Erwin B. Forde: From Medic to Motor Pool Mechanic

By Bob Pomorski, Honor Flight Chicago Veteran Interviews Volunteer

How does a trained medic become a motor pool mechanic? This is the story of Erwin Forde, who grew up on the South Side of Chicago. Erwin was the oldest of four boys who attended Phillips High School located on the southeast side of Chicago near Pershing Road and Martin Luther King Drive.

While attending Phillips, Erwin was in ROTC and played the trumpet in their marching band. During this time, Erwin’s father, who was a bit of an entrepreneur owning rental properties in the Chicago area, bought an 80-acre farm in Southeast Michigan and moved the family there. Erwin loved farming, and especially enjoyed driving the combines. The farm produced cucumbers, apples and other fruit that they sold to the local produce factory in town.

After high school, Erwin attended college at Andrews University in Berrien Springs, Michigan. Andrews was the first university started by Seventh-day Adventists. That’s right, Erwin was raised as a Seventh-day Adventist. At school he was majoring in business with a minor in agriculture. When he was 20 years old, the US Army came calling and Erwin was drafted.

Being a Seventh-day Adventist, Erwin was considered a conscientious objector. However, he still believed in serving his country as a non-combatant. As part of a higher ruling by the US Army, conscientious objectors, such as Seventh-day Adventists would attend combat medical training. You may remember the movie “Hacksaw Ridge.” The movie is based on the real-life story of Desmond Doss, a Seventh-day Adventist, who joined the Army in World War II as a conscientious objector. Corporal Doss was a combat medic and through his heroics during the war on Okinawa, was the first conscientious objector awarded the Medal of Honor.

For Basic Training, Erwin was sent to Fort Pickett in Blackstone, Virginia for combat medical training. He spent four months there. In a unique twist of fate, the non-combatant said “I spent my 21st birthday crawling through a machine gun riddled obstacle course during training. What a way to celebrate a birthday.” When Basic Training was over, the commander asked Erwin where he wanted to go. Erwin chose Europe.

Erwin was sent to Deggendorf, Germany which was the location of a military medical base. The medical part of the base was very slow, not having many patients. However, the motor pool was a very busy place. Since the medical part of the base was slow, and the motor pool was hopping, Erwin found himself spending more and more time there and was eventually made a clerk. As a kid, he loved the farm combines, and while in Germany he had an affection towards the jeeps, trucks, and ambulances. He also noticed that many of the mechanics were being sent over to Korea and there was a need for more. As a result, the motor pool captain asked him if he wanted to be a mechanic, and of course Erwin said yes.

Erwin spent the next 2 months going through a training crash course to become a mechanic. He ended up spending almost 2 years in Germany working mainly in the busy motor pool. After his time in Germany, Erwin was sent to Camp Kilmer in New Jersey for his honorable discharge with the rank of Corporal. After the Army, Erwin went back home to Michigan and got married.

After working jobs in and around the Chicago area, including a stint with the Post Office, Erwin found a home working for Hinsdale Hospital which happens to be a Seventh-day Adventist hospital. He spent the next 25 years working in purchasing and ultimately managing the hospital’s large medical supply warehouse facility in the Bolingbrook area.

Erwin was married to his first wife for over 42 years and they had two children. After his wife passed, Erwin got married again to his long-time friend, Roslyn, and they have been together for over 21 years. Interestingly enough, both Erwin’s and Roslyn’s parents were friends, and his mother always wanted Erwin to marry Roslyn. They now split time between their home in Plainfield, Illinois and their house in Surprise, Arizona. Erwin fell in love with the West on motorhome vacations with his kids. When Erwin is in Surprise, he plays his trumpet as part of a 60-member wind ensemble that performs all around the valley.

For many years, Erwin has also kept busy donating his time to the Hinsdale American Legion. He was post commander from 1994 – 1995 and once again from 2001 – 2002. He laughs when he mentions how he has been the Legion’s Memorial Day Parade commander for over 20 years. It is a role he takes very seriously, and one in which he performs with grace and respect. In this small important way, Erwin continues to serve his country.

Erwin you answered the call of duty and served your country honorably. For that, we thank you for your service. Enjoy your much-deserved Honor Flight trip!