Redmond V. Forrester

West Point, 1951

Be Thou At Peace

Posted by Jose A. "Andy" Chacon on October 14, 2008:

Redmond Vincent Forrester, Jr. Born November 8, 1927 - Died July 14, 2008 Redmond Vincent "Red" Forrester, Jr. was born in West Point, Georgia on 8 November 1927 and was appointed to West Point from the 4th Congressional District. His West Point classmates recall: "Red has the honored distinction of coming from West Point to West Point. A true Southerner, Red made the trip via North Georgia College, Millard's Prep, and the Air Force. The only complaints he has about Yankee land are the very cold weather and the very crowded subways. His pet loves are music and blondes. Red likes the Army and should have no trouble in his chosen profession." During his cadet days Red was a Hop Manager all four years; a manager on the Lacrosse Team plebe year and served on the Special Programs Committee plebe ear. He was a Cadet Corporal his second class year and held the rank of Cadet Lieutenant his first class year. Upon graduation, Red went in the Artillery and after completing the Basic Artillery Course at Fort Sill, Oklahoma reported to the 41st Field Artillery Battalion at Fort Benning, Georgia in 1951. In 1952, he was assigned to the 274th Field Artillery Battalion at Eilson AFB, Alaska. From there, he attended the Guided Missile Staff Officers Course at Fort Bliss, Texas and was subsequently assigned to the 1st Guided Missile Brigade at Fort Bliss, where he served as a battery commander from 1956 until 1958. Following attendance at the Artillery Officers Advanced Course, he was assigned to Headquarters, 7th Division Artillery in Korea and served until 1960. Red was awarded the Commendation Medal on completion of this tour. Upon his return to the States in 1960, He was assigned to the 1st Battle Group, First Infantry at the United States Military Academy where he served until 1963. In 1964 Red graduated from the Air Command and Staff College and then earned a Master of Public and International Affairs degree from the University of Pittsburgh graduating in December 1965. Following graduate school, Red's next assignment was to Office, Deputy Chief of Staff for Operations, Department of the Army where he served from 1966 to 1969 and was awarded the Legion of Merit for outstanding service. From 1969 to 1970 Red was assigned to the 4th Division Artillery, Republic of Vietnam serving as Battalion Commander, 2nd Battalion, 9th Artillery and later as division artillery S-3. He received the Silver Star; a second Legion of Merit, the Bronze Star Medal, 7 Air Medals and the Vietnamese Cross of Gallantry during his Vietnam tour. On return from Vietnam Red was assigned to Headquarters, Army Combat Development Command, Fort Belvoir, Virginia for a short time during 1970 before attending the Army War College, Carlisle Barracks, Pennsylvania where he graduated in 1971. His next assignment was on the Staff & Faculty of the Industrial College of the Armed Forces, Fort Lesley McNair where he served from 1971 to 1975 and was awarded the Meritorious Service Medal for meritorious performance of duty. (The writer was a student at ICAF class of 1973) From 1976 to 1977, Red served as Commanding Officer of the 210th Field Artillery Group in Germany and from there went to the United States Command in Berlin where he served as Chief of Staff until 1979. In 1979, He began a tour with Readiness Region 4 where he served as the Senior Army Advisor to the Mississippi National Guard until his retirement in 1981. Upon retirement, he was awarded a third Legion of Merit After retirement Red was named Deputy Director, Alcoholic Beverage Control Division of the Mississippi State Tax Commission. He left that job in 1984 and moved to Fort Walton Beach, Florida where he and his wife Patsy made their home.

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