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Personal info

Full name
FORREST, Bedford Hayne
Date of birth
27 September 1910
Age
34
Place of birth
Saluda, Saluda County, South Carolina
Hometown
Saluda County, South Carolina

Military service

Service number
O-292597
Rank
Lieutenant Colonel
Function
Battalion Commander
Unit
69th Tank Battalion,
6th Armored Division
Awards
Silver Star,
Legion of Merit,
Bronze Star with Oak Leaf Cluster,
Purple Heart

Death

Status
Killed in Action
Date of death
26 November 1944
Place of death
Forêt de Puttelange, France

Grave

Cemetery
American War Cemetery Lorraine
Plot Row Grave
C 21 51

Immediate family

Members
James M. Forrest (father)
Mattie L. (Stone) Forrest (mother)
Jennie M. Forrest (sister)

More information

Lt Col Bedford H. Forrest had been in service since February 1941 and left for overseas in February 1944.

The tanks were useless in the wooded area because they were unable to deploy. This situation prevented the tankers from offering supporting fire for the infantry without endangering their progress. Only the leading tank was positioned to offer supporting fire and then directly on the road. Friendly artillery caused no change in the amount of enemy fire Forrest's Task Force received, but tended to increase as the tankers inched forward. Quite miraculously Task Force Forrest's casualties were: one killed, fourteen wounded, and two reported missing in action. The one fatal casualty was Bedford H. Forrest who was killed by a mortar burst as he stood in the turret of his tank directing the withdrawal. The news stunned General Grow, who considered Forrest one of his best tank commanders.

He was first buried at the Temporary American Military Cemetery in Limey, France.

He is also remembered at the Emory United Methodist Church Cemetery in Saluda, Saluda County, South Carolina.

Source of information: Peter Schouteten, www.abmc.gov, www.wwiimemorial.com, www.ancestry.com - Headstone and Interment Record / 1930 Census, www.findagrave.com - Buddy / David Lyle, www.6th-armored-division-honor-roll.webnode.nl/bedford-h-forrest/
Photo source: www.findagrave.com - Robin Pellicci Moore / Anita O. Kinard