Ralph William Gibson
Ralph William Gibson’s Personal Narrative was derived from information found in public records, military personnel files, and local/state historical association materials. Please note that the Robb Centre never fully closes the book on our servicemembers; as new information becomes available, narratives will be updated to appropriately represent the life story of each veteran.
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Military Honor(s):
Distinguished Service Cross
Citation: The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress, July 9, 1918, takes pleasure in presenting the Distinguished Service Cross to Sergeant Ralph Gibson (ASN: 1402850), United States Army, for extraordinary heroism in action while serving with Company H, 370th Infantry Regiment, 93d Division, A.E.F., at Beaume, France, 8 November 1918. Sergeant Gibson, then private, led his platoon across a fire-swept zone in the advance of the objective, encouraging his men by his fearless example. On the same day he was placed in charge of two important reconnoitering patrols, whose mission was to locate enemy machine-gun positions that were known to be in the path of the advance of the company. He accomplished the mission, constantly exposed to enemy fire, and brought back important information.
Life & Service
- Birth: 9 December 1895, Chicago, IL, United States
- Place of Residence:
- Race/Ethnicity: African American
- Death: 14 June 1938 Proviso Township, IL, United States
- Branch: Army
- Military Rank: Sergeant
- Company: [H]
- Infantry Regiment: 370th
- Division: 93rd
Ralph William Gibson was born to William (?-?) and Rosa (Bibbs) (?-?) on December 9, 1895 in Chicago, Cook County, Illinois. Much of Ralph’s early life is unknown.
Ralph enlisted in the U.S. Army on July 30, 1917 in Chicago, Illinois, as a Private. Then-Corporal Gibson and his company left Newport News, Virginia on April 7, 1918, on the U.S. Army Transport Ship President Grant, arriving in Brest, France on April 13, 1918. Then-Sergeant received the Distinguished Service Cross for his actions on November 8, 1918 near Beaume, France;
“The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress, July 9, 1918, takes pleasure in presenting the Distinguished Service Cross to Sergeant Ralph Gibson (ASN: 1402850), United States Army, for extraordinary heroism in action while serving with Company H, 370th Infantry Regiment, 93d Division, A.E.F., at Beaume, France, 8 November 1918. Sergeant Gibson, then private, led his platoon across a fire-swept zone in the advance of the objective, encouraging his men by his fearless example. On the same day he was placed in charge of two important reconnoitering patrols, whose mission was to locate enemy machine-gun positions that were known to be in the path of the advance of the company. He accomplished the mission, constantly exposed to enemy fire, and brought back important information”. Awarded DSC by CG, AEF, December 6, 1918. Published in G.O. No. 46, W.D., 1919.
Sergeant Gibson and his company left Brest, France on February 2, 1919 on an U.S. Army Transport Ship, arriving at Camp Upton, New York on February 9, 1919. Sergeant Gibson was Honorably Discharged on February 24, 1919. Gibson may have had future service, as indicated from his Military Personnel Files, but the duration of his time is unknown.
Ralph married former stage actress Edith (Gordon) (1894-?) on January 7, 1920 in Chicago, Cook County, Illinois, where they lived throughout the 1920s-1930s, at one point, fostering six of Edith’s brothers. Ralph worked as a butcher in a downtown Chicago meat market until his death on June 14, 1938, he left no children.
