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ROBERT CLARK "SKIP" FORMAN was born at Ft. Monroe, VA, to 2LT Ovid T. '24 and Nancy H. Forman. Skip was the third child, preceded by his older brother Tom and sister Jackie.
Skip was special even from early on. His brother wrote, "Our mother was proud of what a delightful baby he was with a head covered with a mass of golden curls. He walked pretty young. When we went to the Philippines when he was a little over a year old, he walked around the deck of the Army transport all the way from New York to Manila, only taking time out to eat and sleep."
The Formans were transferred around the world, including the Philippines; Honolulu; Ft. Worth,
where they lived while Skip's father fought in WWII; and Heidelberg, where Skip attended Heidelberg American High School. Skip's father wrote in a letter to his oldest son, Tom, dated 9 Oct 1947, "Skip is quite a boy, he grew a lot, he's very athletic minded, won a tennis tournament, won a blue ribbon in a horse show, and played on the school basketball team (that won the championship), so — I'm very proud of him."
The Formans returned to the States, and Skip's father entered him in Fishburne Military School in Waynesboro, VA. Skip stayed at Fishburne for two years and then moved on to Sullivan's Preparatory School in Washington, DC. After completing a year at Sullivan's, Skip was appointed to West Point.
Skip entered West Point in the summer of 1950 and was commissioned into the Field Artillery in June 1954. After attending the Basic Course at Ft. Sill and Airborne School at Ft. Benning, he was assigned to the 4th Infantry Division in Germany. There, he served as Forward Observer and Battery Executive Officer in the 29th Field Artillery Battalion located in Bad Nauheim.
The assignment in Germany brought Skip closer to Susie Hart, daughter of LTG and Mrs. Charles E. Hart '24, in Frankfurt. LTG Hart served as the V Corps Commander. After several years of a long distance courtship, Skip and Susie married in Germany in 1955.
In April 1956, Skip was transferred to Baumholder, where he served as Battery Executive Officer in the 16th Armored Field Artillery Battalion, 2d Armored Division, until 1957. While in Baumholder, Skip and Susie were blessed with their first child, Sally Anne.
Upon returning to the States, Skip was selected as aide-de-camp to the Deputy Commanding General, Second U.S. Army, at Ft. Meade, where he served until 1958. He was then reassigned to Ft. Bliss as a student and, later, as a training unit platoon leader.
In 1959, Skip went to Korea as Commander, C Battery, 19th Field Artillery Battalion, 1st Cavalry Division, and later served as assistant operation officer. He returned to Ft. Sill in August 1960 to attend the Advanced Course and then to West Point as a tactical officer. During that time, Skip and Susie had their second child, Robert C., Jr.
The Formans departed West Point in August 1964 for CGSC. Graduate school at the University of Oklahoma followed; Skip was inducted into Beta Gamma Sigma while earning a master's degree in business administration. While in Norman, Skip and Susie had their third child, Charles Edward (named after Susie's father) in 1965.
In February 1967, Skip reported for duty in Viet Nam as Operations Officer, 3rd Battalion, 13th Field Artillery, 25th Infantry Division, and later served as the Division Operations Officer. He returned to the States in March 1968 to serve as an assignment officer in the Field Artillery Branch. After returning from his first tour in Viet Nam, Skip and Susie were blessed again with their fourth child, Jacqueline Hart.
Duty in Washington, DC, was followed by a second assignment to Viet Nam, where he commanded the 2d Battalion, 4th Field Artillery, 9th Infantry Division, followed by an assignment as Executive Officer, Division Artillery, 25th Infantry Division.
In February 1971, Skip returned to the States as a staff officer in the office of the Assistant Secretary of the Army and then attended the Industrial College of the Armed Forces. In July 1972, he served as Chief of the Procurement, Education, Research, and Training Division in the Assistant Secretary's Office.
In July 1975, Skip assumed command of Division Artillery, 1st Armored Division, in Nuremburg, Germany. In February 1977, he became Assistant Chief of Staff, G-3, Headquarters, VIII Corps, in Stuttgart, Germany.
Upon promotion to brigadier general in August 1978, Skip was assigned as Commanding General, U.S. Army Training Support Center, Ft. Eustis. A year later, Skip was reassigned as the Chairman of the Multiple Launch Rocket System Source Selection Evaluation Board at Redstone Arsenal in Alabama.
In 1980, Skip became the Assistant Commandant of the U.S. Army Field Artillery School at Ft. Sill. Only serving a year, Skip was promoted to major general and sent to Ft. Knox, to assume command of the U.S. Army Readiness and Mobilization Command, Region VI.
Skip retired from the Army in the fall of 1984. He and Susie returned to the Washington, DC, area, and Skip worked as a government consultant until 1991. After retirement, Skip continued a truly fulfilling life with family and friends. He and Susie often visited their four children and eight grandchildren. Skip also served on the Board of Directors of his sons' company, Forman Ventures, Inc. Skip enjoyed golf, gardening, and breeding dogs with his daughter Jackie.
Those who knew Skip well and those who only met him a few times would all agree — he was a noble man and a gentleman. He was a noble man because he lived life honestly and reputably. Skip's family — including his parents, wife, and children — contributed to his gentle ways and character. He was a strong family man and a sharp-minded individual who always set an example of honor and eloquence. Skip and Susie shared a common bond from the beginning — the military and adoration for each other. The two went on to develop a family rich with love, closeness, and many wonderful memories. Skip's life was one of commitment — to his country and to his family.
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