Joseph T. Ford Jr.
Staff Sergeant, U.S. Army
32073384
24th Armored Engineer Battalion
4th Armored Division
Oaklyn, New Jersey
Died: September 22, 1944
Lezey, France
Awards: Purple Heart, European Theatre Campaign Medal, Good Conduct Medal
Introduction
Staff Sergeant Joseph T. Ford Jr.
Staff Sergeant Joseph T. Ford Jr. was from Oaklyn, New Jersey. He attended Collingswood High School as a member of the class of 1934.
Joseph Ford was drafted into the Army on May 12, 1941. He received his basic training at Pine Camp, New York, which is now known as Fort Drum. Assigned to the 24th Armored Engineer Battalion, 4th Armored Division, he went overseas in December of 1943. He arrived in France shortly after D-Day. His unit served with distinction in the breakout across Northern France. After crossing the Moselle River, the Germans staged a counter-attack beginning on September 19th.
Joseph T. Ford Jr. was killed in action near Lezey, France, on September 22, 1944. In the course of his service he was awarded the European Theatre Campaign Medal, the Good Conduct Medal, and the Purple Heart. He was survived by his parents, of 49 Harding Avenue, Oaklyn, and a brother, John Ford, then serving in the Navy.