Fredericksburg in Gillespie County, Texas — The American South (West South Central)

Gerald R. Ford

Lieutenant Commander, U.S. Navy Reserve

— Service in the Pacific, 1943-1944 —

Gerald R. Ford Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed By James Hulse, December 2, 2021

1. Gerald R. Ford Marker

Inscription. "Before the war, I was a typical Midwest isolationist. I returned understanding we could never be isolated again."

Gerald R. Ford volunteered for the Navy shortly after the attack on Pearl Harbor. He first served as a fitness instructor for future pilots in the Navy's V-5 program. In May 1943 he reported aboard the light aircraft carrier USS MONTEREY and saw extensive combat in the western Pacific with the Third and Fifth Fleet Operations of Admirals Halsey and Mitscher. Ford, the MONTEREY'S athletic officer, also commanded an anti-aircraft gun crew. He later became the ship's assistant navigator, serving as Officer of the Deck during combat. In December 1944 a fierce typhoon severely damaged the MONTEREY, and Ford was nearly tossed into the sea from the flight deck. In January 1945 he was reassigned to the Navy Aviation Training Command. The Navy released him from active service in December 1945.

Gerald R. Ford - 38th President of the United States - 1974-1977

Captions
Lieutenant Commander Ford aboard the MONTEREY

Erected by National Museum of the Pacific War.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Military. A significant historical month for this entry is January 1945.

Location. 30° 16.366′ N,

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98° 52.02′ W. Marker is in Fredericksburg, Texas, in Gillespie County. Marker can be reached from the intersection of East Austin Street and North Washington Street. The marker is located outside the east entrance to the National Museum of the Pacific in the Plaza of the Presidents and there is no admission fee required for visiting the outside section of the museum. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 311 East Austin Street, Fredericksburg TX 78624, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. Richard M. Nixon (here, next to this marker); James E. Carter, Jr. (here, next to this marker); Ronald Reagan (here, next to this marker); George H. W. Bush (here, next to this marker); Lyndon B. Johnson (here, next to this marker); Dwight D. Eisenhower (a few steps from this marker); John F. Kennedy (a few steps from this marker); Navy Nurses (a few steps from this marker). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Fredericksburg.

More about this marker. Ten consecutive presidents, spanning the years from 1941 to 1992, served in their country's armed forces during World War II. The service of those ten is commemorated here at the Plaza of the Presidents.

Also see . . . Gerald Ford.

After Ford applied for sea duty, he was sent in May 1943 to the pre-commissioning
Photographed By James Hulse, December 2, 2021

2. The Gerald R. Ford Marker is the fourth marker from the right of the ten markers
detachment for the new aircraft carrier USS Monterey (CVL-26), at New York Shipbuilding Corporation, Camden, New Jersey. From the ship's commissioning on June 17, 1943, until the end of December 1944, Ford served as the assistant navigator, Athletic Officer, and antiaircraft battery officer on board the Monterey. Source: Wikipedia

(Submitted on January 26, 2022, by James Hulse of Medina, Texas.)

Lieutenant Commander Ford aboard the MONTEREY image. Click for full size.

Public Domain - U.S. Navy Photo, circa 1944

3. Lieutenant Commander Ford aboard the MONTEREY

Gerald Ford's presidential portrait image. Click for full size.

Public Domain - U.S. Government Photo - David Hume Kennerly, circa 1974

4. Gerald Ford's presidential portrait

Credits. This page was last revised on January 26, 2022. It was originally submitted on January 26, 2022, by James Hulse of Medina, Texas. This page has been viewed 94 times since then and 10 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4. submitted on January 26, 2022, by James Hulse of Medina, Texas.