Capt Ronald W. Forrester, 25, USMC Vietnam KIA, Lakeway, TX, 03 Feb 2024

[markwells]

Confirmed Mission: The family of Capt Ronald Wayne Forrester has requested the participation of the PGR in his memorial service.  Capt Forrester was a US Marine aviator whose plane disappeared during a mission over Vietnam.  His family was informed this past December that his remains had been identified.

In the winter of 1972, Forrester was assigned to Marine All-Weather Attack Squadron 533, Marine Attack Group 12, 1st Marine Air Wing. On Dec. 27, Forrester was the navigator of an A-6A Intruder, along with his pilot, during a nighttime combat mission over the northern part of the Democratic Republic of (North) Vietnam. After entering the target area, Forrester’s aircraft ceased radio communications and never returned to base. Search and rescue teams could not locate any trace of the aircraft or the crew in the Le Thuy District, Quang Binh Province. In September 1978, the Marine Corps changed Capt. Forrester’s initial Missing In Action status to Killed in Action.

A news report can be viewed here: https://www.cbs7.com/2023/12/08/odessa-native-vietnam-vet-remains-identified-after-51-years-being-mia/

Date/Time: Saturday, 03 February 2024.  Memorial service begins at 2 pm.

Location: Lake Travis United Methodist Church, 1502 Ranch Rd 620 N, Lakeway, TX 78734. map link: https://maps.app.goo.gl/CMrj9Pzz3Svf79xN9

Timeline:
1:00 – 1:20 pm – Staging
1:20 pm – Briefing
1:30 pm – Flag line

Wx: TBD

Notes:  After the service there will be an outdoor ceremony conducted by the Texas A&M ROTC honor guard to include taps and rifle salute.  The PGR will present a plaque and gold PGR KIA challenge coin to Capt Forrester’s daughter, Karoni.   We will not have a flag line for this ceremony, but all are invited to attend.  Capt Forrester’s remains are in Hawaii and will be transferred at a later date to Arlington National Cemetery for interment.

Ride Captain: Mark Wells, atxpgr@gmail.com, 512-470-0380

Flag Wrangler: Nicki Campbell

Please attend to honor the ultimate sacrifice of this Marine in service to our country and support his family.

[markwells]

We were humbled to stand for this American hero today. Members of Capt Forrester’s family visited with the 21 PGR in attendance prior to the flag line, took photos, and thanked us for honoring his ultimate sacrifice in service to our nation.

Many of us stayed for the closing event which took place outdoors after the memorial service. The Texas A&M Corps of Cadets rendered honors with a flag honor guard, 21 gun rifle volley, and echo taps. They looked and sounded very sharp. Afterwards, Austin RC/USMC veteran Keith Longacre did a beautiful job presenting a gold PGR challenge coin to Capt Forrester’s daughter, Karoni. Bob Johnson of SAPGR then gave her a plaque.

Thank you Nicki for bringing flags and water. Thank you to all who attended today’s mission, especially the SAPGR riders and those who came from a distance to honor this KIA Marine.

[Author]

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