US Major General, Signal Corps. A graduate of the University of Iowa with a degree in engineering, he enlisted with the Iowa Volunteer Infantry and served in the enlisted ranks during the Spanish-American War and the Philippine Insurrection. Afterwards, he was commissioned and returned to Cuba in 1906 as the chief signal officer during the Cuban Pacification. Gibbs was the assistant chief signal officer of the American Expeditionary Forces and was awarded the Distinguished Service Medal for "his skill in handling the tactical and technical operations of the Signal Corps organizations attached to the service at the front." Additionally, he was decorated by England (Order of St. Michael and St. George); France, (Legion of Honor); and Belgium and Italy (both Order of the Crown). He was responsible for the purchase and subsequent lying of 1,806 miles of cable connecting Seattle, Washington to the Alaskan Territory. He established radio stations in St. Michael and Nome, the first stations to handle commercial message traffic in Alaska. He was promoted as the Army's Chief Signal Officer in January 1928 serving until his retirement in June, 1931. Following his retirement, he was the vice president of the International Telephone and Telegraph Company; the president of the Postal Telegraph Cable Company, and; in 1934, the director of the Federal Telephone and Radio Corporation.
US Major General, Signal Corps. A graduate of the University of Iowa with a degree in engineering, he enlisted with the Iowa Volunteer Infantry and served in the enlisted ranks during the Spanish-American War and the Philippine Insurrection. Afterwards, he was commissioned and returned to Cuba in 1906 as the chief signal officer during the Cuban Pacification. Gibbs was the assistant chief signal officer of the American Expeditionary Forces and was awarded the Distinguished Service Medal for "his skill in handling the tactical and technical operations of the Signal Corps organizations attached to the service at the front." Additionally, he was decorated by England (Order of St. Michael and St. George); France, (Legion of Honor); and Belgium and Italy (both Order of the Crown). He was responsible for the purchase and subsequent lying of 1,806 miles of cable connecting Seattle, Washington to the Alaskan Territory. He established radio stations in St. Michael and Nome, the first stations to handle commercial message traffic in Alaska. He was promoted as the Army's Chief Signal Officer in January 1928 serving until his retirement in June, 1931. Following his retirement, he was the vice president of the International Telephone and Telegraph Company; the president of the Postal Telegraph Cable Company, and; in 1934, the director of the Federal Telephone and Radio Corporation.
Bio by: Beth Painter
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