Silver Star presented to hero's family

HURLBURT FIELD, Fla. (WALA) - To the crowds of airmen who filled Hulburt Field's King's Auditorium to the point where only standing room was available, Mark Forester was a hero and a role model.

But the University of Alabama graduate was so much more to the folks in the front rows, his family.

"I picture him more as my little brother. He was my best friend and my roommate when he was in college," said Mark's older brother Thad Forester. "But I still picture in my head all the time, what happened in that final battle? I wasn't there; and I just wish I could see it in action."

With that on his mind, Thad watched on as his parents, Ray and Pat Forester, accepted a Silver Star on Mark's behalf.

In the face of his enemy, Mark selflessly tried to rescue a fallen comrade in Afghanistan.

But on that day, September 29, 2010, he made the ultimate sacrifice, serving in his 78 and final combat mission.

"It's been a tough almost two years, but I want to thank each of you for being there, for supporting us and especially for the special tactics community; what a family it is," said Ray Forester after accepting the medal.

Thad, too, has felt the support all along.

"At the very beginning, from the very first visit and notification on they told us 'We will be with you every step of the way.' Honestly, it sounded like something that anybody would say, but it's really been true. The special tactics community has been right by our side," Thad Forester said.

Staff Sergeant Johnnie Yellock is in that community. He served four years alongside Mark.

But to Yellock, the youngest sibling in the Forester family was like a big brother to him.

"Mark was one of those people that would keep everybody in line," Yellock said. "You always looked up to him, never faltering character, charisma, and morals that his parents instilled in him at a young age."

Thad was humbled for his family to receive a Silver Star, the third highest combat military dedication an armed forces member can receive.

"We've been very honored to receive all these recognitions for Mark, and to hear about what he did, but there's still that loss there and it has been almost two years now and it doesn't really get any easier," Thad Forester said. "But we are very, very honored to hear what he did when he was serving as a teammate and as a patriot to this country."