Home > United States of America > Nebraska > Fillmore County > Fairmont > Fairmont Cemetery > 2LT Earl Forbes

2LT Earl Forbes

Birth	:	16 Mar 1890 Hyde, Washington County, Colorado, USA
Death	:	6 Sep 1918 France
Burial	:	Fairmont Cemetery, Fairmont, Fillmore County, USA
Coordinate	:	40.6267014, -97.5674973
Plot	:	Blk 12 Lot 2 Memorial Stone
Description	:	Earl Forbes was born at Hyde, Colorado, March 16, 1890. The family moved to Nebraska in 1897. Earl began his education in the district school near the old home place. In 1906 he attended the U.B. Collage at York one semester, later on entering the high school at Fairmont, from which he graduated with the class of 1910. He took a course in Stenography at the Northwestern Business College at Beatrice, Nebraska in 1912. Soon after this, he matriculated with the University of Nebraska, graduating from the College of Agriculture in 1916. The following year... Read More	Earl Forbes was born at Hyde, Colorado, March 16, 1890. The family moved to Nebraska in 1897. Earl began his education in the district school near the old home place. In 1906 he attended the U.B. Collage at York one semester, later on entering the high school at Fairmont, from which he graduated with the class of 1910. He took a course in Stenography at the Northwestern Business College at Beatrice, Nebraska in 1912. Soon after this, he matriculated with the University of Nebraska, graduating from the College of Agriculture in 1916. The following year he taught with gratifying success, the Science Department of the high school of Columbus, Nebraska. American had joined in the great effort to defeat the cruel designs of the madman of Europe. It was inevitable even had there been no draft law put into operation, that Earl Forbes would early find a place in the great struggle. He accordingly enlisted in the Aviation Corps, leaving home September 6, 1917, for Austin, Texas, whither he had been ordered by the government. He took two months of ground work, in training to be a pilot, at the University of Texas. He was sent from there to France. While waiting in France for orders, a call came to the Concentration Camp for volunteers to train for Observers in the Air Service. The cadets were instructed that the work was of the upmost importance. Earl was the only one of his squadron to enlist. He was commissioned Second Lieutenant, May 12. After training and studying in a machine gun school, and in two bombing schools, he was sent near the Front September 9, and assigned to the 20th Aero Squadron, and given a place with the First Army, First Day Bombardment Group. Concerning the tragedy of his death a brother officer has written in part, as follows: "I considered him (Earl) one of my best friends. The 20th Aero Squadron began operations at the opening of the St. Mihiel offensive. We used Liberty De-Haviland Plane and did day bombing. Lieutenants Forbes and Harris were reported missing on September 26, supposedly shot down over Dun-sur-Meuse. Our Formation was attacked by a much larger number of enemy machines, and although we put up a good fight, there were too many of them, and only two of us got back." The work of the Bombardment Group with which Earl was identified, received the warmest commendations from the Chief of the Air Service. For a time Earl's fate was unknown. From recent information received by Mrs. Forbes through the American Red Cross, there is no doubt that when his machine was shot down, it carried our intrepid hero to immediate death. The writer of this information says, "Nothing in the history of this war compares with the glorious heroism of our brave young aviators, and to you, who have paid the price of the sacrifice, all homage is due." Aviator Merrian C. Cooper, who furnished the information to the American Red Cross, and who was in the same squadron, his machine going down in flames, but who survived, spending two months in a German prison, reports also that Earl's resting place is in the Military Cemetery Pierrpont, southeast of Longuyon in France, not far from the German frontier. Earl was an unusually strong, manly boy. He professed faith in Christ in the summer of 1911, and the following winter united with the Methodist Episcopal church of Beatrice. He was active in the work for statewide prohibition, circulating petitions, speaking here and there, and in every way seeking to save his fellows from the bondage to alcohol. He was active in his religious life, teaching a class in Sunday school and endeavoring literally to "Let his light so shine before men that they, seeing his good works might glorify his Father in Heaven." A brave, true, generous hero has fallen. In twenty-eight short years his great big task has been achieved. With tender devotion to his memory, we bring our tribute of loving affection at this time. Thank God, he died not in vain. The shedding of his rich, warm blood, with that of other millions of brave men, was the only means by which the dark shadow of the Hun could be obliterated from the earth. He had done his part. His deeds are imperishable. Memorial services were held at the Methodist church of Fairmont, Sunday afternoon, Rev. J.P. Yost, pastor of the church having charge. Rev. L.R. DeWolf, pastor of the M.E. church of Superior, Nebraska, delivered the Memorial address. The Masons attended in a body, and they, together with returned soldiers in uniform, formed a Guard of Honor for the relatives of the deceased. A quartet, Mrs. Dewey, Mrs. Goodrich, Mr. Kelley and Mr. Bender, furnished beautiful music. A very impressive part of the services was the placing of a gold star on the Community Service Flag by a younger brother of the dead hero, while Mr. William Aldrich sang "When the Blue Star Turns to Gold." The floral offerings were very beautiful. Earl leaves to mourn his loss, a father, mother, two sisters, Gail of Fairmont and Mrs. L.C. Crittenden of Beatrice, and three brothers, Dwight, Richard and Erwin, Jr., all of Fairmont. Fillmore Chronicle (Fairmont) February 14th, 1919 page 7. ------------------------------- World War I, 2nd Lieut., 20th Aero SQDN, killed in action over Pierrepont. Buried in St. Mihiel Cemetery in France.

frequently asked questions (FAQ):

Where is 2LT Earl Forbes's memorial?
2LT Earl Forbes's memorial is located at: Fairmont Cemetery, Fairmont, Fillmore County, USA.
When did 2LT Earl Forbes death?
2LT Earl Forbes death on 6 Sep 1918 in France
Where are the coordinates of the 2LT Earl Forbes's memorial?
Latitude: 40.6267014
Longitude: -97.5674973

Family Members:

Parent

Erwin McComb Forbes

(1860 - 1930)

Jeanie B. Badger Forbes

(1865 - 1937)

Siblings

Dwight W. Forbes

(1899 - 1960)

Flowers:

Nearby Cemetories:

1. Fairmont Cemetery
Fairmont, Fillmore County, USA
Coordinate: 40.6267014, -97.5674973

2. Fairmont Catholic Cemetery
Fairmont, Fillmore County, USA
Coordinate: 40.6394005, -97.5689011

3. Roe Cemetery
Fairmont, Fillmore County, USA
Coordinate: 40.6912000, -97.5955000

4. Horton Cemetery
Exeter, Fillmore County, USA
Coordinate: 40.6911011, -97.5025024

5. Geneva Cemetery
Geneva, Fillmore County, USA
Coordinate: 40.5359900, -97.6064900

6. Pleasant Ridge Cemetery
McCool Junction, York County, USA
Coordinate: 40.7271996, -97.5511017

7. Exeter Cemetery
Exeter, Fillmore County, USA
Coordinate: 40.6521988, -97.4364014

8. Grafton Cemetery
Grafton, Fillmore County, USA
Coordinate: 40.6157990, -97.7106018

9. Holy Cross Cemetery
Grafton, Fillmore County, USA
Coordinate: 40.6150017, -97.7108002

10. Saint Josephs Cemetery
Geneva, Fillmore County, USA
Coordinate: 40.5184200, -97.6145000

11. Greenwood Cemetery
McCool Junction, York County, USA
Coordinate: 40.7282982, -97.6444016

12. McCool Junction Cemetery
McCool Junction, York County, USA
Coordinate: 40.7557983, -97.6063995

13. Holoch Cemetery
York County, USA
Coordinate: 40.7630997, -97.5207977

14. Lushton Cemetery
Lushton, York County, USA
Coordinate: 40.7125100, -97.7317100

15. Blue Valley Cemetery
York County, USA
Coordinate: 40.7571983, -97.4535980

16. Gilmore Cemetery
York County, USA
Coordinate: 40.7705994, -97.4847031

17. Chelsea Cemetery
Fillmore County, USA
Coordinate: 40.4808006, -97.4882965

18. Turkey Creek Cemetery
Friend, Saline County, USA
Coordinate: 40.6042700, -97.3502200

19. Tvrz Cemetery
Friend, Saline County, USA
Coordinate: 40.5679700, -97.3618700

20. Bohemian Brethren Cemetery
Milligan, Fillmore County, USA
Coordinate: 40.5098300, -97.4058300

21. Kasak Cemetery
Friend, Saline County, USA
Coordinate: 40.5393000, -97.3683000

22. Mennonite Cemetery
Lushton, York County, USA
Coordinate: 40.7560997, -97.7391968

23. Saint Marys Cemetery
Shickley, Fillmore County, USA
Coordinate: 40.4816700, -97.7295400

24. Zion Lutheran Cemetery
Fillmore County, USA
Coordinate: 40.4668999, -97.7097015