Forrest G. Phelps, age 100, of Charleston, South Carolina passed away on Saturday June 28, 2014 at the Ralph H. Johnson VA Medical Center, Charleston, South Carolina.

Forrest was born on September 2, 1913, in Montpelier, Idaho. He was the third child of five children born to Martin Henry and Iva Lillia Smart Phelps. He lost both parents at an early age and afterwards lived with three different families. Forrest grew up ranching in Idaho and was a member of the LDS Church.

At the age of 21 he enlisted in the Navy. During his 20 years in the service he survived several near disasters, first a fall into the icy waters of the harbor at Reykjavik, Iceland and later, the attack on Pearl Harbor. Then he was assigned to the fire and rescue tug ATR31 in the Pacific and became chief engine man. The most fearful experience of his entire military career occurred in the Pacific on December 7, 1944. The ATR31 was acting as a fire fighting and salvage vessel while a task force of destroyers and landing troops attacked enemy shore installations at Ormoc Bay in the Philippine Islands. Forrest, manning a 20-MM gun, watched as enemy fighter planes attacked and sank several ships. His tug rescued many of the crews and was later awarded the Presidential Unit Citation. He was later awarded the Korean Service Medal, United Nations Service Medal and National Defense Service Medal. He served in the Navy for 20 years and was honorably released May 4, 1954.

Forrest was in Charleston for the commissioning of the USS Stanley when he met his wife Grace Crosby, a Charleston Navy Yard employee originally from Ruffin, SC. They were married on November 29, 1945. Forrest worked for 11 years at the Charleston Shipyard. After leaving the service, he took advantage of the G.I. Bill and got a commercial pilot license, but never worked as a commercial pilot. He worked in a power plant for a short time, and then became a salesman for Britannica Encyclopedias in 1970. He retired to Walterboro, South Carolina and enjoyed reading and entering puzzle contests.  In 2002, Forrest was on his way to the post office one morning when he spied a collection of classic cars none newer than 1970. He noticed all the stores had been renamed, their windows showing outdated merchandise such as reel-to-reel tape decks, $130 sofas and bell-bottom pants all in preparation for the filming of the movie "Radio" with Ed Harris. Someone on the movie crew spotted Forrest driving by on the first day of filming and thought he would be perfect for the barbershop scene they were shooting. He didn't even have to change his clothes or take off his hunting cap.

Forrest and his wife Grace were not blessed with children. Forrest is survived by several nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his wife Grace, on December 2, 2005, his parents, three brothers, Ross Smart Phelps, Grove Martin (Roma) Phelps, William Lowell Phelps, and a sister, Hazel Areta (Harold) Balling. A graveside service will be held Saturday August 16, 2014 at the Montpelier, Idaho Cemetery with Military Honors provided by VFW Post 3884, at 6:00 p.m.