United States. A Bronze Star Group to Robert M. Ford; Port Moresby Defence

Bronze Star (bronze, engraved "Robert M. Ford." on the reverse, 34.7 mm x 36 mm, with ribbon bar); two Army Good Conduct Medals (bronze, 32 mm each, original ribbons with brooch pinbacks, with ribbon bars and boxes); American Defense Service Medal (bronze, 32 mm, original ribbon with brooch pinback, with ribbon bar, enamelled ribbon bar on issue card); Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal (bronze, 32 mm, replacement medal and ribbon without the three bronze stars, with ribbon bar and box); and World War II Victory Medal (bronze, 36.2 mm, original ribbon with brooch pinback, with ribbon bar and box). Unmounted, extremely fine. Accompanied by a Three-Ribbon Ribbon Bar (Army Good Conduct Medal, American Defense Service Medal and Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal with two bronze stars, the third one having been lost to time, 11.5 mm x 106 mm, dual push pins); a Combat Infantryman Badge (silvered sterling silver with blue enamels, marked "STERLING" on the reverse, 26.7 mm x 76.3 mm, dual push pins); an Army Enlisted Man's Cap Badge (two-piece construction, bronze gilt, 37.8 mm, screwback, on card of issue marked "INSIGNIA JEWELRY", "U.S. ARMY" and maker marked "GEMSCO"); eight Collar Disks (three U.S., one U.S. Michigan 107th, two Infantry, one Military Police and one Engineers, bronze or brass, 25.5 mm each, various attachments); a United States Army Engineer School Insignia Pin (silvered bronze with red and white enamels, 24.5 mm x 35 mm, vertical pinback); five Embroidred Patches (32nd Infantry Division, 6th Service Command, U.S. Army Air Force, Five Service Bars and "Ruptured Duck" Honorable Discharge); two Embroidered Sergeant Stripes; a 32nd Infantry Division "Australia to Japan 654 Days Combat" Key Fob (silvered metal with red enamels, 27.8 mm x 35 mm, with two keys on an attached chain); an Australian Commonwealth Military Forces Cap Badge (bronze, maker marked "K.G. LUKE MELB." (Melbourne) on the reverse, 43.7 mm x 62.5 mm, intact lugs and pin); a Book Entilted "13,000 Hours, Combat History of the 32d Inf Division - World War II" (prepared by the Public Relations Office, 32nd Infantry Division, printed by the 2773rd Engineers, cover printed in red and black inks on a card stock, 32 page insert with text, maps and photos, printed in black ink on a white paper stock, 205 mm x 270 mm, dual staple bound, light wear evident on the spine); and a Typewritten Letter Documenting the Veteran's Second World War Army Service (dated April 17, 1999 and signed by the veteran). Footnote: Robert W. Ford joined the United States Army in 1940 and was assigned to the Army Air Force Command as a young engineer. Shortly after his stint with the Air Corps, he decided to become an infantryman after Germany declared war on the United States. He was assigned to the 32nd Infantry Division, which was allocated to the Michigan National Guard and the Wisconsin National Guard, under the 6th Service Command. From Michigan, he was sent to the Pacific theater in April of 1942, taking part in the offensive to keep the Japanese from reaching Port Moresby, Australia. He was in action at Buna and Papua, New Guinea. After a brief rest period, his outfit was transported by sea to Leyte in the Philippines, where he broke the "Yamashita Line", defeating the Japanese. Some time later, Ford landed on Luzon and eventually joined the 25th Infantry Division, pushing the Japanese troops back, enabling supply routes to be opened, especially along Highway 11. He was in combat at other locations, but these were the vital battles. Ford received the Bronze Star for leading his platoon out of harms way, when he spotted a Japanese mine field. They had to risk walking through an open area to avoid the field. In the process, two of his men were wounded by Japanese gunfire, but all survived the mine traps. Military officials viewed his actions as having saved the lives of his men, however,Ford was resolute and saw it as a necessary part of his job as a platoon leader. He returned to the United States in August of 1945 and did not participate in occupation duty, as many of the 32nd Infantry Division did. He earned his Technical Sergeant Stripes before he was Honorably Discharged in December of 1945, proud to have served his country. In his civilian life, he became an aircraft engineer in the State of Washington, married and had three children.