NEW HARTFORD — Today, Congresswoman Claudia Tenney (NY-22) announced that she will be hosting a medal ceremony for the late World War II Army Veteran SGT. John C. Ford on Saturday, June 24, at her office in New Hartford at 10:30am. During the ceremony, Rep. Tenney will present the medals to Mrs. Assunda Ford, the widow of SGT. John C. Ford, and their family.
SGT. Ford was a member of the United States Army during World his entire War II, serving with the 203rd Combat Hospital for service in the Army. He served in the European and American Theaters, and participated in the invasion of Normandy on D-Day.
John C. Ford grew up on a farm in Waterville with 3 his three siblings. Following the death of his father, John, his mother and 4 siblings moved to Cornhill in Utica during the great depression. His father attended Utica Free Academy Class of ’39. In 1943 John joined the Army where he served as a Sargent in the 203 Medical Evacuation Hospital. They were forward deployed and among his awards were two Bronze Stars.
After the war, John attended Syracuse University under the GI Bill and graduated with a Master’s Degree in Business Administration. Soon after, he opened a tavern in Rome called the Green Gate. After closing the tavern at night, John would frequently go to Eddies Landmark diner where he met Assunda George, one of the waitresses. John and Assunda later married in 1952, and from that day, never left each other’s side.
John sold the tavern and took a position with a new college in Utica in Oneida Square— the beginning of Utica College. There he worked as the Coordinator of Veterans Affairs. In his 42 years at Utica College, John worked as the bursar, comptroller and finally Vice President, retiring in 1994.
Tenney’s office has had the honor of recovering a number of medals for SGT Ford’s service in the United States Army, including:
