The oil business led his father to move the family to Houston, Texas; Saginaw, Michigan; and Olney, Illinois.

At Olney High School, he was a scholar and an athlete, joining the National Honor Society and playing varsity basketball and football.

In his Third Class year, at the "Hop" dance party, Forrest met Patricia Smith of Long Beach, New York, whom he married in July 1949 after graduation.

From Forrest's Silver Star citations: "Courageously gathering his six remaining men, he briefed them on his plan of surprise action to rout the enemy group.

He completed the Infantry Advanced Course, Ranger, Airborne and other schools, was assigned to the Pentagon, and graduated from the United States Army War College.

In 1979 he took command of First United States Army at Fort Meade, Maryland and led the military's response and logistical support during the 1980 Cuban refugee crisis.

His final assignment in July 1981 was as Deputy Commander-in-Chief, United States Army Europe at Heidelberg, Germany, where he retired after 33 years of active duty on August 11, 1983.