Dad was born July 17, 1916 to David Elwood and Hattie (Drummond) Couchman in Lyons, Nebraska. Dad was the 7th of 8 children: Kathryn Gustafson, Alta Johnson, Harold, David, Theodore , Donald and Robert. His sisters nick-named him “Stub”, which he was known by for the next 92 years. He moved with his family to Plainview, Nebraska in 1924 graduating from Plainview High School in 1935.

Dad married Lorene Grace Newman May 21, 1938 in Gering , Nebraska.  Their first year of marriage, they lived in Mitchell where he worked for the Farmers Irrigation Company.

When they moved back to Plainview, he worked with his father driving truck with the Couchman Transfer Company.

Dad served in the US Army from 1942 – 1945. After he returned home, he and his brother, Donald, took over the Couchman Transfer Company selling it in 1948.

In 1948, he and Mike VanSlyke bought the Pine Room and sold it three years later.

In 1953 he started working for the Kansas Nebraska Gas company, working there for ten years.

In 1963 he worked for the US Postal Service until retiring in 1985.

Following his retirement he and Mom enjoyed bus trips that took them across the US, often traveling with Betty and Eldon Fox and Darold and LaFern Rasmussen. They enjoyed their trips to LasVegas, often times stopping to see Velma and Myron Falter. He enjoyed Husker football, sitting in their seats in the south end zone and playing bridge. His golfing buddies included Warren Hoffart, Willard Naprstek and Darold Rasmussen.

Dad served as Past Commander of the American Legion, a former member of the Plainview Volunteer Fire Department, former member of the Plainview Country Club Board of Directors, served on several boards of the First Congregational United Church of Christ, was member of the Masonic Lodge #204 A.F.&A.M. and a member of  Mt. Vernon Chapter #84, Order of Eastern Star. Dad was a charter member of the Plainview Klown Band that had its beginning in 1955. He played trombone well into his 80’s.

Mom died in May of 2002, having been married for 64 years.

Dad died November 28, 2008 at the age of 92 years. His legacy is carried on through his family: son-in-law, Jack Frahm, granddaughter, Jacqueline King and her husband, Tobin and children Emma, Jacson and  Gabryela; grandson, Brian Frahm and daughter, Jordynn.

Forrest Couchman’s Story

 written by Lorene Couchman

I was inducted into the United States Army at Fort Crook, Nebraska on January 5, 1943 and then reported to Fort Leavenworth, Kansas.  I was sent to Camp Sunnyvale, California where I was attached to the 506 Quartermaster Car Company, II Armored Corps and I took my basic training at Camp Sunnyvale and Fort Ord, California. 

My company was sent by train to Camp Shanks, New York in December 1943 leaving there on the 21st for the European Theater of War for active duty.  Our company was divided into platoons of 24 men.  My platoon sailed on the Liberty Ship, USS Samuel Parker.  After being on the ship 16 days, which included Christmas and New Years, we landed at Avonmouth, England.  Two days later we were in Lungen, Ireland, where we stayed until May 22, 1944.  We were sent to Scotland and then sent by convoy to Attabury, England where my outfit was attached to XV Corps under Lt. General Wade Haislip.  After D-Day on June 10, 1944 we landed on Omaha Beach.

We crossed the English Channel on barges and then drove our water-proofed vehicles on to the shore.  There still was a lot of mortar fire and the Armored divisions found it tough going.

When we arrived at Barnseville, France I had orders to take a German prisoner to Army Headquarters at Avranches, France for interrogation and was told “if he runs, shoot him” but he was too scared.

The XV Corps was attached to the 3rd Army under the command of General George Patton and we moved quickly through the central part of France.  We entered Germany, crossing the Rhine River at Worms, Germany on March 28, 1945.  It was there that a soldier to whom I was talking to after dark one night lost his life to a German sniper.  We moved 19 times in Germany and it was my job to drive officers to the front lines, even at night with only “cat eyes” on my vehicle.

The war was coming to an end when we entered the notorious Auschwitz Concentration Camp in Germany on May 1, 1945.  It was a terrible sight to see, bodies stacked in railroad cars, clothes piled high near the building where the prisoners had been gassed to death.

When the war ended on May 7 (celebrated May 8, 1945) I was at Adolf Hitler’s retreat located at Berchtesgaden on a mountain top, near Salzburg, Austria.  The retreat was nearly destroyed from bombing by the United States Air Force. 

The country there is beautiful but what a disastrous war it was, the brutality, hardships, and death it brought to so many people.

My brother, Robert, was killed on February 7, 1945.  He was Staff Sargent in the 311th Infantry, 78th Division.  He was buried in the Margraten Cemetery near Maastricht, Holland and I was given permission to visit his grave before I came home.  He is now buried in the Lyon’s Cemetery at Lyons, Nebraska.  I also lost a cousin who was in the infantry and my wife lost a cousin who was a gunner on a bomber (airplane).

I was in 4 major campaigns and drove over 35,000 miles.  I returned home in October and received my discharge notice from the United States Army on November 15, 1945.  The Bronze Star was awarded to me by Lt. General Wade Haislip “for meritorious service in connection with military operations against an enemy of the United States during the period of March 15 - May 9, 1945.  He was called upon to make many trips entailing long hours and many times under difficult driving conditions.  Regardless of the weather conditions or danger involved, he never failed to carry through his mission to successful completion.  The maintenance of his vehicle was the highest standard.  The high devotion to duty and superior performance of all assigned tasks reflect great credit on Private First Class Couchman and the military service.”