Word Celebrity Blog

Forrest Leroy Guth


Forrest Leroy Guth (pronounced "Gooth") was born in 1921 in Lehigh County, Pennsylvania, to the late John H. R. and Mayme L. Guth. He is a direct descendant of the original German settlers who established themselves in the inland counties of eastern Pennsylvania in the 1700's. These early colonizers were known as the "Pennsylvania Dutch", although they were not Dutch, but rather of Germanic origin and German- speaking heritage.

Forrest grew up in Fogelsville, Pennsylvania, a suburb of Allentown, in Upper Macungie Township. Upon graduation from high school, Forrest went to work at Bethlehem Steel, making armor plate for the Navy. In July 1942, he and two of his buddies decided to enlist in the U.S. Army and volunteer for the paratroops. In doing so, Forrest became one of 140 men who formed the original 'Easy Company' of the 506th Parachute Infantry Regiment, 101st Airborne. He served his country as part of the renowned "Band of Brothers" throughout World War II. He was not portrayed in the HBO miniseries "Band of Brothers".

Forest Guth was fluent in the Pennsylvania Dutch language and would speak it with his best friends; Carl Fenstermaker and Roderick Strohl who also became one of the 140 Easy company originals, although later C. Fenstermaker volunteered for the Pathfinders and was transferred from Easy Company.

In 1941, Forrest Guth was working for Bethlehem Steel making armor plates for the Navy when the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor occurred. He wanted to join up as soon as possible to help his country.

The Paratroopers were an elite unit of the Army that jumped into action and were said to be "the best of the best"! Like many other young men, "Guth" wanted to be the best of the best and also wanted that $50 per month extra that normal infantry didn't get.

At that time, working for the defense meant that he was advised not to join as he was needed back at home producing steel plates. However this did not stop him, Fenstermaker and Strohl from enlisting in the Army and volunteering for the Paratroops. He and his two buddies joined in 1942 and were all part of the 140 men who formed the original Easy Company of the 506th Parachute Infantry Regiment.


Training












Easy Company consisted of 132 enlisted men and 8 officers. Forrest went to basic training at Camp Toccoa, Georgia where the Regiment's motto was born: "Currahee," named after the mountain where the regiment were forced to run the 6-mile round trip up and down daily. The Physical Training was extremely rigorous and the pre-combat training was so grueling that it was almost harder than combat itself.  Many were forced to drop out, as most volunteers were not able to follow the extreme physical routine.


























After the 13 punishing weeks of 'A' Stage Training, Easy Company was marched 118 miles in 75 hours to 'B' Stage 'Parachute' training at Fort Benning, Georgia. Because the unit had done extra parachute training, they skipped the 'A' stage of Jump school and readily handled 'B', 'C' and 'D' stages. After completion of the parachute training, Guth made his qualifying jumps, and received his most coverted prize: "Jump Wings".



























Forrest Guth at Camp Mackall.



After parachute training was completed, the unit moved to Alabama where training continued and in late February 1943 was again moved to Camp Mackall, North Carolina. Extensive tactical training was conducted and all jumps were made with full combat equipment. At one point during the training, the Airborne considered the use of Flame throwers, "Guth" was designated as a flamethrower operator but in the end, flame throwers weren't used by the Airborne. It was also at this point that the 506th Parachute Infantry Regiment was attached to the 101st Airborne Division.


























Pvt Carl L. Fenstermaker, Pvt Roderick G. Strohl, and Pvt Forrest L. Guth.


Well prepared, Easy company, 506th went back to North Carolina, this time to Fort Bragg, preparing for movement overseas. During the latter part of August 1943, the unit reported to Camp Shanks, New York staging area for final processing. After a couple of weeks staging, movement was madeto Europe from the Brooklyn Docks.



























Europe




















Easy Company embarked on September 5, 1943 and arrived at Liverpool, England. "Guth" was stationed in Aldbourne, Wiltshire, 80 miles from London. Training was carried out according to the later Invasion of France, and numerous full equipment nights jumps were made. He and his unit were also involved in the pre D-Day Exercise Tiger at Slapton Sands, Devon where many were wounded due to jump injuries. Further more, 308 Infantry men died from friendly fire from live firing shells on the beach.






















This picture was taken on D-Day +1 in front of the statue at the church square in Ste. Marie du Mont. Here a few paratroopers of 506th Easy company, who were dropped far away from their dropzone, arrived after the fights at the Marmion farm and were photographed with Forrest Guth's camera. The three soldiers in the background and the soldier on the far right are from the 4th Infantry Division who landed on Utah Beach.

Left to right: Forrest L. Guth, Francis J. Mellett, David E. Morris, Daniel B. West, Floyd M. Talbert In the "Now" situation left to right: Johnny, Hans, Alex, Dries.

In late may, "Easy Company" moved to Upottery, East Devon; the marshaling area and the airfield for the Invasion of Normandy. At this time, Airborne Riggers were reinforcing the M42 Jump Uniform and making various other small equipment. Forrest Guth being innovative and always making something out of another, sewed an extra pocket cut from another uniform to his left arm, two on the back of the lower tunic and half a bandolier to the other. Guth was the first to do the 'extra pocket job' and after seeing his, many of the 506th and other units did the same.























The 101st Airborne Division gained renown at the Battle of Normandy following D-Day and at the Battle of the Bulge, the German offensive launched in the mountainous Ardennes region of Belgium, France and Luxembourg.


























Forrest L. Guth.


"That was the tough one," he said of the Battle of the Bulge. "That was one I could have skipped very easily. I lost a lot of friends. They were my best friends, and I guess they'll always be my best friends."

Parachuting in from 500 feet in advance of the amphibious assault on the beaches of Normandy was not much easier.


















Floyd Talbert and Walter Hendrix standing in the lane.


"We were inland from the beach, so we didn't see them land," he said of the assault. "We jumped at night; they landed in the morning. The moon was out partially. It was solid boats. There were all kinds of boats out there."


Forrest Guth Recalls
















"We jumped into Normandy June 6,' 1944, fought through Carentan. Returned to England for more training for the jump into Holland. Coming down, I had a malfunction of my parachute. It was twisted. The chute had not been properly packed. Or maybe it had been packed in damp conditions. We hadn’t jumped high enough to be able to use the reserve. We had jumped under 500 feet. So my main chute opened but didn’t open completely. You try to shake out the twist if you can, but there’s so little time. I couldn’t do a lot and came down fast. I just hoped for the best. I hit with a thud. I hit on my left hip and back and was knocked out. I don’t remember much, just hitting hard and seeing stars. I was paralyzed in leg and back. I couldn’t move. Medics came along, gave me a shot of morphine, and put me in a cattle barn. That was the extent of my fighting in Holland. I was shipped back to England . Hospitalized several weeks, then, back to my unit in France after Mourmelon December 15, got hurry- up call to go to Bastogne to stop the push of the Germans. There was fierce fighting and lots of casualties around Bastogne and it was COLD!

Patton opened relief route and brought in troops. We went to Hagenau to fend off another another push of the Germans. I drew a 45 day trip home . The war was over before I could rejoin the troops, so had to wait until my company came back. I was discharged October 1945."

Forrest Guth translated when his company took German prisoners during its move into Hagenau.





















Forrest Guth was an original member of E Company, 2nd BN, 506th PIR, and was one of the very few of those original members who would go through WWII without being hit. He had bullets whiz over his head in the heat of battle. When he was in a foxhole in Bastogne, Belgium, shrapnel from an exploding shell bent the barrel of his rifle, which was sitting just outside the foxhole.





















Forrest L. Guth with buddy Francis J. Mellet as they display a captured German flag.


"Guth" chose to disregard orders against taking a camera into combat and snapped pictures in the Normandy fields. He took some of the most outstanding photographs taken in the combat zone.


























Forrest L. Guth had earned the rank of sergeant by the time he was discharged in 1945. 


Peace Time

Forrest Guth received a college education at Millersville State Teachers College; then began his teaching career in Norfolk, VA, teaching industrial arts at Granby High School. It was then that he met and married the love of his life, Harriet Ann Amis. The two of them spent a year in New York City, where Forrest received a Masters Degree in Education. The couple then moved to Wilmington, Deleware, where Forrest taught high school for more than thirty years, including the last 20 years at Brandywine High School.

Forrest was a master cabinet maker. He continued his specialty woodworking business throughout his life.

Forrest Guth was an active Westminster Presbyterian Church member for 58 years. He served as a member of the Board of Trustees, led numerous work groups to the Appalachia area of Tennessee, was responsible for the church's audio equipment and volunteered to take care of all miscellaneous repairs and custom woodwork.

After moving with his wife from Wilmington to Hockessin in 1997, Forrest continued to volunteer his time and energy serving on numerous committees at Cokesbury Village in addition to his church responsibilities. He also continued and expanded his hobbies, which included woodworking, bird carving and automotive restoration.
















Buck Taylor and Forrest Guth with their spouses during a visit of Eindhoven on May 22, 2005.


Forrest enjoyed summers in the Poconos with his family and friends, as well as boating, traveling and sharing with people of all ages his experiences and memories of the war. He regularly volunteered by visiting hospitals, schools and military bases in the United States, Europe and the Middle East. Forrest is a Hero - both to his family and his country.






















Forrest Guth and his wife Harriet during their visit at Bastogne (Spring 2002). Forrest was there to promote the book that was written about him..


Speaking Activities
























Forrest Guth at the age of 85.


Mark Giansanti, a military history teacher, was teaching about World War II when he asked, asked Forrest Guth to speak at the school to provide a real-life history lesson for his students.

"I wanted my kids to get a chance to see that history did happen to real people," Giansanti said. "I think what he brought is a realism that myself, as a teacher, can't bring. I don't have those life experiences. I learned something; I learned things about World War II that I never knew."

A senior at the school, Kaitlyn De Vine Said: "I just look at him as a hero, and I'm just so glad he fought for our freedom," she said. "I'm very appreciative. It makes you want to go out there and do something for the community."

Senior Jacquelyn LeSage said: "I thought he was amazing and inspiring to listen to. Everything he said had the 'wow' factor, where you just sat down and you said, 'He went through that?' "


To His Last Post

Forrest Guth considerd himself lucky because he was never shot -- only one of three or four of the 136 original company members who could make that claim. About 25 percent of the soldiers in his unit either were killed or injured during every mission. There was a steady stream of replacements, but they never were as well trained as the original group, said "Guth", who was living in Cokesbury Village, which he refers to as "the old-folks home."

"I'm embarrassed when people think I'm a hero," added "Guth", whose medals include a Presidential Citation, a Purple Heart and two Bronze Stars. "The heroes stayed over there. I think that's the ultimate gift."























Forrest Leroy Guth passed away peacefully at Cokesbury Village at the age of 88. His wife, Harriet, had preceeded him. She died from Alzheimer's Disease. He and Harriet had been married for 60 years.

He is survived by daughter Nancy Serfass, from Todos Santos, Baha California Sur, Mexico and her husband Tom Carroll, and son John Guth who resides in Annapolis, MD with his wife Cynthia.

Forrest also had two granddaughters, Ltd. Stacy Guth, a naval flight officer currently stationed in Monterey, CA and Jamie Guth, an art director for an advertising firm, living in Satellite Beach, Florida.

He is also survived by a sister, Helen Guth Snyder, of Arvada, Colorado.



























 Memorial services were held on Saturday, August 15, at 11 am, at Westminster Presbyterian Church, Wilmington, Deleware.  The burial was at Arlington National Cemetery, Arlington, VA  on Friday, October 30, 2009.