FORREST J. FRENCH, COL, USA

Forrest French '24

Date of birth: April 14, 1902

Date of death: March 8, 1944

Age: 41

Lucky Bag

From the 1924 Lucky Bag:

FORREST JAMES FRENCH

Toledo, Ohio

"Jim"

(STEALTHY entrance of our cop.)

"Hey, you light weight!"

"Who's a light weight?" Then a yelp, and, "I'm high man to-day, Dugan. You're easy."

Yes, that is "Jimmy, dear", and he's trying to calm down Dugan. What were they doing? Oh, shaking, of course; they always are.

That is enough to bring back "Jim" to those who know him and to make them recall his supple nature. "Comrade French", as P. Smith would say, "is one happy-go-lucky person," and just about the only one who made Second Class year without a murmur.

Oh, yes, the name "Sheik" fits him. Of course, he is one of those silent workers who just can't help being a blond and having blond characteristics. But wait a moment before you say that. He's from Ohio and that accounts for it. There, I knew you wouldn't.

Yes, indeed, girls, he has such beautiful hair!

"'Tis true, and pity 'tis 'tis true."

Extra Duty Squad (4, 3, 2, 1); Radiator Club (4, 3, 2, 1).

FORREST JAMES FRENCH

Toledo, Ohio

"Jim"

(STEALTHY entrance of our cop.)

"Hey, you light weight!"

"Who's a light weight?" Then a yelp, and, "I'm high man to-day, Dugan. You're easy."

Yes, that is "Jimmy, dear", and he's trying to calm down Dugan. What were they doing? Oh, shaking, of course; they always are.

That is enough to bring back "Jim" to those who know him and to make them recall his supple nature. "Comrade French", as P. Smith would say, "is one happy-go-lucky person," and just about the only one who made Second Class year without a murmur.

Oh, yes, the name "Sheik" fits him. Of course, he is one of those silent workers who just can't help being a blond and having blond characteristics. But wait a moment before you say that. He's from Ohio and that accounts for it. There, I knew you wouldn't.

Yes, indeed, girls, he has such beautiful hair!

"'Tis true, and pity 'tis 'tis true."

Extra Duty Squad (4, 3, 2, 1); Radiator Club (4, 3, 2, 1).

Loss

Forrest was lost on March 8, 1944 when the plane he was aboard crashed in New Guinea. He was commanding officer of the Army's 10th Antiaircraft Group.

Other Information

From researcher Kathy Franz:

In June, 1921, Forrest was at the University of Cincinnati doing duty training with the ROTC.
He married Dorothy Ann Deatrick of Washington in June, 1924, at Annapolis.
In September, he was at Fort Eustis, and in 1925, he was a second lieutenant assigned to Btry E. Mch. In December, 1926, he was in the 4th Coast Artillery, Fort Amador, Canal Zone.
On June 5, 1929, he left for Btry “A” 4th C. A., and in 1930, he was at Fort Monroe, Chesapeake, Virginia.
He returned to the University of Cincinnati for ROTC training in April, 1931. In July, he returned to Fort Sheridan, Illinois.
In August, 1932, he was at Fortress Monroe in Virginia, and in December 1933, he was a first lieutenant there.
In June, 1937, he was a captain commanding Battery “C” for the 60th Coast Artillery at Fort Mills, Philippines.
In September 1938, he became the captain of Battery “B” 13th C. A., Fort Barrancas, Florida. On January 12, 1939, at Fort Picks, Forrest was in charge of the firing of the 155 millimeter, subcaliber seacoast guns. The firing was held in connection with the training of Thompson act reserve officers undergoing a year’s training at Fort Barrancas.
At that time, Battery B had six officers and 104 enlisted members. It was a coast artillery harbor defense battery manning four 155 mm. guns and three, mobile anti-aircraft guns. It was originally organized as Beall’s company, 2nd Regiment of Artillerist and Engineers in 1799.
On Thursday, April 13, 1939, Battery B fired its 30-calibre anti-aircraft guns, and on May 16, 1940, they fired a record practice with the danger area extending 17,000 yards seaward.
In the 1940 census, Forrest, his wife, daughter Mary, and son Forrest lived on Fort Barrancas. His wife’s mother died at their home on March 2, 1940.
Forrest was a Major in 1941. In February 1943 he was one of the escorts for Mrs. Eleanor Roosevelt on her visit to Fort Barrancas and the old Fort San Carlos.
In June 1943, he was stationed in Orlando to form a searchlight group trained in antiaircraft defense. In September he was sent overseas.
Forrest was a graduate of the Coast Artillery and staff and command school at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas.
His father Joseph King French, who was an engraver and traveling salesman for an engraving company, died in May, 1933. Forrest’s mother Isabelle died in December, 1960. His sister was Beatrice. Forrest's twin brother was Edward, and their brother was Fred.

From Find A Grave:

Published in THE TOLEDO BLADE, TOLEDO, OHIO, Internet Edition, THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 17, 1949, PAGE THIRTY-SEVEN
COL. FORREST J. FRENCH
Services for Col. Forrest J. French, formerly of Toledo, killed in an airplane crash March 8, 1944, while returning from an inspection of the area under his command in New Guinea, will be at 10:30 a.m. tomorrow in Arlington National Cemetery, Va.
He will be buried beside his brother, Capt. Fred G. French, who died in 1937.
A graduate of the U.S. Naval Academy, Annapolis, Colonel French transferred to the Coast Artillery Corps of the regular Army and was commanding officer of the 10th Antiaircraft group. He was presented posthumously with the Legion of Honor in 1945. His brother also was a graduate of Annapolis and had transferred to the Coast Artillery.
Colonel French was a member of Ashland Ave. Baptist Church and Boaz Lodge, F & AM, Toledo.
Surviving are a daughter, Mary, and son, Forrest, both of Philadelphia; mother, Mrs. Isabelle French; sister, Mrs. Beatrice K. Baird, and nephew, Joseph L. Baird, all of Toledo, and a twin brother, Edward, of Detroit.

He is buried in Arlington National Cemetery. His son seems to have served in the Army as well; he was a Major in Vietnam in 1968.

Family

As mentioned in the article above, his brother Fred was an alumni of the Naval Academy (Class of 1915); however, Fred did not graduate. He was physically disqualified and had to resign only days before graduation. He died in Washington, D.C. of an illness.