George Randall Forbus

1974581

United States Marine Corps

15 May 1961 - 15 June 1977

 

 

           

 

Boot Camp:

Platoon 234, MCRD Sand Diego, California

Highest Rank:

Gunnery Sergeant (E-7)

 

Schools:

 Infantry Training Regiment, Camp San Onofree, Ca.

              Radio Telegraph Operator, Camp Hansen, Okinawa, Japan

              Non Commissioned Officer School, Albany, Georgia

              Nuclear, Biological & Chemical Warfare School, Albany, Georgia

              Jungle Warfare School Albany, Georgia

              Airborne School, Fort Benning, Georgia

              Communications Center Chief’s School, MCRD San Diego, Ca.**

                                    (**Graduated with 98.9 Average)

  Automatic Digital Network, MCSC, Albany Ga.

                          Marine Corps Institute, The Marine Non-Commissioned Officer

                          Marine Corps Institute, Infantry Tactics

              Marine Corps Institute, Antenna Construction and Radio Wave Propagation

              Marine Corps Institute, Forward Observation

  Marine Corps Institute, Crater Analysis

              USAFI-Peperdine University - English Composition

                                                           

MOS: 

            (2533) Radio Telegraph Operator

                        (2541) Teletype Operator

                        (2539) Radio Chief

                        (2549) Communication Center Chief

                        (8662) Marine Paratrooper

                        (0849) Naval Gunfire Spotter

                        Forward Air Controller

           

Weapons Qualifications/familiarization:

                        Rifle Expert (M1 Garand)

                        Rifle Expert (M-14)

            Rifle Expert (M-16)

            Pistol Expert (M1911A1 .45 Cal)

                        Browning Automatic Rifle

                        Flame Thrower

                        M79 Grenade Launcher

                        3.5” Rocket Launcher

           

           

Awards:

            Navy Commendation Medal with Combat “V”

            Combat Action Ribbon

            Presidential Unit Citation

            Good Conduct Medal (5 Awards)

            National Defense Medal

            Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal

            Vietnam Service Medal (4 Awards)

            Navy/Marine Corps Overseas Medal

            Cross of Gallantry w/Palm

            Vietnam Campaign Medal

                        Gold Navy/Marine Corps Paratrooper Wings

                        Silver Army Paratrooper Wings

            Rifle Expert Badge

            Pistol Expert Badge

            4 Service Stripes (Hash Marks)

            Letter of Appreciation (Airborne School)                           

           

Duty Stations:

Staging Battalion, San Diego, Ca

                        3^rd Service Battalion, Camp Butler/McTouris, Okinawa, Japan

                        2^nd Landing Support Company Camp Butler, Okinawa, Japan

                        3^rd Amtrac Battalion, Camp Pendleton, Ca.

                        Marine Corp Supply Center, Albany, Ga.

                        3^rd Force Service Regiment, Camp Sukiran, Okinawa, Japan

                        3^rd Bn, 12^th Marines, Chu Lai, Vietnam

                        3^rd Bn, 12^th Marines, Phu Bai, Vietnam

                                    (Attached to 2nd Bn. 4th Inf. Regt.)

                        3^rd Bn, 12^th Marines, Dong Ha, Vietnam

                        Air Naval Gunfire Liaison Co. Camp Lejeune, N.C.

                        Guantamino Bay, Cuba

                        Fort Benning, Ga.

                        Vieques, Puerto Rico

                        8^th Communications Bn, Camp Lejeune, N.C.

                        2^nd Bn, 11^th Marines, An Hoa, Vietnam

                        Base Communications, Camp Lejeune, N.C.

                        Marine Air Group -16, Iwakuni, Japan

                        Marine Wing Service Group-17, Iwakuni, Japan

                        Wing Equipment Repair Squadron-17, Iwakuni Japan

                        Marine Air Group-26, New River, N.C.

                        Station Communication New River, N.C.

 

Operations During Vietnam:

Operation Double Eagle

OperationDouble Eagle II

                        Operation Starlite

                        Operation Durham Peak

                        Operation Hastings

                        Operation Texas

                                                

 

Rifle Inspection, MCRD San Diego

                 

 

 

                                               

 

 

 

 

Pfc G. R. Forbus and Wife Delores Patricia

 

    

                         3rd Amtrac Bn, Camp Delmar, Camp Pendleton     Chu Lai Area, South Vietnam

 

Cpl. Forbus, Wife Patty, & Dau. Debbie

 

 

Phu Bai, South Vietnam

 

An Hoa Vietnam

Home of 2nd Battalion 5th Marine Regiment

           

Ssgt. G. R. Forbus in Bunker in Que Son Mountains, South Vietnam

 

                                                                                   

                                                                                     

Dong Ha Ammo Dump Explosion

                                                                                   

McNamara's Strip or Trace.  A stupid idea

That cost many a Marine his life.

The Gulf of Tonkin is at the top of the picture

And North Vietnam to the left of the

Trace

 

GySgt. Forbus, Iwakuni Japan

 

Randy & Wife New Year's Dance 1985

 

Randy & Grandson Jonathan Wayne

Randy & Grandson Jordan McLin

 

            

L to R. Son John, Me, Son Stephen,

Father-in-law Johnny, son Gerald

 

Son Gerald, daughter Debbie, Daughter Joanna

Son John, Son Stephen

Son John, and Me 2002

                          

                        The whole clan

 

                                         

                                                                         Son, John in the Gulf War                                            Granddaughter Olivia

 

                               

                                                                          Granddaughter Christine Diane                              Grandson Gerald Ross Jr.

 

l to R - Son Steve & Jerry in Clan Dress

 

                                              

 

 

BIOGRAPHY

 

After completion of boot camp and ITR, I was sent to Staging Battalion Camp Pendleton where

we staged for further movement to Okinawa.  We boarded the “Billy Mitchell” at the Navy

Base San Diego and sailed to Okinawa.  Upon arrival I was sent to 3rd Service Battalion Camp

Butler/McTouris and assigned to the Communications section.  In a couple of months I was  sent

to Camp Hansen were I went to school to become a radiotelegraph operator.  After graduation I

returned to H&S Company 3rd Svc Bn, and was later transferred to 2nd Landing Support company.

After completing my tour in Okinawa I returned to the States and went on leave.  At this

time (2 February 1963) I married Delores Patricia Hamill.  We then went to Camp Pendleton

where I was stationed with 3rd Amtrac Battalion.  While here I was promoted to Lance

Corporal and later to Corporal.  In 1964 I re-enlisted and was transferred To Marine Corps

Supply Center Albany Georgia.  There being no radio section at MCSC Albany, I was cross

trained in Message Center as a Teletype Operator, and off-line cryptographer.  I attended

NCO, and Nuclear Biological and Chemical Warfare school.  By this time we had four

children.  One daughter, Deborah Lynn, a set of twins, John & Jerry, and one son Stephen.

In 1965 I was transferred to Ground Forces Westpac and sent to Okinawa.  At first I was

sent to 3rd F.S.R. Camp Sukiran Okinawa, then forwarded on to Vietnam.  Here I served

with 3rd Battalion, 12th Marines in Chu Lai.  I was assigned to the Naval Gunfire Section. 

While with “Gunsmoke” I was promoted to Sergeant.  Although carried on the rolls as 3rd

Bn, 12th Marines we were sent out with the various Infantry Regiments, (4th Marines,

3rd Marines, & 7th Marines) As Naval Gunfire Spotters.  It seemed like we were constantly

on one operation of another, so many that I don’t remember half of them nor the areas we

were in.  Mostly chasing V.C. and very few fights with the N.V.A.  Later the 4th Marines

and 3rd Bn 12th Marines were moved North to the Phu Bai area.  While here it was decided

to billet Naval Gunfire with the 4th Marines and keep the administrative records with the

Artillery.  We didn’t pull as many operations here as at Chu Lai, but the ones we did go on

were almost always against the N.V.A.   Nearing the end of my tour I was transferred to

Whiskey Battery 3/12 as the Communications chief.  Later with about 3 weeks to go on

my tour I was transferred back to Battalion.  Here I had no duties, nor anyone to report

to on a daily basis, so I began hopping on choppers and taking the mail up to Dong Ha where

Whiskey Battery had moved, and also to the Rock Pile when they moved there.

Returning to the States I was sent to Camp LeJeune where I was assigned to Air

Naval Gunfire Liaison Company.  Platoons in this unit were called Brigades because

they supported regular Brigades.  While here I was promoted to Staff Sergeant and

attended Airborne School at Fort Benning Georgia, and cross trained in Naval Gunfire

and Forward Air Controlling.  We spent time in Guantamino Bay Cuba, and I was

later sent to Vieques Puerto Rico as Communications Chief.  Shortly after returning

from Vieques I was transferred to 8th Communications Battalion as Radio Chief.

Shortly thereafter in 1969, I was transferred back to Ground Forces WestPac (Viet Nam)

I was stationed in An Hoa with 2nd Battalion 11th Marines, Foxtrot Battery as

Communications Chief.  We were in support of the 5th Marine Regiment.  Later

after loosing both the Battalion Communications Chief and Communications Officer

I was sent to Battalion to take over those duties.  Returning to the States in 1970

I was sent to Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune in the Base Radio Section.  Finally

begging my was back into Communications Center, I was a Watch Officer for the

Base Communications Center.  I was sent to MCRD San Diego Calif.  to attend

Communications Center Chief School.  At graduation I had set the scholastic record

for the school, graduating with a 98.9 average over 13 sub-courses.  Returning to

Base Communications I was transferred in 1972 to Iwakuni Japan.  Assigned

to Mag-17, MWSG-17 as a Communications Center Chief.  I was promoted

to Gunnery Sergeant in 1973.  Returning to the States I was sent to MCAF

New River to MAG-26 as a Radio Chief, and later sent to Base Communications

as Communications Center Chief.  In 1977 I made a decision to get out of

the Marine Corps and returned to Corpus Christi, Texas.  Working at

first for a Bowling Lane, and later 16 years in the auto Industry.  In 1996

I went to work for Coastal Bend Intergroup Association and plan to retire

next year (April 2005) The wife being already retired from Del Mar

College in December 2004.  At this time the wife and I have been married for

42 years.  We have five children, Deborah Lynn, Gerald Ross, John Jerome,

Stephen Carl and Joanna Marie.  We have 8 Grandchildren.  Christine Diane,

Jonathan Wayne, Gerald Ross Jr., Thomas Francis, Jordan McLin, Gabriel,

Michael, Olivia Matilde.