Staff Sergeant Malcolm Stevenson Forbes - A Soldier's Story
.png "Staff Sergeant Malcolm Stevenson Forbes, U.S. Army – World War II")
Staff Sergeant Malcolm Stevenson Forbes - A Soldier's Story
Staff Sergeant Malcolm Stevenson Forbes was born on August 19, 1919, in Englewood, New Jersey. Raised in a family deeply engaged in business and public life, Forbes was educated at the Lawrenceville School, graduating in 1937, and later at Princeton University, where he earned a bachelor’s degree in Public and International Affairs.
Following the United States’ entry into World War II, Forbes enlisted in the U.S. Army on December 8, 1942, just one day after the attack on Pearl Harbor. He trained as a machine gunner and was assigned to the 84th Infantry Division, deploying to the European Theater during the latter stages of the war.
In November 1944, during Operation Clipper, Forbes was wounded in action, sustaining a gunshot wound to the thigh. The injury required extended hospitalization and months of recovery, bringing his frontline service to an abrupt end. He was honorably discharged in August 1945, having experienced firsthand the cost and uncertainty of combat during one of the war’s most difficult campaigns.
Returning to New Jersey, Forbes initially pursued public service through politics. He was elected to the New Jersey Senate, serving from 1951 to 1957, and later sought the state's governorship. Though unsuccessful in that bid, his years in elected office reflected a continued commitment to civic engagement following his military service. He ultimately stepped away from politics in 1957.
That same year, Forbes entered the family business, joining Forbes magazine. After the death of his brother Bruce in 1964, he assumed sole leadership of the publication. Under his direction, Forbes grew into one of the most influential business magazines in the world, shaping conversations around entrepreneurship, capitalism, and global finance.
Beyond business, Forbes cultivated a reputation as an adventurer and collector. In 1972, he took up hot air ballooning, setting six world records, including becoming the first person to fly across the continental United States by hot air balloon. His interests also extended to art, history, and mechanics—he amassed a significant collection of Harley-Davidson motorcycles and more than 365 works by Peter Carl Fabergé. He even founded a motorcycle club, whimsically named “The Capitalist Tools,” blending personal passion with his distinctive worldview.
Staff Sergeant Malcolm Stevenson Forbes died on February 24, 1990. His ashes rest on the grounds of his estate in Fiji. Though widely remembered for wealth, publishing, and adventure, his life also included military service marked by injury, endurance, and a quiet willingness to answer the call—an experience shared with millions of his generation.
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About the Author
a.d. elliott is a wanderer, photographer, and storyteller traveling through life
She shares her journeys at Take the Back Roads, explores new reads at Rite of Fancy, and highlights U.S. military biographies at Everyday Patriot.
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