Douglas Oakley Ford
Captain, U.S. Marine Corps

Douglas Oakley Ford enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corps Reserve in 1965. He entered the 38th Officer Candidate Course at Quantico, VA, and was assigned to the 4th Platoon of Bravo Company. He graduated on 17 December 1965 and was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant in the USMCR. At The Basic School in Quantico, he was assigned to Basic Class 3-66 in the 2nd Platoon of Echo Company and completed that course in May 1966. During his first tour in Vietnam, 2ndLt Ford became a Regular Officer on 27 December 1966 at Phu Bai, as he intended to make a career of the Marine Corps.

Immediately prior to deploying to Vietnam for his second tour, Doug was stationed at Marine Corps Base, HI. Capt Ford arrived in Vietnam on 7 March 1970. A qualified infantry officer (MOS 0302), upon arrival he was assigned as Company Commander for Headquarters and Service Company, 2nd Battalion, 5th Marines, 1st Marine Division, III Marine Amphibious Force. Later, Doug was assigned as the Commanding Officer of Echo Company 2nd Battalion, 5th Marines.

In January 1971, 2/5 was involved in Operation Imperial Lake in the Que Son Mountains. On 3 January 1971, Doug's Echo Company was extracted from the field by helicopter and moved 20 kilometers to the east to collocate with the battalion rear at LZ Baldy/Baldy Combat Base on Hill 63 (Nui Huong Que). Echo Company enjoyed a 3-day period of relaxation and rehabilitation, while providing perimeter security for the battalion rear; however, Doug was responsible for providing a platoon daily for the Quick Reaction Force (QRF). After their brief R&R, Doug's company began patrol activities around Baldy Combat Base.

On 10 January 1971, Echo 1 had the QRF duty. During the early morning hours, the platoon was heli-lifted to an LZ adjacent to Phu Thanh village. The concept of the operation called for Echo 1 to maintain a blocking position while a platoon from Golf Company swept through the village. At the time, Golf Company was detached from 2/5 and under the operational control of the 5th Marine Regiment. Golf Company was tasked with providing bridge and road security along the Main Supply Route (Route 1). Golf 1 was freed up on the morning of 10 January and tasked with sweeping through Phu Thanh toward the Echo 1 blocking force. As the sweep proceeded, Doug was airborne along with the Battalion XO, Maj Herbert C. Ram and the Golf Company Commander to observe the progress of the sweep. At approximately 09:15, despite the fact that the Golf 1 had mine-detection dogs working with them, a Marine tripped a booby-trapped 60mm mortar round, which exploded, wounding that Marine and one other. As the Command and Control helicopter was circling above operational area, the infantry officers onboard decided to have the pilot land, so they could evacuate the two wounded Golf 1 Marines. This approach was deemed better than calling for a separate medevac and awaiting its arrival. It was decided that he prompt evacuation of the casualties would improve their chances of survival.

Upon landing at a hasty LZ set up by Golf 1, Maj Ram immediately exited the helicopter and moved toward the casualties with Doug following approximately 1 meter behind. Maj Ram detonated either a second more substantial booby-trap, or an anti-personnel mine. Neither officer was wearing a flak jacket. Capt Ford and Maj Ram both died of shrapnel wounds from the explosive device in Quang Nam Province, 6 kilometers northwest of the LZ Baldy/Baldy Combat Base (BT 085497).

At the time of his death, Doug was 28 years old. He and his wife, Carol, had one son, Scott.

Medals and Awards

Bronze Star Medal with Valor Device
Purple Heart with Gold Star
Combat Action Ribbon
National Defense Service Medal
Vietnam Service Medal
Vietnam Campaign Medal

Honors

The name Douglas Oakley Ford is located on Panel W5 Line 37 of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Wall.

Burial

Captain Douglas Oakley Ford is buried at Arlington National Cemetery in Arlington, VA, in Section 25, Site 3805.

[Thanks to Captain Dave Mellon, USMCR, a classmate of Dough Oakley in the 38th Officer Candidate Course and Basic Class 3-66, for the valuable information he provided for this bio. Capt Mellon served as a platoon commander in Vietnam and was wounded.]