8 decades separate his death and his burial. T.Sgt. Clarence E. Gibbs was laid to rest Saturday in his adopted hometown of Clinton. Gibbs, 21 of Charlotte, went missing Dec. 29, 1944, over Bingen, Germany and, although he survived the initial crash of his bomber, he died later in Kamp-Bornhofen.
Buried in the local cemetery there, his remains were discovered 81 years later. His great-nieces and nephews brought him to Clinton.
Thousands lined the route between Greenville-Spartanburg Airport and Gray Funeral Home Clinton as his remains were transported home. Saturday represented his final duty post.
Boy Scout Troop 111 led the funeral audience in the Pledge of Allegiance, and local singer Bryson Schultz honored the fallen American serviceman with “The National Anthem” and “America The Beautiful”. He was buried with full military honors.
“Clinton is a patriotic community as we can see here today, and we honor our heroes like many small towns in our nation,” said L.Z. Harrison, Jr., of Post 6, Columbia, and the Patriot Guard. He called Gibbs a member of The Greatest Generation, who was raised as an orphan with his sister, “Nanny”. “It is refreshing to see all of you here today.”
T.Sgt. Gibbs enlisted on Feb. 18, 1943, at Camp Kroft, SC, near Spartanburg; and he was assigned to the 368th Bombardment Squadron.
Laurens County Veterans Affairs Director Carey Bolt (US Army retired) read the commendations for Gibbs, which include The Purple Heart and the Air Medal 4 oak leaf clusters.
Wreaths laid included one from the Laurens County Veterans Affairs Office, and the presentation included Paul S. O’Dell, Sgt. United State Army and WWII veteran.
Also, one from Laurens County Council with the presenters including Arthur Philson, Sgt. 1st Class retired, U.S. Army.
Also, one from the Laurens County State Delegation presented by Rep. Luke Rankin and Rep. Doug Gilliam, Command Sgt. Major, U.S Army.
Special remarks and a presentation were made by United States Congresswoman Sherri Biggs, a grand-daughter of a WWII veteran and current member of the Air Guard. She said, “We gather here today not just to honor the memory of a brave young man, but to bring him home.” She reminded the attendees of John 15:13, and said of Gibbs that his love of fellow man and country “is not lost to time, it echoes through generations.”
“It is my honor to be here with the family and glad to be part of this service,” she said, adding to the family, “you waited 80 long years and finally Sgt. Gibbs is back home; his sacrifice helped secure the freedoms we all cherish and we will never forget him. Freedom is not free; it is paid for by men like Clarence Gibbs.”
Biggs presented a certificate and an American Flag flown over the United States Capitol in honor of Gibbs’ service and heroism.
In his eulogy, Harrison said the John 15: 9-13 verse explained how soldiers lay down their lives for their friends, their nation, and their family; and he told of how Gibbs’ Flying Fortress was hit and the command was given to abandon the aircraft. “At 21,” Harrison said, “Sgt. Gibbs never had the chance to marry, to have children because he laid down his life for me and you so we could enjoy the freedoms our country offers. He and Nanny were reunited in Heaven in 2002.”
She never stopped wondering what happened to Clarence, Harrison said.
More than 73,000 WWII heroes remain unaccounted for, and there are 80,000 in all U.S. conflicts unaccounted for. Harrison said more than 7,000 WWII veterans have been recovered by the POW/MIA agency, which works all over the world to account for those unaccounted for.
Harrison discussed Ephesians 6:10-20, where the apostle Paul names the pieces of the uniform worn by soldiers of the day, and said it is “a call to action to all believers.”
“Clarence Gibbs was wearing the armor of God when he met his fate.”
Harrison said some of those on Gibbs’ mission survived the crash and finished the war in a POW camp; “sadly, many did not like Sgt. Gibbs.”
In reflecting on Clarence Gibbs, Harrison said, “You must be a proud American. Reflect on the sacrifices made by those like Sgt. Gibbs and the family – the great-nieces and nephews have been preparing for this day all their lives, they just didn’t know it; but now they do. They have brought him home to their Nanny.
“Nanny, he is home.”
