Growing Up In An All-American Small Town

Emmett Gibson, born in Melrose Park, Illinois on September 15, 1916, was a remarkable individual. As the oldest of two sons, he embarked on a journey that would shape his life forever. Growing up in Maywood, Illinois, Emmett attended Proviso High School, where he discovered his passion for the German club, showcasing his diverse interests and intellectual curiosity. Despite not being involved in sports, he found his place as the dedicated ‘manager’ of the football team, leaving a lasting impression.

A Career In Public Service Begins

After graduating in 1933, Emmett ventured into various endeavors, initially joining the Maywood Tank Company, part of the Illinois National Guard. However, his path led him to Washington, DC, where he worked as a messenger boy for the U.S. Patent Office. He met and married his first wife, Anna Mae Stunkard, while in DC, and they had a daughter there in 1938, Carole Anne. His determination and dedication paid off as he secured a position in the Alcohol Tax Unit within the IRS. This was a turning point that allowed him to apply for a position in Chicago and reunite with the Maywood Tank Company.

Returning to Home

With his wife and child, Emmett returned to Maywood, where he also rejoined the Maywood Tank Company. With his return to the tank company, Emmett’s life became intertwined with the armory, where camaraderie and learning thrived. Whether engaging in friendly card games or honing their tank expertise, the armory was a central hub for the Maywood Tank Company.

National Guard Is Federalized

In November 1940, Emmett’s commitment and skills were recognized as he earned his 2nd Lt. rank just days before the company was mustered into federal service as Co. ‘B’ of the 192d Tank Battalion. The journey continued as they relocated to Ft. Knox, KY, immersing themselves in rigorous tank combat training for six months. Emmett’s dedication and leadership resulted in a promotion to 1st Lt. in April 1941, signifying his exceptional abilities.

By September 1941, the company found itself at Camp Polk, LA, receiving vital infantry training to complement its tank expertise. This marked a crucial phase before it was introduced to the groundbreaking Mk 1 Stuart Light tank. At this point, Co. 'B' received orders to ship overseas. Although the destination was a secret, many felt that the most likely destination was the Philippines. Married men with children and those over 35 were allowed to stay home. However, Gibson decided to remain with his friends. Within three weeks, Co. 'B' was sent to San Francisco, embarking on a significant mission to ship to the Philippines.

A PLUM Assignment

The troop ship, loaded with the 192nd Tank Battalion, stopped briefly in Hawaii before continuing to its destination, which all knew now was the Philippine Islands. For many, this seemed to be a great assignment. The Philippines was a great assignment for the US Army—a true Pacific paradise. However, tensions were high with storm clouds gathering over the Pacific and America enforcing a commodities embargo on Imperial Japan. The Philippines would be a strategic base for both the US and Japan, and it was sure to be a contended location in the event of war.

The 192nd arrived in the Philippines on Thanksgiving Day. They were moved into temporary quarters at Fort Stotsenberg, and they began the process of readying their equipment for action. But they wouldn't have long to wait. On December 8th, following their surprise attack on Pearl Harbor, the Japanese Air Force struck Clark Airbase, destroying the aircraft still sitting on the runways and essentially destroying any ability for the US or the Philippines to wage an air war or provide air cover to troops.

From here, the store of Lt. Emmett Gibson's World War II experience is covered in the newspaper columns found on this website.

Life After Bataan

When Lt. Gibson was evacuated to the Philippines on the S. S. Mactan, he was hospitalized in Australia for about 3 months. By late April, he was returning to the United States, just as his friends were surrendering on Bataan. For Gibson, life would become a whirlwind of parades, and speeches, and war bond drives. By the end of 1942, Gibson was sufficiently recovered to return to duty, but he was not going to return to the war. His injuries were still severe enough that his assignment was as a rifle instructor at Ft. Benning, Georgia, for the rest of the war. At this time, he and his wife Anna Mae divorced.

In January, 1946, after a promotion to Captain, Emmett was discharged from the US Army. Like millions of other veterans, he returned home to a changed world. He worked at several jobs, including the major employed in Maywood, the American Can Company. But with his military background, he was quickly accepted to the Maywood Police Force, where he worked first as a motorcycle policeman, and quickly rose through the ranks to become a Lieutenant. In 1948, he met and married Jena Scales, and they had a daughter Danae (better known as Pixie).

By 1954, Emmett and Jena were divorced, and in 1955, he met and married Margery Hickey. They had a son, Stephen, later that year. In 1957, Emmett began suffering terrible headaches and received the devastating news that he had a brain tumor. His only hope was surgery to remove the tumor. In 1957, after what seemed like successful surgery, another son, Alex, was born. Unfortunately, the tumor returned in 1958, and Emmett passed away on July 13, 1958. He had specified in his will that he be cremated and his ashes returned to the Philippines so that he could rejoin his friends who had not returned to Maywood from Bataan.

Returning to Bataan

In 1959, on April 9th, during a commemoration of the fall of Bataan, the Philippines Air Force used a helicopter to distribute Gibson's ashes over the battlefields of Bataan and they dropped his urn into Manila Bay.

The story of Emmett Gibson’s experiences is a gripping tale that recounts the fall of the Philippines, witnessed firsthand by his father. Discover the harrowing accounts that unfolded during this tumultuous period. To delve into this captivating journey, click here.