Robert C. Forbes

Robert Charles Forbes was a United States Army Major General who served as commander of the 199th Light Infantry Brigade during the Vietnam War.

Robert C. Forbes
Born(1917-07-17)July 17, 1917
Camden, New Jersey
DiedMarch 18, 2002 (2002-03-19) (aged 84)
Buried
AllegianceUnited States of America
Service/branch United States Army
Years of service1938–1973
Rank Major General
Commands held199th Light Infantry Brigade
Battles/warsWorld War II
Vietnam War
AwardsDistinguished Service Medal
Silver Star
Legion of Merit
Bronze Star

Early life and education

He attended William Penn High School and then graduated from the University of Pennsylvania in 1939.

Military service

World War II

He served with the 63rd Infantry Division seeing action in France and Germany.

Post WWII

Forbes was promoted to Brigadier General in July 1966 and appointed assistant division commander of the 9th Infantry Division.[1]

Vietnam War

BG Forbe deployed to South Vietnam with the 9th Infantry Division in December 1966. He was then reassigned to be chief of staff of II Field Force, Vietnam.[1]

In September 1967 when BG John F. Freund was wounded on operations, Forbes was given command of the 199th Light Infantry Brigade and commanded that unit until May 1968.[1]

During the Tet Offensive Forbes led his Brigade in ejecting the Viet Cong from Saigon.[2]

Post Vietnam

From September 1968 to September 1969 he served as commander of United States Army Security Assistance Command.

He retired from the Army in 1973.

Personal life

He married Anne Catherine Eckenrode in 1942 and they had 3 sons and a daughter.

References

 This article incorporates public domain material from websites or documents of the United States Army Center of Military History.

  1. Tonsetic, Robert (2010). Warriors: An Infantryman's Memoir of Vietnam. Random House Publishing Group. p. 18. ISBN 9780307434722.
  2. Villard, Erik (2017). United States Army in Vietnam Combat Operations Staying the Course October 1967 to September 1968. Center of Military History United States Army. p. 567. ISBN 9780160942808.
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