Colonel Donald Wesley Forney

Colonel Donald Wesley Forney. . Colonel Forney was born June 1920 in Sioux Falls, SD where he attended Washington High School graduating in 1938. He received a degree in Business Administration in 1942 from the University of South Dakota. , In 1942 he was commissioned a Second Lieutenant in the infantry and entered active duty. Stationed at Camp Wheeler, GA he was sent to Yale University to participate with the Eastern Army All-Star football team. , He graduated from pilot training in 1943 at Moody AFB, GA. Stationed at Courtland AFB, AL, where he served as a Pilot Training Instructor he transitioned to B-17 flying at Lockbourne AFB, OH and went on to B-29 training at Maxwell Field, AL. , In 1945 Col Forney entered the Air Reserves. He received an appointment in the Iowa Air National Guard in 1946 and served as Supply Officer until 1951. Called to duty he was assigned to Taegu Air Base, Korea where he served as Supply Officer and Support Pilot flying 151 combat support missions in a C-47 as part of Rear Echelon Maintenance Combined Operations. , Col Forney, released from active duty in 1953, assumed Command of the 174th Fighter Interceptor Squadron, Iowa Air National Guard and later duties as the Base Detachment Commander. Under the reorganization of the 185th Tactical Fighter Group, Col Forney became Group Commander until 1968 when he took Command of the 354th Tactical Fighter Wing at Kunsan Air Base, Korea until June 1969. , Decorations include the Meritorious Service Medal, Distinguished Flying Cross, Air Medal with 10 oak leaf clusters, Air Force Commendation Medal, Air Force Reserve Medal, World War II Victory Medal, and Medal of Humane Action. , A command pilot, Col Forney amassed 8,000 flying hours of which over 2,000 hours are in jet aircraft. , Col Forney retired in June 1980. He passed away in November 2003.