Captain Ford marker dedicated at Veterans Park

Published 1:07 pm Wednesday, September 26, 2018

LIVE OAK, Fla. — Robert Ford’s devotional a week ago was on the spot.

The Daily Bread devotional was entitled “Fitting Time.” And for Ford, it was fitting indeed.

Later that day, Sept. 19, a ceremony was held at Live Oak Veterans Memorial Park to dedicate a marker honoring his older brother, the late Captain Charley James Ford.

Ford died Nov. 3, 1969, while participating in a combat training exercise at Fort Benning at the age of 25.

But by then, Ford had already become a highly-decorated hero during the Vietnam War.

During his military service, Ford was awarded two Silver Star Medals (1st Oak Leaf Cluster), Bronze Star Medal, Purple Heart Medal, U.S. Army Air Medal (20 awards), U.S. Army Commendation Medal, Presidential Unit Citation, Vietnam Campaign Medal, Vietnam Service Medal (with two Bronze Service Stars), National Defense Medal, U.S. Army Good Conduct Medal, an Expert Infantry Badge, Combat Infantry Badge, U.S. Army Parachutist Badge, Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross with Palm Unit Citation, Vietnamese Parachutist Badge, U.S. Army Aviator’s Badge and the Special Forces Tab.

“He didn’t know what lay ahead,” Command Chief Master Sgt. Craig Deatherage, U.S. Air Force retired and the Military and VA liaison for U.S. Representative Neal Dunn, said about Ford’s enlisting in the Army.

“He didn’t know he would become the highest decorated veteran from Suwannee County. He didn’t know that he would die in service to his nation. But he knew those things were possible. And yet he stepped forward and accepted the mantle of responsibility of a commission in the United States Army. He accepted the responsibility of an officer and he comported himself with great honor and dignity. And we honor that and we’re grateful for that and we’re grateful for the Ford family in sharing him with the nation.

“The truth of the matter is his life and his death is proof that the American flesh is vulnerable but the American spirit is indomitable. We can not fail because we have men and women like Captain Ford in our midst.”

Ford was the 12th of 15 children born to the late Rev. Sidney and Alice Ford, growing up in Dowling Park before graduating with honors from Douglass High School in 1962.

He then enlisted in the Army and preceded to move up the ranks.

“There’s no doubt he’s worthy of this special honor,” said his brother Command Master Sgt. Ozell Ford, U.S. Army retired. “And not just by those of us here today, but by every American citizen, all across this land, from sea to shining sea. For in his youth and strength, his love and loyalty, he gave to this country all that mortality has to give. And when you consider his dogged persistence in the accomplishment of admissions, his courage under fire and his modesty in victory, you know that he belongs to history as furnishing one of the greatest examples of genuine patriotism.

“He fought because he had faith in what America could become. And in doing so, he helped hasten the day where we can all stand and proudly sing, ‘My country ’tis of thee, Sweet land of liberty, Of thee I sing; Land where my fathers died, Land of the pilgrim’s pride, From every mountainside Let freedom ring!’ This was surely his battle cry.”

Those heroics and all those medals, which have made him the highest decorated native Suwannee County service member, led to the event where Ford’s four sisters Alice Nelson, Shellie Brown, Ruby Giles and Dorothy Nelson uncovered the marker in the park.

Sept. 19 was also Captain Charley Ford Day in the City of Live Oak as declared in a proclamation from Mayor Frank Davis. It would have been Ford’s 74th birthday.

“It’s a solemn event, but also a celebratory event,” Davis told those in attendance. “Due to the recognition of a great American hero, a native son of Suwannee County and a man who gave his life for his nation.”

And according to his daughter Darlene Gale Reliford, the ceremony proved that even after nearly 50 years, her father was present as well.

“This is the day my father will get the honor and recognition he so deserves,” Reliford said.

“All of these medals and things amount to nothing compared to his fatherhood.

“My father, Captain Charley James Ford, is alive here today.”