Oldest of 9 sibblings, honored with "Distinguished Flying Cross" in 1995 (earned in 1943 at age 22). When asked about his life by nephew Michael on the night prior to his fatal stroke at a family Christmas Eve party, he claimed "I have no complaints!" His ashes are located just a few feet from one of his son's, Dennis's, final resting place overlooking the Bay Bridge.
San Francisco Newspaper Article printed 01/01/98:
DECORATED WWII AVIATOR
Forrest Lam, a decorated World War II air force navigator who was recognized 51 years late, died Christmas Day after suffering a cerebral hemorrhage at his home in San Leandro. He was 75.
Mr. Lam, a lieutenant on a B24 bomber, was recommended for a Distinguished Flying Cross for his superb navigation skills but did not receive the award until 1995, after he called up his commanding officer saying, "You remember me?"
According to his daughter, Phyllis Lam, he was the lead navigator of 11 aircraft returning from a sortie in Germany in November, 1944. After successfully completing the mission, they were forced to land in Poland because of bad weather conditions. Fuel was so low, they had only one chance to make the landing in the rainy fog.
Mr. Lam, who at the time was just 22 years old, expertly guided all the aircraft to safety, earning him the praise of his commanding officer.
"At that time, the colonel told him, "Lam, you're going to get the Distinguished Flying Cross award,' " his daughter said. "But it kind of got lost, and he never got it."
The Distinguished Flying Cross was the second highest award in the Army Air Corps, the predecessor of today's Air Force.
After the war, Mr. Lam returned to California, attended UC-Berkeley on the GI Bill, got married and had children, then worked at the Alameda Naval Station on missiles and avionics for 35 years before retiring in 1986.
Decades passed before he started pursuing the award around 1993. He made contact with his colonel, who was living in Florida, and asked whether he remembered the incident.
"He said, "Yes I remember you. You were the only Chinese one on the squadron,' " his daughter said.
The colonel wrote a letter to the Air Force, and after two years of bureaucratic wrangling, Mr. Lam was finally given the award in a ceremony at Travis Air Force Base in 1995.
Mr. Lam was born in Los Angeles and grew up in the bustling quarters of San Francisco's Chinatown, helping his mother raise his nine siblings while his father was in Hong Kong. He joined the Army Air Corps in 1942.
He suffered a cerebral hemorrhage while preparing Christmas dinner and died a few hours later.
San Francisco Newspaper Article printed 01/01/98:
DECORATED WWII AVIATOR
Forrest Lam, a decorated World War II air force navigator who was recognized 51 years late, died Christmas Day after suffering a cerebral hemorrhage at his home in San Leandro. He was 75.
Mr. Lam, a lieutenant on a B24 bomber, was recommended for a Distinguished Flying Cross for his superb navigation skills but did not receive the award until 1995, after he called up his commanding officer saying, "You remember me?"
According to his daughter, Phyllis Lam, he was the lead navigator of 11 aircraft returning from a sortie in Germany in November, 1944. After successfully completing the mission, they were forced to land in Poland because of bad weather conditions. Fuel was so low, they had only one chance to make the landing in the rainy fog.
Mr. Lam, who at the time was just 22 years old, expertly guided all the aircraft to safety, earning him the praise of his commanding officer.
"At that time, the colonel told him, "Lam, you're going to get the Distinguished Flying Cross award,' " his daughter said. "But it kind of got lost, and he never got it."
The Distinguished Flying Cross was the second highest award in the Army Air Corps, the predecessor of today's Air Force.
After the war, Mr. Lam returned to California, attended UC-Berkeley on the GI Bill, got married and had children, then worked at the Alameda Naval Station on missiles and avionics for 35 years before retiring in 1986.
Decades passed before he started pursuing the award around 1993. He made contact with his colonel, who was living in Florida, and asked whether he remembered the incident.
"He said, "Yes I remember you. You were the only Chinese one on the squadron,' " his daughter said.
The colonel wrote a letter to the Air Force, and after two years of bureaucratic wrangling, Mr. Lam was finally given the award in a ceremony at Travis Air Force Base in 1995.
Mr. Lam was born in Los Angeles and grew up in the bustling quarters of San Francisco's Chinatown, helping his mother raise his nine siblings while his father was in Hong Kong. He joined the Army Air Corps in 1942.
He suffered a cerebral hemorrhage while preparing Christmas dinner and died a few hours later.
Oldest of 9 sibblings, honored with "Distinguished Flying Cross" in 1995 (earned in 1943 at age 22). When asked about his life by nephew Michael on the night prior to his fatal stroke at a family Christmas Eve party, he claimed "I have no complaints!" His ashes are located just a few feet from one of his son's, Dennis's, final resting place overlooking the Bay Bridge.
San Francisco Newspaper Article printed 01/01/98:
DECORATED WWII AVIATOR
Forrest Lam, a decorated World War II air force navigator who was recognized 51 years late, died Christmas Day after suffering a cerebral hemorrhage at his home in San Leandro. He was 75.
Mr. Lam, a lieutenant on a B24 bomber, was recommended for a Distinguished Flying Cross for his superb navigation skills but did not receive the award until 1995, after he called up his commanding officer saying, "You remember me?"
According to his daughter, Phyllis Lam, he was the lead navigator of 11 aircraft returning from a sortie in Germany in November, 1944. After successfully completing the mission, they were forced to land in Poland because of bad weather conditions. Fuel was so low, they had only one chance to make the landing in the rainy fog.
Mr. Lam, who at the time was just 22 years old, expertly guided all the aircraft to safety, earning him the praise of his commanding officer.
"At that time, the colonel told him, "Lam, you're going to get the Distinguished Flying Cross award,' " his daughter said. "But it kind of got lost, and he never got it."
The Distinguished Flying Cross was the second highest award in the Army Air Corps, the predecessor of today's Air Force.
After the war, Mr. Lam returned to California, attended UC-Berkeley on the GI Bill, got married and had children, then worked at the Alameda Naval Station on missiles and avionics for 35 years before retiring in 1986.
Decades passed before he started pursuing the award around 1993. He made contact with his colonel, who was living in Florida, and asked whether he remembered the incident.
"He said, "Yes I remember you. You were the only Chinese one on the squadron,' " his daughter said.
The colonel wrote a letter to the Air Force, and after two years of bureaucratic wrangling, Mr. Lam was finally given the award in a ceremony at Travis Air Force Base in 1995.
Mr. Lam was born in Los Angeles and grew up in the bustling quarters of San Francisco's Chinatown, helping his mother raise his nine siblings while his father was in Hong Kong. He joined the Army Air Corps in 1942.
He suffered a cerebral hemorrhage while preparing Christmas dinner and died a few hours later.
San Francisco Newspaper Article printed 01/01/98:
DECORATED WWII AVIATOR
Forrest Lam, a decorated World War II air force navigator who was recognized 51 years late, died Christmas Day after suffering a cerebral hemorrhage at his home in San Leandro. He was 75.
Mr. Lam, a lieutenant on a B24 bomber, was recommended for a Distinguished Flying Cross for his superb navigation skills but did not receive the award until 1995, after he called up his commanding officer saying, "You remember me?"
According to his daughter, Phyllis Lam, he was the lead navigator of 11 aircraft returning from a sortie in Germany in November, 1944. After successfully completing the mission, they were forced to land in Poland because of bad weather conditions. Fuel was so low, they had only one chance to make the landing in the rainy fog.
Mr. Lam, who at the time was just 22 years old, expertly guided all the aircraft to safety, earning him the praise of his commanding officer.
"At that time, the colonel told him, "Lam, you're going to get the Distinguished Flying Cross award,' " his daughter said. "But it kind of got lost, and he never got it."
The Distinguished Flying Cross was the second highest award in the Army Air Corps, the predecessor of today's Air Force.
After the war, Mr. Lam returned to California, attended UC-Berkeley on the GI Bill, got married and had children, then worked at the Alameda Naval Station on missiles and avionics for 35 years before retiring in 1986.
Decades passed before he started pursuing the award around 1993. He made contact with his colonel, who was living in Florida, and asked whether he remembered the incident.
"He said, "Yes I remember you. You were the only Chinese one on the squadron,' " his daughter said.
The colonel wrote a letter to the Air Force, and after two years of bureaucratic wrangling, Mr. Lam was finally given the award in a ceremony at Travis Air Force Base in 1995.
Mr. Lam was born in Los Angeles and grew up in the bustling quarters of San Francisco's Chinatown, helping his mother raise his nine siblings while his father was in Hong Kong. He joined the Army Air Corps in 1942.
He suffered a cerebral hemorrhage while preparing Christmas dinner and died a few hours later.
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