Ensign Ledford was the pilot of a F9F-2 Pantherjet fighter with Fighter Squadron 151 aboard the carrier USS Boxer (CV-21). On 26 July 1953, while he was on a combat mission, his aircraft crashed forward of the ship. His remains were not recovered. His name is inscribed on the Courts of the Missing at the Honolulu Memorial.

Ledford was awarded the Air Medal with 3 Gold Stars, the Purple Heart, the Combat Action Ribbon, the Korean Service Medal, the United Nations Service Medal, the National Defense Service Medal, the Korean Presidential Unit Citation and the Republic of Korea War Service Medal.