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747. Pensacola's November Loss 11-26-1944 WWII

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Updated: Feb 28, 2022

US Army Private William Aubrey Gibson was born in Pensacola, Florida on October 16, 1920, the son of Joseph William Gibson (1889-1968) and Escambia Jones (1892-1983). His father was born in Pine Barren and supported his family throughout his life as a truck driver. In 1930, Joseph was a driver for Escambia County while renting a house in Molino for $5.00 per month. Five years later the family was still in Molino and Joseph was still a driver. By 1940, the family had relocated to Ferry Pass where they rented a house for $8.00 per month. At the time, his father was a driver for the WPA government program. Five years later, Joseph was a chauffeur, and still driving.


As for his son William, he like so many young men during the Great Depression, dropped out of grammar school in the 8th grade. In 1939, he would marry Matilda Margueriete Wendt (1921-1991) in Santa Rosa County. She was the daughter of Gustav Ernest Otto Wendt (1875-1958) who was a native of Germany and a Spanish American War veteran. He enlisted in the US Navy on April 22, 1898 and served on the USS Lancaster before his discharge on December 27, 1898. Matilda's mother was Minnie Lee Jones (1882-1963) who married Gustav in 1901 and both rest today in the Whitmire Cemetery. Matilda was also the daughter of Private Henry W. Jones formerly of the Confederate Army who donated land for the Olive Baptist Church in Ferry Pass.


Even William's heritage originated in the Civil War since he was the great grandson of Private William S. Gibson (1818-1888) who enlisted in Mobile on December 15, 1862 in Company "H" of the 15th Confederate Cavalry Regiment. The regiment operated throughout southern Alabama and northwest Florida. Today, he and his wife Sarah Elizabeth Anderson (1828-1916) rests in Ray's Chapel Cemetery.


In the meantime, William and Matilda's first son, Ernest Aubrey Gibson (1940-1994) was born in 1940 while William was working for Felix Thomas at the Pensacola Buggy Works as an automotive painter. A daughter would follow close behind in 1942 with the birth of Judith "Judy" Marie Gibson (1942-1998) followed by her sister Elaine in 1943.


However, by this time America was fully engaged in a world war and fighting on two fronts in the Mediterranean and the Pacific with two landings in France planned for the near future. America needed more men and fast. In response, William Aubrey entered the US Army on May 27, 1944 and was sent to Ft. McPherson in Atlanta for processing and orientation. Ten days after he enlisted, tens of thousands of American soldiers stormed ashore at Normandy with horrendous casualties of which William would become a replacement. Upon completion of his basic training, he was sent overseas to a replacement center who forwarded him to the 377th Infantry Regiment of the 95th Infantry Division.


By November, William was firmly ensconced with his regiment and fully engaged with the German forces to their front. On the morning of November 25, 1944, both the 90th and 95th Divisions began their drive toward the Sarre River (Saar). The Germans were now fighting in small groups of 30-40 soldiers and doing everything they could to slow down the Americans as they crossed the Nied River. William's regiment was moving slowly forward as the 378th did so on their right. By nightfall, they had captured four French towns before advancing on the old Maginot Line.


On the morning of November 26th, William's division was meeting little resistance as his regiment made their main push forward for about four miles. As evening descended, William and the 377th encountered increasing resistance as the Germans were determined to make a stand against the Americans. It was here that the young private from Pensacola was killed in action. Word of his death took its painful path through the US Army to the War Department resulting in a mournful telegraph being sent to the Pensacola Western Union Telegraph office at 130 South Palafox Street. Once received it was given to the messenger to be delivered. The messenger did not need directions because only four weeks earlier he had made this same trip to the Gibson family's house. Once there, he had delivered the telegraph stating that their younger son Maurice had been killed in the Battle of Samar on October 25th in the South Pacific and his remains were never recovered. Now the war had cost the Gibson family yet another son! This left one remaining son in uniform, Forrest Eugene Gibson who had served in the USAAC from 1937-1939. He had reenlisted in 1943 and would survive to retire in 1963 as a Master Sergeant.


Today William's remains are in the Lorraine American Cemetery in, St. Avold, France. His wife Matilda would marry again to Ernest Arthur Schneider (1923-1986) in 1962 in San Diego, California. He would pass away in Pensacola on May 19, 1986 and was buried in the Whitmire Cemetery where he was joined by Matilda five years later.

























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