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| Tank platoon leader Lt. David Gebbie served in the 760th Tank Battalion in Italy. https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/142099329/david-ogden-gebbie https://www.tapatalk.com/groups/missinglynx/question-for-steve-zaloga-on-the-760th-tank-battal-t92436.html |
David Ogden Gebbie never had a chance to reach 100 years old today. Instead, he sacrificed his life for our freedom.
He was born on May 16, 1919 in New York. His parents David and Helen were born in New York and New Jersey, respectively. His father worked as an accountant, first for private industry and later for the post office. Still later he worked as a chief clerk for the county welfare department. David had an older sister and a younger brother. By 1940 David had completed one year of college and was working as an inspector in an automobile radiator factory while living at home.
He enlisted in the army on November 21, 1942. He completed officers candidate school and was sent to North Africa in May 1943. He became a first lieutenant in Company B, 760th Tank Battalion which was equipped with M4 medium tanks.
Lt. Gebbie first saw action in Tunisia and then in Sicily. He was wounded in action by mortar fire while trying to extract his tank from mud near Casino on January 6, 1944. Many others from his company were killed during this battle. By May he was back with his unit which was supporting the 85th Infantry Division as it advanced on Rome.
On June 1, 1944 the 760th TB was attacking northward from the Velletri-Volmontone Road. After his platoon captured 14 German prisioners, Lt. Gebbie's platoon was returning to link up with the infantry troops he was working with. The prisoners were walking in front of the tanks when German sniper fire starting hitting the prisoners. Lt. Gebbie grabbed a sub-machine gun, jumped off his tank, and moved in the direction of the sniper fire. He was killed by a sniper. His unit completed their assignment for that day. Battalion records report that he was the only officer killed from his battalion killed during June 1944.
His grave is at Cold Springs Cemetery in Lockport, New York.
Last year on this date I profiled Rufe Tipps, 90th Infantry Division. You can read about Rufe here.
On behalf of the fallen, if you would like to see more people become aware of this project to honor the WW2 fallen, be sure to share with others on Twitter, Facebook, etc. Thanks for your interest!
I created this video to explain why I started this project: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vXt8QA481lY.
Please consider joining the public Facebook group to increase the exposure of this project. Go to: WW2 Fallen 100
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