Joseph Weldon Gibbs

Joseph Weldon Gibbs

            JosephWeldon Gibbs, b January 24, 1909 on a farm in Bell County, Texas, d January 8,1965 in Fort Worth, Tarrant County, Texas. Weldon married Bess Allen Donaldson of Rosebud, Texas.  Both Weldon and Bess attended RosebudHigh School with Weldon graduatingin 1928 and Bess graduating in 1927.

            Weldon wasthe first of five children born to William Robert Kendrick Gibbs (called"Rob" and "R. K.") and Willie Laurine Lucas.  R.K., b November 12, 1885 in Rockdale, MilamCounty, Texas, d December 24, 1967 in Marlin, FallsCounty, Texas and buried in theStrangerCemetery.  Willie Laurine Lucas, b September 20, 1888 in MilamCounty, d May, 5 1971 in Marlin, Texas.

            Weldon andBess had three children.  Annyce, b February 5, 1938 in Corsicana, Texas.  Joseph Allen,  b September 20, 1942 in Rosebud, Texas.  Katherine Elaine, b June 1, 1947 in Greenville,Texas.

            Weldonfinished RosebudHighschool in 1928 and graduated from Texas A. and M.College in 1932 with a Bachelor of Science degree.  He owned and operated a filling station inRosebud, Texas until 1936, thenentered soil conservation work with the U. S. Department of Agriculture at Kaufman,Texas. He was transferred to Corsicana, Texaswhere he was residing when he joined the United States Army as a Captain January 6, 1941.   He trained at FortRiley, Kansas and in April,1942, he was sent to CampHood.  He was promoted to the grade of Major on 4 July 1942 and to Lieutenant Colonelon 25 January 1944.  He stayed at Fort Hood,Texas for two years, first performingadjutant duty, and then later taking a line command and activating the 672ndAmphibious Tractor Battalion serving as it’s firstCommanding Officer. The battalion left for the Pacific area in September, 1944. He took that unit into combat in the Philippinesand performed outstanding service in the Luzon Campaign where his unit freed2147 prisoners from the Los Banos prison camp. Lieutenant Colonel Gibbs was released from active service on 18 December 1945 and promoted toColonel.

            After WWII,Weldon returned to civilian life and continued to enjoy his work as a CivilEngineer with the Soil Conservation Service in Greenville,Texas. His primary work with the Soil Conservation Service was the overseeingof construction of earth dams across North Texas toprevent soil erosion.  Those damscontinue to serve the intended function, plus provide good fishing eventoday.  In 1954, Weldon was promoted todistrict engineer and moved to Fort Worth, Texasto continue his Soil Conservation Service on an even broader scale.

            Whileliving in Greenville, Texas,Weldon continued to serve his nation and the state of Texasby joining the 49th Armored Division Texas National Guard.  He accepted appointment as Lieutenant Colonelon 11 May 1949 and wasassigned to Headquarters, 147th Armored Infantry Battalion located in Greenville.  On 28January 1952, he was promoted to Colonel and assumed command ofCombat Command B, 49th Armored Division located in Dallas,Texas. October, 1961, his unit was activated as a result of the Cuban missilecrisis and sent to Fort Polk, LAwhere it remained until 15 August 1962.  He served with distinction while on activeduty at FortPolkand when the 49th Armored Division was released from active duty in 1962,Colonel Gibbs retired from the Army.

            Weldon continuedhis work with the Soil Conservation Service until his death in 1965.