LeRoy Forehand: World War II technician
Regarding Pearl Harbor:
Although Forehand did not experience the bombings of Pearl Harbor firsthand, he tells an account of a colleague who had just arrived to Pearl Harbor to see that “everything broke loose.” Forehand seemed to have felt personal grievance towards the bombings, as he describes time feeling shorter during the war, particularly during the bombings. He mentions how there never seems to be time between military needs, and the rapid nature of life during the war.
Regarding Japanese Internment:
Forehand discusses how he initially felt Japanese internment was a necessity, due to the growing amount of Japanese residents on the West Coast. However, he also mentions having Japanese and German friends serving alongside him, which reevaluated his judgement. Forehand described many others around him raised with a similar sentiment, which he did not seem to understand. However, many Japanese resentments eventually subsided through the formation of the 442nd, which Forehand described as being treated honorably. Part of what changed his anti-Japanese sentiment he described through the Armed Forces Parade in Torrance, as talking to veterans of the 442nd showed to him that they were “all in the same boat, we were put into the service, and this is what you did.”
Post-War:
Although Forehand never joined the VA, he transitioned back into civilian life easier than some. He recalls the potential in electronics at the time, and went back to school to study for electronic-based marketing. He discusses joining the VFW (Veterans of Foreign Wars) under the recommendation of a colleague in Los Alameda. Marrying at forty-seven, Forehand was offered monetary compensation from the government, which he turned down as he worked full-time. Forehand discusses himself as “not feeling like a veteran,” due to his minor injures compared to what many soldiers suffered.
Leroy Forehand, 94, served under the Navy in World War II. Post high school, Forehand immediately moved into California in efforts to join the Air Force, but was unable to join due to a burst appendix. However, unmoved by his desire to help the war effort, Forehand started his military career through helping with fighter planes arriving in the United States, inspecting and repairing such vehicles. Eventually, Forehand became dissatisfied with the position he was in, and found a more effective approach to helping out through the Navy, moving to San Bernadino as a result. He continued his passion for the war effort by following naval orders into Guam. As a third class officer, Forehand continued servicing and working on a wide range of aircraft, including the F-39 among others, which he continued to do until the end of the war.