This will be the first time I have taken this style of brake apart. I do have a factory service manual for the truck for guidance.
Is there any kind of special tool I should absolutely have on hand for this job, not including standard tools?
They make a "Parking Brake Hardware" removal tool. One end of it helps you remove or install the larger springs (that pull both sides of shoes together) at the top of the parking brakes and the other end has a round like fitting that helps you turn the spring end caps for removal or installation that cover the shorter springs near the center area of the parking brake shoes. You can buy this tool for $5-$8. This tool is not a must-have to do this job, you can still do it using a long screw driver(top springs) and a pair of pliers(spring end caps) and this tool just makes it a little easier to do.
FYI, you may run into a problem sliding the rotors off of the parking brake shoes. On the inner side of the rotor (parking brake area), a ground-in lip forms over time and this can get hung up on the parking brake pad as you go to slide off the rotor. If this happens and from the rust you described on the rear rotors, you will have to forcibly remove the rotors. I'd bet the inner rotor surface and the parking brake hardware are all rusted up. This happened when I took off my old rear rotors and I had to use a pry bar and 3lb hammer to forcibly remove the rotors over the lip I mentioned above had formed. Work the pry bar between the rear of the rotor and backing plate and pry forward moving from side to side. Don't press hard against the backing plate, but find another, harder spot for leverage. You can use the hammer to carefully tap against the front of the rotor surface to loosen up the rust, avoid striking the wheel studs or you can damage the threads. Took me 30 minutes to get the one side off and about 10 minutes for the other. Once you get the rotor to move forward or off a little, you can spray some PB blaster back there to help loosen up the rest of it. May take you some time to get them off but they should come off.
Once you get the old rotors and brake shoes off, you may want to drill out the star wheel adjustment plate on the backing plate, that for some idiotic reason, Ford never tapped out at the factory like on vehicles in the past. Removing this plate will allow you to adjust the star wheel to tighten or loosen the new brake shoes from behind the rear of the backing plate and with the tires on the vehicle. You will have to buy a rubber grommet to plug up the hole when done to keep dirt and moisture from getting into the brake shoe/ inner rotor area. They also sell a "star wheel adjustment tool" as well for a few bucks. Some people use a flat head screwdriver to adjust the star wheel. Also, when you go to install the new star wheel bolt, apply anti-seize compound to the threads of the bolt. This will keep them from rusting up in the future and you will be able to adjust the brake shoes if ever needed. I suggest taking a photo of the exposed, old parking brake shoes still on the vehicle so you can see where the new brake hardware goes even though you have a shop manual handy.
Good luck, the rear parking brake shoes can be a PITA to do.