Forrest Guth was born to John H. R. and Mayme L. Guth in the small district of Lehigh County, Pennsylvania. He is a direct descendant of the original German settlers who established themselves in the inland counties of eastern Pennsylvania in the 1700s. These early colonizers were known as the Pennsylvania Dutch, although they were not Dutch, but rather of Germanic origin and German-speaking heritage. Forrest was brought up in Fogelsville, Pennsylvania, a suburb of Allentown, in Upper Macungie Township.
Guth was fluent in the Pennsylvania Dutch language and would speak it with his best friends; Carl Fenstermaker and Roderick Strohl who also became one of the 140 Easy company originals, although later C. Fenstermaker volunteered for the Pathfinders and was transferred from 'Easy Company'.
In 1942, Guth was working for Bethlehem Steel making armor plates for the Navy when the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor occurred. At that time, working for the defense industry meant that he was advised not to join as he was needed back at home producing steel plates, but he enlisted in the Army and volunteered for the paratroopers. He and two friends joined in 1942, and became part of the original Easy Company of the 506th Parachute Infantry Regiment. Easy Company consisted of 132 enlisted men and 8 officers. Forrest went to basic training at Camp Toccoa, Georgia where the Regiment's motto was born: "Currahee," named after the mountain where the regiment were forced to run the 6-mile round trip up and down daily. After parachute training at Fort Benning, Guth made his qualifying jumps and received his Jump Wings.
In his own words
I volunteered in the Paratroops in 1942 with 2 of my friends. The two buddies I enlisted with were lifelong buddies and we all were lucky to get home since we all had injuries. Carl Fenstermaker died about 19 years ago, but Rod Strohl lives nearby and we see each other frequently. We reported to Camp Toccoa where we formed Easy Company, 506 Parrchute Infantry.
After 14 weeks of strenous training, we made a forced march of 117 miles to Atlanta, Ga. then had parachute training...got my silver wings. Other training in Camp McCall, N.C. and the mountains of Tennessee. After 1 year in the states, we were shipped overseas to England for another year for further training with other allied troops.
We jumped into Normandy June 6th, 1944, fought through Carentan. Returned to England for more training for the jump into Holland. I was injured and shipped back to England . Hospitalized several weeks, then, back to my unit in France after Mourmelon December 15, got hurry-up call to go to Bastogne to stop the push of the Germans. There was fierce fighting and lots of casualties around Bastogne and it was COLD!
Patton opened relief route and brought in troops. We went to Hagenau to fend off another another push of the Germans. I drew a 45 day trip home . The war was over before I could rejoin the troops, so had to wait until my company came back . I was discharged Oct. 1945 ,went to college and earned a Bachelor and Masters Degree, retired from teaching after 30 years.
My hobbies are wood working and old car restorations. I have a wife, 2 children and 2 grandaughters.
