Forster, Paul A

Paul Forster, Captain, U.S. Army, Military Intelligence, served in Vietnam from February 1965 to February 1966. Paul was assigned initially as the Personnel and Logistics Officer for the Special Military Intelligence Activities Team. SMIAT was a counterpart organization to the Army of Vietnam unit, BDST-300, working human intelligence operations throughout Vietnam. In July 1965, Paul was assigned as the Commander, SMIAT Region II, located in Ban Me Thuot - Central Highlands. We were fortunate to have very well trained, competent, and hard working counterparts. HUMINT had mixed success, but a number of our reports resulted in excellent combat results. The most difficult aspect of the tour was witnessing the many casualties being transferred to the airport for their final homeward flight. The Vietnam Memorial in Washington, DC remains a highly emotional place, and always will. I'm enormously pleased that Rolling Thunder has become such a tribute to our fallen friends. The highlight of my tour was returning home safely, to my wife and new son!

Paul A. Forster

Paul Forster, 1939

*****************************************************************************************

Bio: Forster, Paul A. – Major (Grad – General Staff College – 1973)

Transcriber: stan@wiclarkcountyhistory.org

Surnames: Forster

----Source: THORP COURIER (Thorp, Clark County, Wis.) 02 Aug 1973

Ft. Leavenworth, Kansas – Army Major Paul A Forster, son of Mr. and Mrs. Roy A. Forster, Route 3, Stanley, Wisconsin, recently was graduated with the 1972-73 regular class at the U.S. Army Command and General Staff College, Ft. Leavenworth, Kansas.

The 10-month course at the Army’s Senior tactical school prepares the students for duty as Commanders and as Principal General Staff Officers with the Army in the field from Division through Army Group, and at field army support and theater army support commands.

His wife, Coryne, was with him at the fort during this training.