George Sabin Gibbs – Major General, United States Army

Courtesy of the United States Army:

George Sabin Gibbs was born in Harlan, Iowa, in 1875. He graduated from Harlan High School in 1892, from the State University of Iowa in 1897, and by 1901 had earned a Masters degree in engineering.

In 1898 Gibbs enlisted in the Iowa Volunteer Infantry as a private. During the Spanish American War and Philippine Insurrection, Gibbs served in the volunteer forces, mainly on Signal Corps duty, in ranks from private to first lieutenant. While a sergeant, Gibbs was cited for gallantry in action against the Spanish forces at Manila.

After being commissioned a first lieutenant in the Signal Corps, Regular Army, Gibbs’ various duties included numerous surveys and construction of telegraph lines in Alaska and as chief Army signal officer of the Cuban Pacification. During World War I, Gibbs was the assistant Chief Signal Officer of the American Expeditionary Forces. He was awarded the Distinguished Service Medal for his participation in the Aisne-Marne and Meuse-Argonne offenses.

His post World War I assignments included duty on the War Department General Staff and Executive Officer to the Assistant Secretary of War. In 1924, he supervised the completion of the new Washington-Alaska cable.

Promoted to Major General, Gibbs became Chief Signal Officer on 19 January 1928. He held this position until his retirement on 30 June 1931. After retirement, Gibbs was Vice President of the International Telephone and Telegraph Company and in October 1931 President of the Postal Telegraph Cable Company. Later in 1934 he served as Vice Chairman of the board and a director of the Federal Telephone and Radio Corporation. Gibbs died on 9 January 1947 at Coral Gables, Florida.  He was buried with full military honors in Section 3 of Arlington Natioanl Cemetery.

His wife, Ruth Annis Hobby Gibbs (16 January 1878-17 October 1940), whom he married on 9 October 1899, is buried with him.

GIBBS, GEORGE S
MAJOR GEN USARMY RET
VETERAN SERVICE DATES: Unknown
DATE OF BIRTH: 12/14/1875
DATE OF DEATH: 01/08/1947
DATE OF INTERMENT: 01/13/1947
BURIED AT: SECTION 3 SOU  SITE 1730A
ARLINGTON NATIONAL CEMETERY

GIBBS, RUTH H W/O GEORGE S
DATE OF DEATH: 10/19/1940
DATE OF INTERMENT: 10/21/1940
BURIED AT: SECTION SOUTH  SITE 1730-A
ARLINGTON NATIONAL CEMETERY
WIFE OF GS GIBBS – MAJOR GEN US ARMY RETD

Michael Robert Patterson

Michael Robert Patterson was born in Arlington and is the son of a former officer of the US Army. So it was no wonder that sooner or later his interests drew him to American history and especially to American military history. Many of his articles can be found on renowned portals like the New York Times, Washingtonpost or Wikipedia.

Reviewed by: Michael Howard