Forester Worth Bloom entered the Dubois schools in 1900 and graduated from the high school in 1914. After graduation he was employed by the B. R. & P. R. R. Company as electric welder in their locomotive shops at Dubois. He later entered Grove City College as a student and became one of the star foot ball players in that institution. When war was declared against germany and President EWilson called for volunteer enlistments foir overseas service he was one of the first to enlist.

He enlisted at Ridgeway in June 1917, as a cornet player in the original 18th Regiment Band, which was then a part of the 28th Keystone Divisioin formed from the Pennsylvania National Guard Divisioins and sometimes called the “Iron Division.” He went into training at Ridgeway, Pa. June 15, 1917, until August 5th wqhewn they were moved to Schenley Oval, Pittsburgh, Pa. until ASugust 20, 1917, from here they were moved to Camp Hancock, Augusta, Ga. where they remained until April 21, 1918, when they were moved to Camp Upton, New York, and on May 9, 1918, entrained for overseas on board the liner Olympia, which carried 3800 of our boys for the great adventure. Their first adventure was with the German submarines, while in mid ocean. The Olympia had an escort of convoys as submarine chasers and destroyers.

The Olympia had gotten a few miles ahead of the convoys about daybreak one morning when in mid ocean the outlook espied three German submarines preparing an attack. The Olympia rammed one of the submarines on end and sank it and dropped depth bombs, sinking the other two. By this time the convoys came to the Olympia's rescue but we're not needed, as oil and debris from the destroyed submarines was coming to the surface, showing the complete destruction of the Subs. At the time of the attack the men were asleep in their bunks, but were awakened and witnessed the scene and have never forgotten how near the 3800 men came to a watery grave. They arrived at Calais, France on May 18, where they trained two weeks with the British, then moved to Gonessee, North of Paris, and trained with the French for two weeks. On arriving at France the old 18th Regt. band was disbanded and Forester Worth was assigned to the Medical Staff as first aid to the wounded on the battle front, when they were placed in an ambulance and taken to the base hospital for treatment.

From June 30th, to July 7th, while the Division was in training they were actively sending units into the front lines to the Marne. Gerald Bloom [Forester’s brother] was also in this Division, mention of which is made elsewhere [see Gerald Elba Bloom notes]. The 28th Division from the Verey light at Chateau Thierry until the finish at Metz, was busy all the time. On July 1, the 111th Infantry, a part of the 28th took part in the attack West of Chateau Thierry for which they were decorated by the French Army. The 28th was engaged in the hottest of the raids, battles and aggressive patrols and held its own until the close of hostilities, November 11, 1918. They were held at Metz, Germany, until May, 1919, when they were ordered home. They landed at New York on May 9, 1919. Thence to Pittsburgh, thence to Camp Sherman, Chillcothe, Ohio, and received their honorable discharge.

After receiving his discharge Forester Worth Bloom returned to Grove City College, from which he graduated. He then entered Taft's Medical College, Harvard University, Boston, Mass., from which he graduated in Medicine and Surgery. He finished his interne in the Presbyterian Hospital N.S. Pittsburgh Pa. He is now one of the leading Physiciand and Surgeons of Pittsburgh, Pa. While serving his interne course he met Miss Jean Albaugh, a registered nurse in the institution, to whom he was married in 1925. She is the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. A. R. Albaugh of Sheridan Division, Pittsburgh, Pa.6814