Honoring Our Heroes

Captain Joan E. Ford: Age 91

Captain Joan E. Ford served eight years on active duty in the U.S, Air Force Reserve. Her Air Force Specialty (AFSC) was Nurse serving as a Nurse General, Nurse Psychiatric and Charge Nurse. She received the following medals, awards, decorations and ribbons: Air Force Longevity Service Award, Air Force Outstanding Unit Award and Air Force Good Conduct Ribbon.

Captain Ford was born August 9, 1933 at Washington, D.C. to her parents, William A. King and Elizabeth C. Arch. She was reared there and graduated from Dunbar High School in 1951. She completed nurse’s training at Harlem Hospital in New York City September 14, 1954. Harlem Hospital offered a training program for nurses through the Harlem Hospital School of Nursing which primarily focused on providing a diploma-level nursing education particularly for African-American women. She was licensed as an RN in New York and in California in 1959. She worked as a Civilian Expert, as a staff nurse at Children’s Hospital in Washington, D.C. during November 1954 through January 1955, as a staff nurse at Walter Reed Army Hospital in Washington D.C. during January through April 1955, as a psychiatric nurse at a Veterans Administration Hospital during April 1955 through December 1957 and as a private duty nurse in Los Angeles, CA, during April 1958 through December 1958.

Captain Ford entered military service in the Air Force Reserve January 1, 1955 serving until February 5, 1959. She was then commissioned February 6, 1959 at Travis Air Force Base, CA, entering active duty as a 1st Lt. She completed Officer Training School (OTS) at Gunter Air Force Base at Montgomery, AL. She served as a flight nurse escorting wounded military personnel from Vietnam to military hospitals in Guam and Okinawa. A picture of her in this duty was featured on the cover of Parade Magazine. She served TDY at Gunter AFB, AL, beginning February 6, 1959 until service in general nursing services at Travis AFB, CA, at the USAF Base Hospital beginning March 11, 1959. Remaining at Travis AFB, she then served until July 15, 1959 as a nurse in psychiatrics there. Next, beginning October 27, 1959, she deployed to serve as the nurse in general medicine in the Dependent Ward at the USAF Hospital at Chateauroux Air Station, France. Remaining there, she served as a nurse in general medicine in the medical and surgical ward from August 1,1961 until May 26, 1963. Then she served as a nurse in general medicine at Plattsburg AFB, NY, from May 26, 1963 until March 2, 1964. Her last assignment was as the charge nurse at Medical Support at Plattsburg AFB, NY until March 2, 1964. Captain Ford was discharged from military service May 31, 1967 while she was stationed in Japan.

After her military retirement, Captain Ford continued her nurse’s education and training. She participated in the University of AL Birmingham School of Nursing’s Continuous Education Service’s program in Pediatric nurse Practitioner Program completing August 4, 1975 and completed the National Board of Pediatric Nurse Practitioners and Associates’ requirements for competency to practice as a pediatric nurse practitioner/ associate and was certified June 16, 1978. She worked as pediatric nurse at Lowndes County AL Health Department for 11 years. She then owned and worked as a nurse at Wee Tots Nursery for 20 years and at Adolescent and Pediatric Associates for 15 years in Montgomery, AL. She retired from all employment in 2013.

Captain Ford and her husband, James L. Ford , Ret. CMSGT, were married 52 years before he passed away, and they had two children and two grandchildren. She is a member of the Episcopal Church of the Good Shepard in Montgomery, AL.

Captain Ford’s conclusions about her military service are: “I loved traveling and meeting people.” She would like people to remember that she was kind and tried to help people.”