Our Cousin is one of the Greater Generation that gave his life for us. He is a Veteran Family Member whom we wish to honor as best we can with this BIO. Our relationship is as follows. His grandfather, Marion Alfred Morris was a brother to William Henry Morris. William is one of my husband's fraternal Great-Grandfathers. Thus Bluford's father is a Great-Grand Uncle to my husband, making Bluford a distant Cousin. He was the third born child of four children born to John & Florence Gibbon. The records I found on ancestry, are his Enlistment Record, the U.S. National Cemetery Interment Form, and a U.S. Roster of World War Dead, that covers between 1939 to 1945. These records helped us to put this BIO together. As more is found his BIO will be up dated. These records helped us to also put together the following Military BIO on him.
When he enlisted into Active Duty, he appears to have already been a member of the Oregon National Guard. The Nation Guard is noted as one source for his enlistment record. He Enlisted on 16 Sept. 1940 at Newburg, Oregon. He was assigned to the Field Artillery with the rank of Private (Pvt.). On the interment form and his grave marker it states the following. His rank is Private First Class (PFC.)and his last unit he was assigned to was the 218th Field Artillery Battalion, Field Artillery World War II.
The enlistment record noted he had the skills to drive a Car, Limo, Bus, Taxi, Truck and Tractor. Which most likely means he drove the trucks that transported Artillery Gun Units to designated sites. Besides driving he was probably part of a Cannon Crew Team. He was killed while on active duty in the Philippine Islands. The records so far don't state exactly how or the exact location. His interment form states he was first buried in the USAF cemetery, Leyte No. 1, Philippine Islands. He was Re-buried on 17 September 1948 in the Golden Gate National Cemetery, San Bruno, California. We have no record that states what military awards that may have been bestowed on him. I am hoping to find out at a later date. My best guess at this time is at least a Purple Heart Medal and Army Good Conduct Medal. According to the dates his enlistment calculates to four years six months and eight days.
Submitted by Kathy
on 2 June 2017
When he enlisted into Active Duty, he appears to have already been a member of the Oregon National Guard. The Nation Guard is noted as one source for his enlistment record. He Enlisted on 16 Sept. 1940 at Newburg, Oregon. He was assigned to the Field Artillery with the rank of Private (Pvt.). On the interment form and his grave marker it states the following. His rank is Private First Class (PFC.)and his last unit he was assigned to was the 218th Field Artillery Battalion, Field Artillery World War II.
The enlistment record noted he had the skills to drive a Car, Limo, Bus, Taxi, Truck and Tractor. Which most likely means he drove the trucks that transported Artillery Gun Units to designated sites. Besides driving he was probably part of a Cannon Crew Team. He was killed while on active duty in the Philippine Islands. The records so far don't state exactly how or the exact location. His interment form states he was first buried in the USAF cemetery, Leyte No. 1, Philippine Islands. He was Re-buried on 17 September 1948 in the Golden Gate National Cemetery, San Bruno, California. We have no record that states what military awards that may have been bestowed on him. I am hoping to find out at a later date. My best guess at this time is at least a Purple Heart Medal and Army Good Conduct Medal. According to the dates his enlistment calculates to four years six months and eight days.
Submitted by Kathy
on 2 June 2017
Our Cousin is one of the Greater Generation that gave his life for us. He is a Veteran Family Member whom we wish to honor as best we can with this BIO. Our relationship is as follows. His grandfather, Marion Alfred Morris was a brother to William Henry Morris. William is one of my husband's fraternal Great-Grandfathers. Thus Bluford's father is a Great-Grand Uncle to my husband, making Bluford a distant Cousin. He was the third born child of four children born to John & Florence Gibbon. The records I found on ancestry, are his Enlistment Record, the U.S. National Cemetery Interment Form, and a U.S. Roster of World War Dead, that covers between 1939 to 1945. These records helped us to put this BIO together. As more is found his BIO will be up dated. These records helped us to also put together the following Military BIO on him.
When he enlisted into Active Duty, he appears to have already been a member of the Oregon National Guard. The Nation Guard is noted as one source for his enlistment record. He Enlisted on 16 Sept. 1940 at Newburg, Oregon. He was assigned to the Field Artillery with the rank of Private (Pvt.). On the interment form and his grave marker it states the following. His rank is Private First Class (PFC.)and his last unit he was assigned to was the 218th Field Artillery Battalion, Field Artillery World War II.
The enlistment record noted he had the skills to drive a Car, Limo, Bus, Taxi, Truck and Tractor. Which most likely means he drove the trucks that transported Artillery Gun Units to designated sites. Besides driving he was probably part of a Cannon Crew Team. He was killed while on active duty in the Philippine Islands. The records so far don't state exactly how or the exact location. His interment form states he was first buried in the USAF cemetery, Leyte No. 1, Philippine Islands. He was Re-buried on 17 September 1948 in the Golden Gate National Cemetery, San Bruno, California. We have no record that states what military awards that may have been bestowed on him. I am hoping to find out at a later date. My best guess at this time is at least a Purple Heart Medal and Army Good Conduct Medal. According to the dates his enlistment calculates to four years six months and eight days.
Submitted by Kathy
on 2 June 2017
When he enlisted into Active Duty, he appears to have already been a member of the Oregon National Guard. The Nation Guard is noted as one source for his enlistment record. He Enlisted on 16 Sept. 1940 at Newburg, Oregon. He was assigned to the Field Artillery with the rank of Private (Pvt.). On the interment form and his grave marker it states the following. His rank is Private First Class (PFC.)and his last unit he was assigned to was the 218th Field Artillery Battalion, Field Artillery World War II.
The enlistment record noted he had the skills to drive a Car, Limo, Bus, Taxi, Truck and Tractor. Which most likely means he drove the trucks that transported Artillery Gun Units to designated sites. Besides driving he was probably part of a Cannon Crew Team. He was killed while on active duty in the Philippine Islands. The records so far don't state exactly how or the exact location. His interment form states he was first buried in the USAF cemetery, Leyte No. 1, Philippine Islands. He was Re-buried on 17 September 1948 in the Golden Gate National Cemetery, San Bruno, California. We have no record that states what military awards that may have been bestowed on him. I am hoping to find out at a later date. My best guess at this time is at least a Purple Heart Medal and Army Good Conduct Medal. According to the dates his enlistment calculates to four years six months and eight days.
Submitted by Kathy
on 2 June 2017
Inscription
BLUFORD D
GIBBON
OREGON
PFC
218 FLD ARTY BN
WORLD WAR II
APROL 16 119
MARCH 24 1945
Family Members
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