William H. Forster

William Hull "Bud" Forster Sr.

Early life and education Born in Shelby, Mississippi, Forster graduated from University of Alabama in 1960 with a B.S. degree in chemistry. He was commissioned through the Army ROTC program and assigned to the 91st Division while attending graduate school. Forster earned an Ph.D. degree in nuclear chemistry from the University of California, Davis in 1965. His doctoral thesis was entitled Cross section ratios of isobars from spallation reactions under varying conditions. He is also a graduate of the Armed Forces Staff College, the U.S. Naval Test Pilot School and the Air War College.

Military career Forster served two combat tours in Vietnam, where he commanded the 173rd Assault Helicopter Company and an air defense artillery unit. He was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross, two Bronze Star Medals and sixteen Air Medals.

After commanding the 10th Combat Aviation Battalion, Forster took on a series of aviation administration assignments. He served as program manager for both the Kiowa and Apache helicopters. Forster was designated the first Program Executive Officer Aviation from 1987 to 1988.

Additional awards Forster received the Secretary of Defense Superior Management Award for his work in support of the Army helicopter improvement program.

Personal Forster is the son of William O. H. "Bill" Forster (11 October 1904 – 23 January 1994) and Amy Hull Forster (2 June 1910 – 30 December 1983). He has a brother and a sister.

Forster was married to Belle Fair (Brown) Forster (4 February 1940 – 25 January 2021). They had two sons and two grandsons.

After his first marriage ended in divorce on 31 January 1995, Forster married Francine M. Forster.