Lt. Col. Ovid T. Forman

Biography and Wartime Service

Ovid Thomason Forman was born on May 6, 1902 in Poplar Grove Kentucky. He went tot the USMA at West Point as part of the class of 1924, entering the Academy in July 1920. Only four days after graduating on June 12, 1924 he married Ruth Hanks with whom he would have three children, two boys and a girl, Tom Jr, Jacqueline and Robert. His youngest son Robert would follow in his father's footsteps and was part of the USMA class of 1954. Robert Forman would later retire as an Army Major General.

Upon graduating from West Point, Ovid Forman chose the Coastal Artillery as his branch, reporting to Ft. Eustis, Virginia after his honeymoon. Because of his assignment to the Coast Artillery much of his service was spend overseas in places such as Panama, the Phillipines or Hawaii. December 7, 1941 found Tom on duty at Ft. Shafter in Pearl Harbor. He would remain there for a year after the attacks and return to the mainland US in 1943. Quickly thereafter he assumed command of the 45th AAA Group. With the 45th AAA Group he served in Normandy, Germany and most notably in Belgium during Operation Antwerp X.

After VE-Day, Lt. Colonel Forman would remain in Europe for two more years on different occupational assignments. Upon his return to the US he remained a part of the Anti Aircraft Artillery and assumed command of the 1st Guided Missile Group. At his retirement in 1954 Ovid Forman held a post at the Development and Test Section of the Army Field Forces. After a second career in engineering and a retirement to Florida with his wife, Ovid Forman passed on November 2, 1966. For his military service he received, among other awards, the Legion of Merit, British Distinguished Service Order, French Croix de Guerre, Belgian Croix de Guerre, Belgian Order of Leopold and Belgian Fourragere.

I had the pleasure of meeting with Charles Forman, his brother Robert 'Tede' Forman and cousin Tom Forman, Ovid's grandsons, for the occassion of the 75th Anniversary of Operation Antwerp X and the commemoration of the death of Frank Klepper in November 2019 in Putte, Belgium.

Gallery

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