Forrest Eugene McGrew was born in Abingdon, Illinois on August 22, 1916 to Bessie (Richardson) McGrew and Charles McGrew. He joined sisters, Lillian and Freda and brother, Lyle at their home at 107 S. Snapp Street in Abingdon, where Forrest grew to adulthood. He attended Abingdon schools and was called “Forry” by family and friends.

In 1941, Forrest was 25 years old, single and living with his parents and siblings at their Snapp Street home. He was a machinist at American Sanitary Manufacturing in Abingdon, producing plumbing brass goods. On May 28 of that year, Forrest enlisted in the Army in Chicago.

Forrest held the rank of technician 5th grade with the 33rd Armored Regiment, 3rd Armored Division-Infantry, serial number 36033692. Technician 5th grade was a United States Army technician rank during World War II. Those who held this rank were addressed as corporal and possessed specialized skills. Forrest was stationed for two and one half years in the States and had been in Europe for one year when he was killed on September 8, 1944, in the liberation of Belgium. On that same day, Belgium’s government was restored.

Forrest was initially reported as missing in action. The concern among his community was highlighted by a post in the October 1944 issue of “The Purging Plumber”, a trade publication.

“Forrest McGrew has been reported ‘missing in action’ somewhere in Belgium as of September 8th. Forry has seen about as much of this man’s army as anyone in Abingdon. He joined the service in the spring of 1941 as one of the first in this area. In the last issue we published a letter from Forry written from France. It was plain to see that he was ‘right in there’. All of us who know him are sure of one thing: If there’s a fighting chance of coming out, Forry will make it!”

Unfortunately, the writer’s positivity was struck down when it was confirmed that Forrest was indeed a casualty.

Forrest is buried in the Abingdon Cemetery among much extended family including his mother, father and siblings (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/8088802/forrest-e-mcgrew). Although he died in 1944, his body was not returned to Abingdon until 1949. According to a March 17, 1949 article in the Rock Island (Illinois) Argus, Forrest’s body was returned for reburial as well as another Illinois resident, Private Paul W. Baker of Rapids City.

The repatriation of WWII remains was administered by the federal government’s Return of the Dead Program. The program was started in 1946 to remedy the delay of the return of American military bodies. Over 300,000 U.S. military personnel were buried in cemeteries on six different continents, including enemy territory. Under the program, a corps of both military and civilians moved from country to country, locating graves, disinterring and formally identifying remains. The bodies were then prepared for permanent burials and returned home by ships and trains.

The first soldier casualty was returned in 1947 but Forrest’s loved ones would have to wait two more years to lay him to rest. Forrest was awarded the Purple Heart. He and eight other American soldiers were also honored with a monument in the town of Limont, Belgium. Their names are etched on each side of a large engraving which states in French: “To the American soldiers who died here September 8, 1944 for our liberation”. Forrest's name is also included on a memorial erected by the American Legion in Abingdon dedicated to the 26 local men that perished in World War II.

This story is part of the Stories Behind the Stars project (see www.storiesbehindthestars.org). This is a national effort of volunteers to write the stories of all 400,000+ of the US WWII fallen saved on Together We Served and Fold3. Can you help write these stories? These stories will be accessible via smartphone app at any war memorial or cemetery. If you noticed anything erroneous in this profile or have additional information to contribute to it, please contact feedback@storiesbehindthestars.org.

SBTSProject/Illinois/Knox

Sources

1940 United States Federal Census

Ancestry.com

Bel-memorial.org

Clarke, Kim (May 24, 2021) American Historical Association Perspectives on History, The Return of the Dead Program following World War II

The Purging Plumber, Vol 2, No. 12, October 1944

Rock Island Argus, March 17, 1949, page 27

United States Headstone Applications for Military Veterans 1925-1970; National Archives of Washington D.C.

United States World War II Draft Cards Young Men 1940-1947

Wikipedia

Forrest E Mc Crew