Tom L. Gibson papers

Collection — Container: Single Folder Collections - 2001 Box 17 (01.0421-01.0444), Folder: 01.0438 - Folder 1

Identifier: 01.0438

Staff Only

Scope and Contents

The collection of Tom L. Gibson contains an oral history transcript of an interview provided by the Reichelt Program for Oral History. Gibson served during World War II with the 101st Airborne Division in Europe as a Second Lieutenant and participated in Holland during Operation Market Garden.

Dates

Created: 1924-1947
Other: Majority of material found in 1944
Other: Date acquired: 09/25/2001

Creator

Gibson, Tom L. (Family)

Conditions Governing Access

This collection is open to all researchers.

Conditions Governing Use

All requests for permission to quote, publish, broadcast or otherwise reproduce from manuscripts must be submitted in writing to the Associate Dean for Special Collections & Archives. Permission for publication is given on behalf of the Florida State University Libraries as the owner of the physical items and is not intended to include or imply permission of the copyright holder, which must also be obtained by the researcher.

Biographical or Historical Information

Tom L. Gibson was an Army platoon leader in the 101st Airborne Division in Europe (ETO). Gibson enlisted in the Army in Mississippi in August 1942 (as soon as he turned 18). He attended Officer Candidate School (OCS) at Fort Benning, GA, and was commissioned 2nd Lieutenant in April 1943. In January 1944, he applied for airborne training and did numerous jumps at Camp McCall, NC. He joined the 101st Airborne in Europe as a replacement in August 1944. He jumped into Holland in Operation Market Garden in September 1944 and quickly became platoon leader when the regular platoon leader was killed in combat. He was wounded in Operation Market Garden and spent some time in hospitals. Then he was in the siege of Bastogne in the Battle of the Bulge in December 1944. In spring 1945, his unit advanced through Germany and wound up in Berchtesgaden on V-E Day. He describes interacting with Germans during the postwar occupation.