Gary Luvell Forbes, Sr.

Lieutenant Colonel Gary Luvell Forbes, Sr. was born 24 January 1943 in rural Northeastern Oklahoma. He enlisted in the Army in 1962, serving two tours in Vietnam earning the Silver Star Medal with Oak Leaf Cluster, Bronze Star for Valor with three Oak Leaf Clusters, and the Purple Heart Medal with two Oak Leaf Clusters.

A graduate of Infantry Officer Candidate School and Airborne School, Forbes was a platoon commander in the Tiger Force (327th Infantry), 101st Airborne Division in Vietnam. He earned his first Silver Star on 15 May 1967 while commanding his battalion's reconnaissance platoon when a large enemy force attacked. Forbes and his men attacked the enemy. He was seriously wounded in the chest but refused medical aid. Singlehandedly, he assaulted an enemy emplacement, killing all the enemy soldiers. His great courage and leadership led to a rout of the larger enemy force. He would return to Vietnam in 1968 and again received a Silver Star for gallantry in combat action against the enemy.

Forbes graduated from Oklahoma State University, and is a graduate of the Army Command & General Staff College, and the Navy Command & Staff College. His other awards include the Vietnamese Cross of Gallantry (2 awards); Vietnam Service Medal (with 7 service stars); Meritorious Service Medal; Presidential Unit Citation; Meritorious Unit Citation; Combat Infantry Badge; and Parachutist Badge. LTC Forbes retired from the Army in 1982 to the family homestead in rural Oklahoma where he resides as a farmer, rancher, and small business owner.