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Willis Ford was awarded the Distinguished Service Cross posthumously for extraordinary heroism in connection with military operations against an armed enemy while serving as a Medical Aidman in action against enemy forces in Germany. On 30 October 1944, when heavy enemy artillery fire demolished a building housing his platoon Command Post, pinning three wounded soldiers beneath the debris, Private Ford, ignoring shells landing dangerously nearby, extricated the men and administered first aid. As additional casualties were sustained, Private Ford continued rendering medical treatment and supervising the evacuation of the wounded. On another occasion, while subjected to devastating machine gun and small arms fire on 18 November 1944, he advanced far forward of friendly lines and evacuated a wounded crew member from a disabled tank. While endeavoring to obtain a litter, he was struck by rifle fire and mortally wounded.