/HE-GAVE-ALL
I will appreciate any thoughts or feedback you might have.
God bless, have a wonderful day,
Bill Gray
Keywords: 311th FBS, 58th FBW, Osan AFB (K55)
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