While serving as a full-time missionary in California, Mark Forester felt a calling to serve his country after the attacks on September 11, 2001. After earning his college degree, he enlisted in the U.S. Air Force in June 2007, choosing the enlisted path to increase his chances of front-line deployment. Determined to take on the most demanding role, he became a Combat Controller with the 21st Special Tactics Squadron.
On September 29, 2010, during a mission in Uruzgan Province, Afghanistan, Mark and his Special Forces team were ambushed by 30 insurgents. Amidst heavy fire, he repeatedly exposed himself to danger to mark enemy positions and call in critical air support, including AH-64 and A-10 strafing runs and F-16 bomb strikes. His actions were instrumental in neutralizing 37 insurgents and saving the lives of his teammates. For his extraordinary bravery, he was posthumously awarded the Silver Star.
Known to pilots as “JAG 28,” his call sign was immediately retired in his honor.
