On 21 June 1968, Petty Officer Patrick Ford was serving as the after machine gunner aboard PBR-750 as part of a two boat patrol operating in the upper MY Tho river near the town of Cai Be. The boats were maneuvering down the river when they spotted a sampan fleeing into a nearby canal. PBR-750 gave chase and captured the sampan one hundred meters further up the canal.
As the patrol boat returned to the river with a Viet Cong suspect and the captured sampan in tow, it was ambushed by a Viet Cong patrol who unleashed an overwhelming barrage of heavy machine gun fire and rockets. Two explosive B-40 rockets struck PBR-750 immediately killing the patrol leader, Lietuenant William E. Dennis and the boat coxswain, Boatswain's Mate First Class Scott C. Delph. Marc Clien passed away later as a result of injuries sustained prior to leaving the craft.
Within seconds the patrol boat was ablaze and out of control, heading directly for the Viet Cong positions. As the PBR veered toward the river bank, at least four additional rockets struck the craft. Ford, being seriously wounded in the initial barrage, tenaciously maintained a steady volume of return fire from his aft machine gunner's station until he perceived that the boat was out of control.
In the face of enemy gunfire and with his clothing on fire, Ford assisted three seriously wounded shipmates from the PBR into the water. Only after insuring that all the surviving crewmembers had left the boat did Ford make his way into the water. He was the last man alive to leave what was left of PBR-750.
Soon after Petty Officer Ford entered the water, he was killed by a burst of enemy machine gun fire. However, as a result of his fearless devotion to duty, he saved the lives of two of his shipmates. For his "extraordinary heroism" in battle on 21 June 1968 and in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Navy, Petty Officer Ford was posthumously awarded the Navy Cross and later had a ship, the USS Ford FFG-54, named after him.
This is not a rock cache. Please do not move the rock.
As always watch for pricklies, critters and cows.
Cache is located on Arizona Trust Land so you must have your permit with you in order to access this cache. If you do not have a permit, one can be purchased online here: https://land.az.gov/recreational-permit-portal