The U.S.S. Gerald R. Ford Aircraft carrier at sea.Photo: Courtesy: Gerald R. Ford Presidential Foundation
GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. -- The chairman of the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Foundation has sent a letter to the sailors and officers on the U.S.S. Gerald R. Ford, extending gratitude and praise for their devotion to duty.
David Hoogendoorn's letter says their service on the world's largest aircraft carrier and the most technologically advanced warship is a testament to American ingenuity and strength. He notes that they have been deployed since June 2025, surpassing 300 days at sea - and setting a post-Vietnam War-era record.
Gleaves Whitney is the executive director of the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Foundation. He told WOOD Radio News in a telephone interview the Foundation trustees and the Ford family thought it would be a good idea to recognize the men and women who are making sacrifices to be on that ship. It is part of a bolstered U.S. naval force in the Middle East.
Whitney noted that President Ford served during World War 2 in the Navy as an artillery gunner officer on a light aircraft carrier called the USS Monterey.
"So, he saw death, potentially, every day," Whitney said. "He and his men had to really be on guard to keep that ship from being hit and sinking."
As for how President Ford found out that an aircraft carrier would be named after him, that news came from former U.S. Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld, according to Whitney.
"Rumsfeld went to visit him in 2005. He said, 'You know, Mr. President, I have great news for you. You'll be really pleased to know that the Pentagon has decided - and the U.S. Navy decided - to name a new class of (aircraft) carrier after you.' And President Ford was honored, humbled - just overwhelmed that the Navy would do that."
Here are the contents of the letter:
April 23, 2026
To the Sailors, Airmen, and Officers of the USS Gerald R. Ford (CVN-78), and to her Commanding Officer:
On behalf of the Ford family and Trustees of the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Foundation, we extend our deepest gratitude and highest praise for your valor and devotion to duty.
As you navigate the waters of the Eastern Mediterranean and Red Sea, you carry with you more than just the name of our 38th President; you carry his legacy of integrity, good judgment, and courageous battle-tested leadership. Like Lieutenant Commander Gerald Ford, who served with distinction aboard the light carrier USS Monterey during World War II, you have demonstrated extraordinary resilience in the face of adversity.
Your service on the world's largest aircraft carrier and the most technologically advanced warship ever constructed is a testament to American ingenuity and strength. Add to these the profound personal sacrifice inherent in this record-breaking deployment. Having been under way since June 24, 2025, you have surpassed 300 days at sea, setting a post-Vietnam War era benchmark for endurance and commitment to national security.
We are especially mindful of the approximately 4,500 men and women of the Ford and Carrier Air Wing 8 who have maintained a high state of readiness through every challenge, including the recent trials of shipboard repairs. Your pivotal role as the flagship of the Gerald R. Ford Carrier Strike Group in Operation Epic Fury underscores the vital importance of your mission in maintaining peace and stability in a volatile region.
President Ford once said, "Freedom is never more than one generation away from extinction." Today, you are the guardians of that freedom. We stand in awe of your professionalism and are profoundly grateful for your service to the United States of America.
Fair winds and following seas.
David C. Hoogendoorn
Chairman
Gerald R. Ford Presidential Foundation