Boardman Forbes Returns From Two Years in Iran

BALES, FORBES

Posted By: Volunteer Paul French
Date: 5/13/2007 at 17:12:26

Charles Boardman Forbes, son of Mrs. Ella Bales of West Center street has just returned from Iran where he worked with the U. S. Army engineers under General Connely.

Forbes was stationed in that hot, primitive land for two years. He has great admiration for the U. S. Army Engineers who he says are doing a marvelous job under very trying circumstances in building a southern supply route through Iran to Russia.

He went to Iran in the employ of contractors who were engaged in building the road to connect with the one farther north which was built about 40 years ago by the Russians.

The conditions under which Americans at work in Iran lived and worked according to Forbes, were made bearable only by their own efforts. The conditions under which the natives of the country live, however, are probably no better than they were 2000 years ago.

Future prospects for native Iranians, Forbes thinks, may be better than in the past. Much of the work done by the United States government as a war-time job will remain for the Iranian government to use after the war. The young king and queen have modern ideas and show a disposition to really serve their people.

The natives, according to Forbes, like Americans better than any other nationality. They seem to feel that the treatment they have received from the United States has been more unselfish and beneficient than that from any other country.

Forbes also noted a change in the attitude of the Russians whom Americans were in contact with in Iran. At first the Russians were polite, but distant as if faintly suspicious. In later months Russian courtesy warmed into open friendship.

Forbes came home with the feeling that it is foolish for Americans to travel much beyond their own borders. For his part he says his travels in the future will be confined to his own country since there isn’t any better place in the world to go.

Mr. and Mrs. Forbes make their home in Azusa.

Source: undated newspaper clipping contained in “Family History” of the Barker, Sherod, and Forbes families and descendants compiled by Bernadine Forbes Clark, December 1980.