George Sabin Gibbs

George Sabin Gibbs, American general, 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 National Cemetery.

Gibbs' papers are at the Library of Congress.

Source

 * "George Sabin Gibbs, Major General, United States Army." Arlington National Cemetery., which in turn was sourced from Coker, Kathy R., and Stokes, Carol E. A Concise History of The U.S. Army Signal Corps, p. 69, February 1991