Charles Robert Forbes was a Scottish-American politician and military officer. Appointed the first director of the Veterans' Bureau by President Warren G. Harding on August 9, 1921, Forbes served until February 28, 1923. His tenure was characterized by corruption and scandal.
Charles R. Forbes
Forbes had family, business, and political ties in the Pacific Northwest. Seattle Washington, 1917
Major Charles R. Forbes, Division Signal Officer, 33rd Division, testing field radio with doughboys of the 108th Field Signal Battalion, 33rd Division, France, September 1918.
Drake Hotel in Chicago, where Forbes took a $5,000 bribe. (1920 postcard)
33rd Infantry Division (United States)
The 33rd Infantry Division was a formation of the U.S. Army National Guard between 1917 and 1968. Originally formed for service during World War I, the division fought along the Western Front during the Battle of Amiens, the Battle of Hamel, the Meuse-Argonne Offensive, at the Second Battle of the Somme, and at the Battle of Saint-Mihiel. It was re-formed during the inter-war period, and then later activated for service during World War II, seeing action against the Imperial Japanese Army in the Pacific. In the post war era, the division was reconstituted as an all-Illinois National Guard division. In the late 1960s, the division was reduced to a brigade-sized formation, and its lineage is currently perpetuated by the 33rd Infantry Brigade Combat Team.
British King George V and General John J. Pershing inspecting men from every unit of the U.S. 33rd Division which took part in the fighting at Hamel on 4 July and Chipilly on 8 August. Molliens, 12 August 1918.
A pause for celebration. Doughboys of the 33rd Division liberate some German refreshments on the Meuse–Argonne front, October 1918.