George M. Goforth

George Goforth was born in Rutherford County, North Carolina on August 12, 1918.
In 1940 as an ROTC graduate he received a Bachelor of Science degree from North Carolina State University
and volunteered for active military duty in the United States Army. He was assigned to the 22nd Infantry Regiment,
4th Infantry Division on July 28, 1940. On D-Day, June 6, 1944 he landed on Utah Beach in the first wave
as a Captain and Executive Officer of 3rd Battalion 22nd Infantry. On June 8 he was mentioned in the 22nd Infantry
Daily Action Journal as being in command of the ammo dump for the Regiment, being responsible for
getting ammunition to the Companies of the Regiment as they fought their way inland. By June 10 he was back
with 3rd Battalion as their Executive Officer and at one point the Daily Action Journal relates that while he
was talking on the radio with the Regimental Command Post Captain Goforth had to duck back into his foxhole
to avoid sniper fire which had singled him out as a valuable target.

CPT Goforth continued with 3rd Battalion until June 28 when Major John Dowdy, commanding 1st Battalion
was wounded, and Goforth was promoted to Major and assigned to take command of 1st Battalion.

He continued in command of 1st Battalion through the bitter fighting in the hedgerow country of Normandy and on July 8
led the Battalion in seizing the high ground outside of Neuville as part of the attack along the Carentan-Periers Road.
In the 22nd Infantry Daily Action Journal of July 9 Goforth was mentioned as Major Goforth and was related orders by
the new Regimental Commander Colonel Lanham to press the attack toward the village of La Maugerie.

The battle for La Maugerie turned into an all-out brawl with artillery and mortars from both sides firing deadly barrages
causing high casualties among Americans and Germans alike. Attacks by German Panther tanks pushed the 22nd Infantry
back and lost ground was retaken at great cost. On July 10, when 1st Battalion was 100 yards short of La Maugerie
Goforth was wounded, and relinquished command of 1st Battalion to his executive officer CPT Bruce Lattimer.

Major Goforth was hospitalized in England for 3 months to recover from his wounds. He returned to 1st Battalion on
November 15, 1944. On October 3, 1944 Major Hubert Drake had taken command of 1st Battalion. On the second day of
the attack into the Hürtgen Forest, November 17, 1944, the Germans launched a devastating artillery barrage into the area
occupied by the 22nd Infantry and a treeburst from a 170mm shell killed Drake. Colonel Lanham ordered Major Goforth to take
command of 1st Battalion and Captain Clifford Henley became his Executive Officer. Because of the high loss of officers in the
first two days of the Hürtgen attack Lanham also ordered Goforth not to get in the same foxhole with Henley.

Major Goforth led 1st Battalion through the hell that was the Hürtgen Forest battle, watching his Battalion sustain heavy
casualties and become more than 50% replacements until, by December 3, 1st Battalion's total fighting strength was down
to less than that authorized for a single Company.

Goforth was promoted to Lieutenant Colonel on January 1, 1945, and commanded 1st Battalion in the actions during the
Battle of the Bulge, in the second penetration of the Siegfried Line and the battle for Prum. He led the Battalion
through the end of the war, the occupation of Germany and returned with it to the US where, at Camp Butner
he was still in command of 1st Battalion until his discharge in late 1945.

He married Thelma Beam and they had four children: George Edward, Ann (Rosi), John, Jean (Peach)
and seven grandchildren. Goforth earned a Masters Degree from the University of South Carolina
and taught agriculture at Blacksburg High School, where he served as Principal until retirement in 1978.

On January 3, 1994 LTC George Goforth passed away and was buried in Beulah United Methodist Cemetery
in Cleveland County, North Carolina.

George Goforth was awarded the Silver Star Medal in 4th Division General Orders # 21 dated 21 February 1945.

He was awarded the Oak Leaf Cluster to the Bronze Star Medal in 4th Division General Orders # 33
dated 12 April 1945.

LTC George Goforth, in Europe during the war.
Photo taken after he assumed command of 1st Battalion,
exact location and date unknown.

Note 4th Infantry Division insignia
on his helmet liner.

Burial:
Beulah United Methodist Cemetery
Waco
Cleveland County
North Carolina, USA