USS Ford (FFG 54)

- decommissioned -
- sunk as target -

USS FORD was one of the OLIVER HAZARD PERRY - class guided missile frigates and the first ship in the Navy named after Gunner’s Mate Second class Patrick Osborne Ford. The ship was last homeported at Everett, Wash. Decommissioned on October 31, 2013, the FORD was subsequently laid up at the Puget Sound Naval Shipyard, Bremerton, Wash. On October 1, 2019, the ship was sunk as a target approx. 170 nautical miles off Guam during Exercise Pacific Griffin 2019. US and Republic of Singapore forces participated in the SINKEX.

General Characteristics:	Keel Laid: July 16, 1983
	Christened: June 23, 1984
	Commissioned: June 29, 1985
	Decommissioned: October 31, 2013
	Builder: Todd Pacific Shipyards Co., Los Angeles Division, San Pedro, Ca.
	Propulsion system: two General Electric LM 2500 gas turbines, two 350 Horsepower Electric Drive Auxiliary Propulsion Units
	Propellers: one
	Blades on each Propeller: five
	Length: 453 feet (135.9 meters)
	Beam: 45 feet (13.5 meters)
	Draft: 24,6 feet (7.5 meters)
	Displacement: 4,100 tons
	Speed: 28+ knots
	Aircraft: two SH-60 Sea Hawk (LAMPS 3)
	Armament: one Mk 75 76mm/62 caliber rapid firing gun, MK 32 ASW torpedo tubes (two triple mounts), one Phalanx CIWS, one Mk 38 Mod 2 25mm machine gun system
	Crew: 17 Officers and 198 Enlisted

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Crew List:

This section contains the names of sailors who served aboard USS FORD. It is no official listing but contains the names of sailors who submitted their information.

Click here to view the list.

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Click here to see which USS FORD memorabilia are currently for sale on ebay.

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USS FORD Cruise Books:

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About the Frigate’s Coat of Arms:

The coat of arms for USS FORD has much symbolism in its design. The predominant colors of dark blue and gold are traditionally associated with the Navy; blue to represent the sea and gold to signify excellence.

The Shield:

The various designs on the shield depict the heroic naval career of Second Class Gunner's Mate Patrick Osborne Ford, who gave his life for fellow sailors and country. The colors yellow and scarlet allude to the flag of South Vietnam. The wavy blue band symbolizes the My Tho River, site of the battle in which Petty Officer Ford gave his life to save several of his shipmates aboard Patrol River Boat 750. The Roman numerals 'V' identify the attachment of this vessel to River Squadron Five. The scarlet spearhead issuing from the left, or sinister, side of the shield is indicative of the ambush attack by Viet Cong forces on Patrol River Boat 750. The scarlet color of the central figure depicts the result of the attack where hostile rockets set the craft ablaze.

The Crest:

The scarlet lion's head is symbolic of the courage and self-sacrifice exhibited by Petty Officer Ford. The crossed naval cannons represent his rating as a Gunner's Mate. The inverted laurel signifies the tragic end of the story. The cross below center denotes the posthumous award of the Navy Cross.

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USS FORD Patch Gallery:

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USS FORD's Commanding Officers:

Period	Name
June 29, 1985 - May 23, 1987	Commander J. F. Eckler, USN
May 23, 1987 - May 13, 1989	Commander J. D. Price, USN
May 13, 1989 - June 15, 1991	Commander W. W. Spotts, USN
June 15, 1991 - December 30, 1992	Commander J. L. Johnson, USN
December 30, 1992 - September 23, 1994	Commander J. R. Eckelberry, USN
September 23, 1994 - July 1, 1996	Commander K. R. Trass, USN
July 1, 1996 - February 4, 1998	Commander S. W. Keith, USN
February 4, 1998 - August 13, 1999	Commander G. A. McCaffrey, USN
August 13, 1999 - April 27, 2001	Commander T. F. Nedervold, USN
April 27, 2001 - January 24, 2003	Commander David Matawitz, USN
January 24, 2003 - November 9, 2004	Commander D. A. Schnell, USN
November 9, 2004 - July 20, 2006	Commander T. B. Spratto, USN
July 20, 2006 - January 25, 2008	Commander M. J. Taylor, USN
January 25, 2008 - August 27, 2009	Commander J. D. Wilshusen, USN
August 27, 2009 - April 4, 2011	Commander C. H. Luby, USN
April 4, 2011 - October 2, 2012	Commander D. M. Foss, Jr., USN
October 2, 2012 - October 31, 2013	Commander J. T. Schuler, USN

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About the Frigate’s Name, about Gunner’s Mate Second class Patrick Osborne Ford:

Patrick Osborne Ford was born in San Francisco, California, on 2 May 1942. At the age of 15, he moved to Phoenix, Arizona, where he attended Camelback and North High School.

Shortly after graduation, Ford enlisted in the Navy. He completed basic training at the Naval Training Center, San Diego, California, and received orders to report to the Naval Station, Adak, Alaska. He reported aboard the destroyer USS JAMES E. KYES (DD 787) where he served as a Gunner's Mate until the end of his enlistment in 1963.

Petty Officer Ford reenlisted in 1965 and served at the Naval Station, Long Beach, California. In 1966, he was transferred to the Naval Support Activity, Danang, Republic of Vietnam, where he was ordered to report aboard the USS GEORGE K. MACKENZIE (DD 836). Following completion of his tour aboard MACKENZIE, Ford was subsequently transferred to the USS HENDERSON (DD 785) where he remained until the end of his second enlistment in 1967.

Later that year Ford reenlisted for the second time at the Naval Receiving Station, San Francisco, California. He was ordered to the Naval Amphibious Base, Coronado, California for River Patrol Craft Training. Following completion of training in 1968, Petty Officer Ford was directed to report to the Naval Support Activity, Saigon, Republic of Vietnam. He was assigned to Task Force 116, River Squadron 5, in 1968.

For the next five months, he served as a patrol river boat sailor, monitoring the traffic of the many rivers and coastal waterways of the area. On 21 June 1968, Petty Officer Ford was serving as the after machine-gunner aboard Patrol River Boat 750 as part of a two-boat patrol operating in the upper My Tho River near the town of Cai Be. The boats were maneuvering down the river when they spotted a sampan fleeing into a nearby canal. The two patrol boats gave chase and captured the sampan one hundred meters further up the canal. As the patrol boat returned to the river with the captured sampan in tow, it was ambushed by a Viet Cong patrol that unleashed an overwhelming barrage of heavy machine-gun fire and rockets.

Two explosive B-40 rockets struck Ford's boat, immediately killing the patrol leader and coxswain. Within seconds, the boat was ablaze and out of control, heading directly for the Viet Cong positions. Even as the boat was hit by four additional rockets, and after suffering serious injuries, Ford tenaciously maintained a steady volume of return fire from his aft machine-gunner's station. In the face of enemy gunfire and with his clothing on fire, Ford assisted three seriously wounded shipmates into the water. Only after ensuring that all the surviving crew had left the boat did Ford make his way into the water. He was the last man alive to leave what remained of Patrol River Boat 750.

Soon after Petty Officer Ford entered the water, he was killed by a burst of enemy machine-gun fire. However, as a result of his fearless devotion to duty, he saved the lives of two of his shipmates. For his "extraordinary heroism" and in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Navy, Petty Officer Ford was posthumously awarded the Navy Cross.