Franklin Cummings Sibert
Major General Franklin C. Sibert (left), X Corps commander, confers with Major General Frederick A. Irving, commander of the 24th Infantry Division, at a forward command post during the invasion of Leyte, Philippines, 1943.
Born(1891-01-03)January 3, 1891
Bowling Green, Kentucky, United States
DiedJune 24, 1980(1980-06-24) (aged 89)
Fort Walton Beach, Florida, United States
Buried
Arlington National Cemetery, Virginia, United States
Allegiance United States
Service/branch United States Army
Years of service1912–1946
Rank Major General
Service number0-3394
Unit Infantry Branch
Commands heldX Corps
6th Infantry Division
32nd Infantry Regiment
Battles/warsWorld War I
World War II
AwardsArmy Distinguished Service Medal
Silver Star
Legion of Merit (2)
RelationsWilliam L. Sibert (father)
Edwin L. Sibert (brother)

Major General Franklin Cummings Sibert (January 3, 1891 – June 24, 1980) was a United States Army officer. During World War II, Sibert was originally the commander of the 6th Infantry Division but was promoted to command the X Corps of General Walter Krueger's US Sixth Army. His corps took part in the landing operations of the Battle of Leyte in the Philippines.

Early years

At West Point in 1912.

Sibert was born on January 3, 1891, in Bowling Green, Kentucky, as a son of future Major General William L. Sibert and his wife Mary Margaret Cummings. He attended the United States Military Academy at West Point, New York and graduated on June 12, 1912.[1] Several of his fellow graduates, like Sibert himself, would attain general officer rank, such as Gilbert R. Cook, John S. Wood, Wade H. Haislip, Stephen J. Chamberlin, Walton Walker, Harry J. Malony, William H. Wilbur, Robert McGowan Littlejohn, Archibald Vincent Arnold, Millard Harmon, Raymond O. Barton, Albert E. Brown, and Walter M. Robertson. He was commissioned a second lieutenant in the infantry on the same date. One year later, Sibert married Helen Mildred Rogers on March 4, 1913.

During World War I, Sibert served with the American Expeditionary Forces (AEF) in France, initially as an aide-de-camp to his father, who commanded the 1st Division from June−December 1917, before commanding a machine gun battalion. With the war over, he subsequently served with the allied occupation forces in Germany.[1]

After the war, Sibert attended the Infantry School at Fort Benning in 1924, before going on to attend the Command and General Staff College at Fort Leavenworth from August 1924 until June 1925, where he was a distinguished graduate.[2] This was followed some years later by his attendance at the Army War College from August 1928 to July 1929.[1][3] His next few years were spent mainly as a staff officer or in a teaching role, returning to the Command and General Staff College, this time as an instructor.[1]

In 1934, Sibert served as a battalion commanding officer in the 29th Infantry Regiment and subsequently served in the various infantry positions at Fort Benning or as the Member of the Infantry Board.

World War II

In 1939, Sibert spent some time in Michigan as a commanding officer of Fort Wayne or Camp Custer. In September 1941 Sibert was promoted to the rank of brigadier general and was appointed to the staff of Lieutenant general Joseph W. Stilwell, Commander of the U.S. Forces in China-Burma-India Theater. Sibert accompanied Stillwell in the retreat from Burma in 1942.[4]

The grave of Major General Franklin C. Sibert at Arlington National Cemetery

Sibert was then appointed the commanding officer of the 6th Infantry Division.[5] He replaced Major General Durward S. Wilson in this capacity. He was also promoted to the rank of major general on March 11, 1942, and his assistant division commander (ADC) was Brigadier General Julius Ochs Adler. He participated in the New Guinea and Philippines campaigns. He was highly regarded by Lieutenant General Walter Krueger, who in July 1944 radioed his superior, General Douglas MacArthur, about Sibert:

During a visit [to] the Wakde−Maffin Bay area a few days ago, I was impressed with Sibert's skilful handling of his troops. He is cool and very aggressive and his troops reflect that spirit....He is aggressive and has the punch to be expected of a corps commander who may at any time be required to command a large, independent task force in action.[1]

After commanding the 6th Infantry Division, he commanded the US X Corps from August 1944 until the end of the war. Under his command his X Corps participated in the New Guinea, Southern Philippines[6] and Leyte campaigns.[7]

Post World War II

Sibert retired from the Army on June 30, 1946. After his retirement, he and his wife lived in Fort Walton Beach, Florida, until his death on June 24, 1980.[8] He was buried at Arlington National Cemetery.[9]

Decorations

Bronze oak leaf cluster
Bronze oak leaf cluster
Bronze star
Bronze star
Bronze star
Bronze star
Bronze star
Bronze star
Bronze star
Bronze star
Bronze star
Bronze star
1st row Army Distinguished Service Medal
2nd row Silver Star Legion of Merit
with Oak Leaf Cluster		 Bronze Star Medal
with Oak Leaf Cluster		 Air Medal
3rd row Mexican Border Service Medal World War I Victory Medal
with four campaign clasps		 Army of Occupation of Germany Medal American Defense Service Medal
4th row American Campaign Medal Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal
with four campaign stars		 World War II Victory Medal Philippine Liberation Medal
with two stars

Bibliography

  • Taaffe, Stephen R. (2013). Marshall and His Generals: U.S. Army Commanders in World War II. Lawrence, Kansas: University Press of Kansas. ISBN 978-0-7006-1942-9. OCLC 840162019.

References

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