Whakakiia te rerenga e whai ake nei: I te Pakanga Tuarua o te Ao, i mahi a Ford hei upoko o te tari whakaahua mo te Tari o nga Ratonga Rautaki me te hanga tuhinga mo te Tari Navy. I whakawhiwhia ia hei rangatira i te United States Navy Reserve. I wini ia i etahi atu Tohu Academy e rua i tenei wa, kotahi mo te haurua-tohunga "Te Pakanga o Midway" (1942), me tetahi mo te kiriata whakatairanga "" (1943). I whakaatahia e Ford
i te whakaekenga a Hapani ki Midway mai i te tipu hiko o te Moutere o Sand, a i whara ia i te ringa.