Franklin C. Sibert

Franklin Cummings Sibert
Major General Franklin C. Sibert, second from the left, with the officers of the Marine Aircraft Group 24 in Mindanao. Lieutenant General Robert L. Eichelberger is standing third from the right. Picture taken on April 27, 1945.
Born	(1891-01-03)January 3, 1891 Bowling Green, Kentucky, United States
Died	June 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 service	1912–1946
Rank	Major General
Service number	0-3394
Unit	Infantry Branch
Commands held	X Corps 6th Infantry Division 32nd Infantry Regiment
Battles/wars	World War I World War II
Awards	Army Distinguished Service Medal Silver Star Legion of Merit (2)
Relations	William 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[]

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 and graduated on June 12, 1912. Several of his fellow graduates included men who, 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 American Expeditionary Force in France and subsequently with the allied occupation forces in Germany.

After the War, Sibert attended the Infantry School at Fort Benning in 1924, the Command and General Staff College at Fort Leavenworth in 1925 and Army War College in 1929.

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.

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

Sibert was then appointed the commanding officer of the 6th Infantry Division. He replaced Major General 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. 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 and Leyte campaigns.

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.

Decorations[]

External links[]

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Franklin C. Sibert.

• Franklin Cummings Sibert at Arlington National Cemetery site
• 6th Infantry Division History
• Battle of Leyte
• Generals of World War II
• United States Army Officers 1939−1945