Eugene Forrester

Lieutenant General Eugene Priest Forrester (April 17, 1926 – July 25, 2012) was a senior officer in the United States Army. He served as commander of United States Army Western Command from 1981 until his retirement in 1983.

Education

Forrester graduated from the United States Military Academy at West Point, New York in 1948, where he was a classmate of Alexander Haig. He also earned a Master of International Studies from George Washington University and a Legum Doctor from Chung Ang University in Korea. His military schooling includes the Armed Forces Staff College, the British Army Staff College and the National War College.

Military career Following graduation from West Point in 1948, Forrester had an additional year of infantry training before being assigned to the 350th Infantry Regiment, U.S. Forces - Austria. There he served two years (1950 -1952) as a platoon leader, company commander, and finally as aide to Major General Paul Wilkins Kendall, the commanding general of the U.S. Zone in Austria.

In June 1952, Forrester accompanied Kendall to South Korea, continuing to serve as his aide until October 1952. Forrester was then given command of Company E, 2nd Battalion, 9th Infantry Regiment, 2nd Infantry Division. The company occupied outposts and conducted company combat raids against North Korean and Chinese forces in the area around Old Baldy and Pork Chop Hill. In March 1953, Forrester's company was attacked while in the middle of a unit night rotation of the outpost on Little Gibraltar. He rallied several platoons and led a night counterattack that after several hours of battle, recovered control of the outpost.

Forrester was selected for early promotion to colonel, and in February 1968 he was given command of the 3rd Brigade, 4th Infantry Division. Forrester led the brigade in operations on the coast and in the mountains of Central Vietnam where, among other awards, he was awarded the Silver Star for gallantry in action. This was followed by another tour on the Army staff in the Pentagon as executive officer to the Army Vice Chief Staff (1969 -1970). A very brief awards ceremony was held before his departure on leave from the division. It was a rushed affair at which several medals were presented without reading the citations to Forrester. Among the awards was a second Silver Star. Following his return from leave, Forrester continued to serve in his position at CORDS.