Cecil Bruce Ford (1892 - 1944)

Born 28 Jul 1892 in Beaufort, South Carolina, United States

Ancestors

Descendants

Died 31 Jul 1944 at age 52 in Peoria, Illinois, United States

Problems/Questions Profile manager: Rosemary Coppock [send private message]

Biography

Bruce Ford is a part of US Black heritage.

Cecil Bruce was born in Beaufort, South Carolina, on July 28, 1892. He is the son of George Ford and Harriet (Blythewood) Ford. He married Florence Elsie Harrison had at least one child, Florence Cecilia Ford (1920-2012.) He became a dentist, and lived his life in Illinois. In 1920, the young couple lived with his sister, Hallie, and her husband, Garfield Goin, as Bruce began his dental practice.^[1] At the age of 49, he registered for the World War II draft.^[2] He enlisted and served as Private, 1st Class, in the Medical Department of the Illinois 370th US Infantry. He was killed in action on July 31, 1944 and received the Distinguished Service Cross (the Latin cross).^[3] The Distinguished Service Cross is the second highest military award for extreme gallantry and risk of life in actual combat with an armed enemy force. He is buried with his parents at Camp Butler National Cemetery in Illinois.^[4]

Notes

I believe Dr. Cecil Bruce Ford is a direct male descendant, a great-grandson, of West "Duncan" Ford 1784-1863. West Ford is a former slave and may be the son of President George Washington, or one of his brothers.

Sources

1. ↑ "United States Census, 1920," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MJCQ-MR8 : accessed 5 April 2020), Dr Bruce Ford in household of Garfield Goin, Peoria Ward 4, Peoria, Illinois, United States; citing ED 94, sheet 4B, line 93, family 111, NARA microfilm publication T625 (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 1992), roll 399; FHL microfilm 1,820,399.
2. ↑ The National Archives at St. Louis; St. Louis, Missouri; World War II Draft Cards (Fourth Registration), for The State of Illinois; Record Group Title: Records of the Selective Service System; Record Group Number: 147; Series Number: M2097. Ancestry.com. U.S., World War II Draft Registration Cards, 1942 [database on-line]. Lehi, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2010[1]
3. ↑ Ancestry.com. U.S. National Cemetery Interment Control Forms, 1928-1962 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2012. Original data: Interment Control Forms, 1928–1962. Interment Control Forms, A1 2110-B. Records of the Office of the Quartermaster General, 1774–1985, Record Group 92. The National Archives at College Park, College Park, Maryland.[2]
4. ↑ Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/2553615/cecil_bruce-ford: accessed April 5, 2024), memorial page for Dr Cecil Bruce Ford (28 Jul 1893–31 Jul 1944), Find A Grave: Memorial #2553615, citing Camp Butler National Cemetery, Springfield, Sangamon County, Illinois, USA; Maintained by LivesHonored (contributor 48777733).