FORTE, Norman Leroy (Bud) Jr. ^{1 2 3}

  General Notes:

Bud was a World War II hero. He was shot down in Java, participated in 35 bombing raids and saw over 200 hours of actual combat. He was decorated for gallantry for his service as a radio operator and belly gunner on a Flying Fortress in the Pacific. He was stricken with malaria on the day of his flight home from Australia. His finance lived in Australia and was to come marry him in the states. Due to the poor health of one of her family members, she stayed there and he rejoined her to marry in that country. They were residents of Melbourne, Australia when his father died back in the states in 1980. He lived there the rest of his life in Australia and was only able to visit America as an older gentleman. He had four daughters, all whom seem to be truly lovely souls, including their large families. In his memorial book, he was missed for the way he made his family laugh, the swing on the large apple tree which he constantly kept in repair, his love of Eskimo pies and biscuits, his dislike of offtune singing and for the part of him that just couldn't be replaced!! I'm sure all this was said with the wonderful sense of humor of this branch of the family. (F-DOC) ⁵

Norman married Mary Angela LEIGH on Jan 18, 1947 in Gardenvale, , Victoria, Australia. (Mary Angela LEIGH was born on Sep 4, 1915 in Dandenong, , Victoria, Australia and died on Oct 15, 1988 in Mornington, Victoria, AUS ⁶.)