Staff Sergeant Forrest B. Sibley was born on October 21, 1983, in Shreveport, Louisiana, and called Pensacola, Florida, home. As the first son and first grandson in the family, he was jokingly called “Prince William,” heir to the Sibley fortune. Service ran deep in his family: his grandfather, retired Army Colonel Regis Schnupp, and his uncle, retired Sergeant Major Kurt Schnupp, both wore the uniform.
Forrest entered active duty in the Air Force in November 2008 and, after basic training, began the two-year pipeline to become a combat controller. He completed Combat Control School at Pope Army Airfield, combat dive school, airborne and military free-fall training and qualified as a joint terminal attack controller. Upon graduating in 2010 he was assigned to the 23rd Special Tactics Squadron and later to the 24th Special Tactics Squadron before joining the 21st Special Tactics Squadron at Pope Army Airfield, North Carolina, in 2014. As a combat controller he was trained to survey and establish airfields, control air power and direct precision strikes in hostile territory.
Forrest deployed three times to Afghanistan and once to Africa. In December 2012, serving as a joint terminal attack controller in Afghanistan, he earned the Bronze Star Medal with Valor for heroism in combat. In seven years of service he received four Bronze Star Medals, a Purple Heart, the Joint Service Commendation Medal, the Air Force Commendation Medal and the Air Force Combat Action Medal.
In August 2015 Forrest deployed to Afghanistan in support of Operation Freedom’s Sentinel. On August 26, 2015, he and Captain Matthew Roland, an MVF honoree in 2023, were riding in the lead vehicle of a convoy returning to Camp Antonik. At an Afghan Commando checkpoint between Camp Bastion and Camp Antonik, one of the guards raised his weapon. Captain Roland threw the vehicle into reverse and radioed a warning of an insider attack before the guard opened fire, mortally wounding both men. Forrest was 31. His family notes that he died with an American flag in his pocket.
More than 300 people gathered at Pope Army Airfield on September 3, 2015, to honor him. Teammates described “the coolest guy in the room,” a knight and warrior on the battlefield who went to great lengths to mentor young Airmen and whose sense of humor was second to none. “We can pay tribute to Forrest by trying to be a little more like him: work hard, but don’t take life too seriously,” said his commander, Major Stewart Parker. A close friend called him “a man with a remarkable soul whose character could not be emulated.”
An avid outdoorsman who excelled at shooting and fishing, Forrest bought more than 100 acres, now known as “FoLand,” as a retreat where family and his band of brothers could recharge after deployments. He was relentless, optimistic and charming. He loved America and, by his family’s own account, was a devoted momma’s boy who kept a journal for ten years. He is survived by his parents, Brent Sibley and Suzi Fernandez; his sister, Jordan; his brother, Spenser; his stepbrother, Justin; his grandparents, Raiford and Betty Jo Sibley; and Hannah Grace Broz, his love and confidant.
Forrest deployed four times calling in close air support to protect commando assault teams. He gave his life alongside Capt. Matthew Roland in Helmand.
21st Special Tactics Squadron
Sources
- Air Force Reserve Command: Fallen Special Tactics Airman honored at private tribute
- Air Force Special Tactics: SSgt Forrest Sibley (Honor the Fallen)
- Combat Control Foundation: SSgt Forrest B. Sibley
- Combat Control Foundation: Combat Control Acts of Valor
- Family-provided records on file with MVF: Forrest Sibley bio, 2024 stage bio and honoree website bio sheet
