James L. Gibbs

	NAME James Leroy Gibbs				NICKNAME —				MCSN 336935
	HOME OF RECORD 2459 Holbrook Street, Hamtramck, MI				NEXT OF KIN Mother, Mrs. Evelyn Gibbs
	DATE OF BIRTH September 7, 1923		DATE OF ENLISTMENT December 15, 1941					DATE OF LOSS November 20, 1942
	REGION Solomons	CAMPAIGN / AREA Guadalcanal		CASUALTY TYPE MIA / Declared Dead November 21, 1943			UNIT H&S/5th Marines attached to Division Special Troops			DUTY Sniper
CIRCUMSTANCES OF LOSS On 18 November 1942, PFC James L. Gibbs led a group of volunteers on a mission to knock out a troublesome Japanese machine gun. When they reached their objective, located atop a Guadalcanal ridgeline, Gibbs instructed his men to hold up. He proceeded alone towards the machine gun. The Japanese spotted the lone figure and opened fire. Gibbs fell “seriously wounded,” and it is not known whether any attempts could be made to rescue him. He was reported as missing in action, suggesting that he was still alive when last seen. Unfortunately, no further trace of Gibbs was ever found, and he was declared dead on 21 November 1943.
INDIVIDUAL DECORATIONS Silver Star, Purple Heart					LAST KNOWN RANK Private First Class
STATUS OF REMAINS Missing in action.					MEMORIALS Hillcrest Cemetery, Six Lakes, MI Manila American Cemetery

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The President of the United States of America takes pride in presenting the Silver Star (Posthumously) to Private First Class James Leroy Gibbs (MCSN: 336935), United States Marine Corps, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action as Member of a sniper unit serving with the First Marines, FIRST Marine Division, during an engagement with enemy Japanese forces on Guadalcanal, Solomon Islands on November 20, 1942. While in charge of a group of men who volunteered to dislodge the enemy from a strongly fortified machine-gun position, Private First Class Gibbs made a survey of the situation and decided that he would have a better chance of carrying out the mission alone. With utter disregard for his own personal safety, he courageously advanced toward the enemy objective, but was seriously wounded. His initiative, bravery and heroic devotion to duty were an inspiration to all whom he served and in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.

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