Jere King Forbus was a true son of Mississippi. He had a genteel manner which exuded formality and civility. But those who knew him well were always impressed by his friendliness and truly wicked sense of humor.
Jere was a bit older than most of his classmates, having spent two years at Mississippi State University. He was a member of Kappa Sigma fraternity. It was at MSU that he began to hone his interest and skills in publicity and writing by working on the school newspaper and yearbook.
For reasons that were never quite clear, Jere left the friendly climes of Mississippi State to become a plebe at West Point. As he described it:
3 July 1956 was a watershed day. As I reported to the “man in the red sash” and, after four tries, correctly recited the mantra they’d been beating in my head for several minutes, he rather forcefully commanded: “Post!”
I had no clue as to what “post” meant. I quickly reasoned that I better figure it out. I asked myself, “What does a post do?” At lightning speed I concluded that “a post just stands there fixed in place.” So, I stood there as if I were paralyzed.
The man in the red sash asked incredulously, “What are you doing, mister?”
“Sir, I am posting!” It all went downhill from there.
He later said,
Plainly, the West Point experience and the Army career are the front and center features of my life. Nothing before West Point counts, and everything thereafter owes allegiance to learning in the Army.
He started his military journey as a brother in Kappa Dos (Company K-2), which suited his fraternal outlook. He was always ready for a cup of coffee and some scintillating conversation at the PX.
He easily mastered academics. Jere was also active in the Debate Council and Forum, the Howitzer, and the Public Information Detail. Clearly these elective pursuits foreshadowed his interest and skills in public relations and communications.
Jere was an Infantry officer and saw service in Vietnam with the 173rd Airborne Brigade in 1966-67, during which he was the aide to the Commanding General. Earlier, he was aide to the Commanding General, U.S. Army Japan. He also served on the cadre at Fort Benning, GA, organizing the development of what became the 1st Cavalry Division. Later he taught at Infantry School at Fort Leavenworth, KS.
Because of his demonstrated skills in communication, which Jere described as “conveying information, or gathering knowledge of the how and what of actions be taken,” the Army sent him to the University of Massachusetts, where he earned a master’s degree in English literature. Subsequently, he joined the English Department faculty at West Point, where he taught for three years.
His time at UMass was very meaningful. Jere later reflected:
… those years were entrancing, and Amherst—that quaint village suspended time—was so magnetic that I came to think of it as home and eventually retired there.
His next assignment was in Saigon, where he was the spokesman for the U.S. mission to Vietnam. Jere said with typical tongue in cheek that the daily brief to the International Press Corps, popularly termed the Five O’Clock Follies, was “challenging and invigorating.”
His final assignment was at West Point, where he served as Director of Public Affairs for four years. A major issue during that time, which demanded a communicator of his talent, was the first four years of “Women at West Point,” which at that time was a very controversial issue widely covered in the press, movies and TV. Nonetheless, according to Jere, the biggest challenge came from old grads.
That this fundamental change to West Point’s structure is now an accepted and celebrated achievement owes much to his efforts. Jere had two daughters who are proud of his stance regarding the role of women. They are Jill Forbus Hunt of Arlington, VA and Jody Forbus Ouakil of Winchester, VA. He also has a grandson, Matthew Taylor Hunt of Arlington, VA.
Jere retired from the Army, but not communications, which he continued to pursue in Amherst, MA and subsequently his native home state, Mississippi.
He passed away November 22, 2016, and was interred at the West Point, his spiritual home in October 2017.
Perhaps, Glenn Hall, USMA 1958, summed it up best:
Jere was a fine officer, a great friend, and a wonderful person. He had a priceless sense of humor. I first met him when he was the Infantry branch’s contribution to the Artillery Officer Advanced Course at Fort Sill in 1965. We taught in the English Department in 1968-70. Jere was able to find humor even in William Butler Yeats!
Jere was a credit to West Point in every respect. He will be sorely missed by all who knew him.
Well Done, Jere! Be Thou at Peace!