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Forrest, Gerald (39228276): Difference between revisions

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|first=Gerald
|first=Gerald
|class_section=5A
|class_section=5A
|class_rank=T/5
|class_rank=Technician Fifth Grade
|birth_year=1918
|birth_year=1918
|death_year=2013
|death_year=2013
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|photo=5907724922582713.jpg
|photo=5907724922582713.jpg
|death_date=14 May 2013
|death_date=14 May 2013
|birth_place=Berlin, Germany on July 12
|birth_place=Berlin, Germany
|death_place=Los Angeles, California
|birth_date=12 July 1918
|alias=Jerry Forrest; Feigenbaum
|division=10th Armored Division
|rank_final=Technician Fifth Grade
|awards=Bronze Star; Purple Heart
|awards_grid=Bronze Star;;Purple Heart
|awards_ribbons=Ribbon_Bronze_Star_Medal_ribbon.png;Ribbon_Purple_Heart_ribbon.png
|awards_ribbon_rows=Ribbon_Bronze_Star_Medal_ribbon.png;;Ribbon_Purple_Heart_ribbon.png
}}
}}


<div class="soldier-lead">
<div class="soldier-lead">
'''[[Forrest, Gerald (39228276)|Gerald Forrest]]''' (1918 – 14 May 2013) was a Ritchie Boy (from Germany; Protestant) who trained at Camp Ritchie in class 12.
'''[[Forrest, Gerald (39228276)|Gerald Forrest]]''' (12 July 1918 – 14 May 2013), born Feigenbaum, was a Berlin-born Ritchie Boy (Class 12) who landed on Utah Beach with the 10th Armored Division and later received the Bronze Star and Purple Heart.
</div>
</div>


== Biography ==
== Biography ==
His parents, as well as Gerald and his brother Henry were forced to leave Germany in 1933 due to rise of the Nazi Party. Gerald passed away on May 14, 2013, at age 94 Born in Berlin, Germany on July 12, 1918. Henry left by bicycle, while their parents left by train, reuniting with long time friends in Paris. From there, they traveled to Scotland, where Jerry learned English. As his parents emigrated to the US, Jerry went to live in the Palestine Protectorate on a moshav near Gedera. In 1939, Jerry once more reunited with his parents in New York, where he enlisted in the US Army and was quickly inducted into US Army Combat Intelligence. He trained, among many other Europeans at Camp Ritchie, MD, becoming one of the famed "Ritchie Boys" who interrogated prisoners of war. He then returned to England with the other Ritchie Boys for the upcoming invasion. On June 6, 1944 he landed on Utah Beach, and made his way across Europe with the 10th Armored Division. Campaigns included the Battle of the Bulge, and in the liberation of the Dachau Concentration Camp near Munich at the end of the war. Recognition for his contributions included the Bronze Star and the Purple Heart. Returning to the US at the end of the war in Europe, he rejoined his family in Los Angeles to work in the family business. In the early 1980s, he returned to Israel, working to repair tanks for the Israeli Defense Forces.
Gerald Forrest was born Gerald Feigenbaum on 12 July 1918 in Berlin to Leopold and Else Feigenbaum. After the Nazi rise to power in 1933 he and his brother Henry fled by bicycle while their parents left by train, reuniting friends in Paris before moving on to Scotland, where Jerry learned English. While his parents emigrated to the United States he lived on a moshav near Gedera in Mandatory Palestine, then rejoined the family in New York in 1939.
 
He enlisted, trained at Camp Ritchie (Class 12), returned to England for the invasion buildup, and landed on Utah Beach on 6 June 1944 with the 10th Armored Division. His campaigns included the Battle of the Bulge and the liberation of Dachau. He received the Bronze Star and the Purple Heart.
 
After the war he lived in Los Angeles, worked in the family business and aerospace, spent time in Israel repairing tanks for the IDF in the early 1980s, then ran a woodworking business until retirement. He died on 14 May 2013 at age 94.


== Research notes ==
== Research notes ==
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== Timeline ==
<div class="mw-collapsible mw-collapsed soldier-timeline">
<div class="soldier-timeline-body">
* 12 July 1918 — Born in Berlin (Feigenbaum).
* 1933 — Fled Germany via Paris and Scotland; moshav near Gedera; to New York 1939.
* Camp Ritchie Class 12 — POW interrogation training.
* 6 June 1944 — Utah Beach; 10th Armored Division; Bulge; Dachau liberation.
* Awards — Bronze Star; Purple Heart.
* Postwar — Los Angeles; early-1980s Israel tank repair; woodworking business.
* 14 May 2013 — Died, age 94.
</div>
</div><div style="clear: both;"></div>


== Sources ==
== Sources ==
* Camp Ritchie class roster (classes 1–31), merged research file
* [https://www.legacy.com/us/obituaries/latimes/name/gerald-forrest-obituary?id=18349684 Legacy / Los Angeles Times — Gerald Forrest]
* New York Times, 22 May 2013 — paid death notice for Gerald Forrest (RB Archive ProQuest PDF; private copy, not uploaded)
* Camp Ritchie Museum, Inc. (The Ritchie History Museum), Classes 1–31 roster data
* Dan Gross research spreadsheets, including original Excel timeline/roster work, combined with other research and records
* NARA World War II Army enlistment records (where a NARA ASN is present)
* NARA World War II Army enlistment records (where a NARA ASN is present)
* 1940 U.S. Census (where a census match is present)
* 1940 U.S. Census (where a census match is present)
* Ritchie Boys of WWII Facebook page, post dated 2022-11-30 (1 post)
* Ritchie Boys of WWII Facebook page, post dated 2022-11-30 (1 post)

Latest revision as of 19:30, 16 September 2026

Gerald Forrest
Gerald Forrest
Personal details
Birth nameJerry Forrest Feigenbaum
Born12 July 1918
Berlin, Germany
Died14 May 2013
Los Angeles, California
NativityGermany
ReligionProtestant
AwardsBronze Star; Purple Heart
Military service
Allegiance United States
Branch United States Army
ASN39228276
RankTechnician Fifth Grade
Camp RitchieClass 12 (27 September – 25 November 1943)
Section5A
EnlistedLos Angeles, California
Unit / division10th Armored Division
Awards and honors
Bronze Star Purple Heart
Research notes on this page are compiled from the source file and later edits. They may be unverified, incomplete, or incorrect, and should not be treated as established fact. Please correct the article or add sources on the talk page. For class-roster terms, see About the data.
Sources & confidence: Treat Research notes as leads, not settled fact. Prefer NARA, the class roster, newspapers, Find a Grave, or published histories for contested claims. Mark unsourced claims with {{Needs source}}, or explain disagreements on talk. Baseline import notes: About the data.


Gerald Forrest (12 July 1918 – 14 May 2013), born Feigenbaum, was a Berlin-born Ritchie Boy (Class 12) who landed on Utah Beach with the 10th Armored Division and later received the Bronze Star and Purple Heart.

Biography[edit | edit source]

Gerald Forrest was born Gerald Feigenbaum on 12 July 1918 in Berlin to Leopold and Else Feigenbaum. After the Nazi rise to power in 1933 he and his brother Henry fled by bicycle while their parents left by train, reuniting friends in Paris before moving on to Scotland, where Jerry learned English. While his parents emigrated to the United States he lived on a moshav near Gedera in Mandatory Palestine, then rejoined the family in New York in 1939.

He enlisted, trained at Camp Ritchie (Class 12), returned to England for the invasion buildup, and landed on Utah Beach on 6 June 1944 with the 10th Armored Division. His campaigns included the Battle of the Bulge and the liberation of Dachau. He received the Bronze Star and the Purple Heart.

After the war he lived in Los Angeles, worked in the family business and aerospace, spent time in Israel repairing tanks for the IDF in the early 1980s, then ran a woodworking business until retirement. He died on 14 May 2013 at age 94.

Research notes[edit | edit source]

Technical record[edit | edit source]

Field Imported value
Approx Age at Death 95
Nara ASN 39228276
Nara Name FORREST GERALD
Nara State 91
Nara County 37
Nara POE 9141
Nara DOE 270241
Nara Grade Alpha PVT
Nara Grade Code 8
Nara Branch Alpha BI
Nara Branch Code 0
Branch Branch Immaterial - Warrant Officers, USA
Nara Term or Enlistment 6
Term of enlistment Enlistment for the Panama Canal Department
Defer. Date 0
Nara Source 0
Nara Nativity N1
Nara Year of Birth 18
Nara Race J
Nara Race Description White not yet a citizen
Nara Education 5
Nara Civilian Occupation 475
Nara Marital Status 6
Nara Height (inches) 73
Nara Weight (lbs) 155
Class_ASN 39228276
Class_Name FORREST, Gerald
match_method asn_exact_name_exact
row_source both

Timeline[edit | edit source]

  • 12 July 1918 — Born in Berlin (Feigenbaum).
  • 1933 — Fled Germany via Paris and Scotland; moshav near Gedera; to New York 1939.
  • Camp Ritchie Class 12 — POW interrogation training.
  • 6 June 1944 — Utah Beach; 10th Armored Division; Bulge; Dachau liberation.
  • Awards — Bronze Star; Purple Heart.
  • Postwar — Los Angeles; early-1980s Israel tank repair; woodworking business.
  • 14 May 2013 — Died, age 94.

Sources[edit | edit source]

  • Legacy / Los Angeles Times — Gerald Forrest
  • New York Times, 22 May 2013 — paid death notice for Gerald Forrest (RB Archive ProQuest PDF; private copy, not uploaded)
  • Camp Ritchie Museum, Inc. (The Ritchie History Museum), Classes 1–31 roster data
  • Dan Gross research spreadsheets, including original Excel timeline/roster work, combined with other research and records
  • NARA World War II Army enlistment records (where a NARA ASN is present)
  • 1940 U.S. Census (where a census match is present)
  • Ritchie Boys of WWII Facebook page, post dated 2022-11-30 (1 post)
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