Memorials › SSGT Cecil Asbury Gilbert

SSGT Cecil Asbury Gilbert

14 Dec 1923 – 7 Jul 1944

Birth14 Dec 1923
Death7 Jul 1944
CemeteryGrandview Cemetery
Grandview , Johnson County , Texas , USA
Added byKatherine Adwell Amon on 30 Nov 2006
FaGhttps://www.findagrave.com/memorial/9762252

Bio

All the men and women that serve in our military are heros in my book. But my Uncle Cecil is my personal hero. Cecil Asbury Gilbert was born December 14, 1923 in Dennison, Texas to William Asbury and Annie Violet Hartis Gilbert. He was the eighth of thirteen children and grew up learning to cook, iron, clean house and respect his elders. Cecil graduated from Grandview high school May 22, 1942. He then joined the Army Air Force and found himself in the middle of WWII. He was a gunner aboard a B52 in the 754 AAF BOMB SQ. On his fifteenth mission he was shot down.I was born on his twenty-first birthday in 1944. Unfortunately he was killed on the seventh of July before I was born on December 14. He was shot down over Lutzkendorf, Germany and buried in the garrison there. He was finally brought home in 1949. I remember his funeral with the draped flag and the twenty-one gun salute. I wish I could have known this brave young man that was my uncle. Below is a poem written about him when he was finally brought home. It was published in the Grandview Tribune. REPORTING FOR DUTY Arthor Unknown Home – they brought our warrior home, One of the bravest of the land; Back to his own folks and his church, And buried him in his own free land. They called him a warrior brave and bold, And showed us his record to prove it. He was only a school boy, whose duty was clear, And he knew nothing else but to do it. He looked such a child in his new uniform, As he marched so proudly away. Shame on the tears – I won't be gone long. We'll soon chase the Germans away. Staff Sgt.Gilbert wentdown as one of the brave, On his fifteenth mission on a B-24 To his reward in a hero's grave. Awarded the air medal and two Oak Leaf Clusters, A Purple Heart and a Presidential Citation, A feeling of pride in the hearts of his friends, And honor from the heart of a nation. When the keeper of the books reads his record up there, I'd look on that page and I'd see: In the town of Denison and State of Texas, Cecil A. Gilbert, born December 14, 1923. If there's a recruiting office in Heaven, For guards of that Heavenly beauty, I can hear his clear voice as he snaps a salute; Sergeant Gilbert, reporting for duty. ------------------- Cecil was served with the USAAF in WWII and lost his life when his plane, B24 42-100362 "Sweet Lorraine" 458th Bomber Group crashed into the Ems River near "Knock" Rysum- Emden Germany... The aircraft was damaged by Flak and crashed. The Liberator was on an operation to an oil refinery (Lutzkendorf) at Mücheln Germany Crew: P 2Lt Lincoln A Larson 0-805847 USAAF KIA Arlington National Cemetery Virginia USA. CP 2Lt Ralph G McGuire 0-764406 USAAF POW Stalag Luft I NAV 2Lt Charles D Wall 0-713030 USAAF MIA American War Cemetery Margraten Holland Bomb 2Lt Everett G Walker 0-704250 USAAF POW Stalag 7A RaOp S/Sgt Cecil A Gilbert 18123941 USAAF KIA Grandview Cemetery Texas, USA Eng/Gr S/Sgt Walter R Rolfe 37470898 USAAF POW Stalag Luft 4 TTGr Sgt James A Butsch 17079921 USAAF KIA American War Cemetery Margraten Holland BTG Sgt John D Dedrickson 19072076 USAAF POW Stalag Luft 4 WG Sgt Austin R Hall 39202414 USAAF POW Stalag Luft 4 TG Sgt Lawrence D Hamilton 35633468 USSAF POW Stalag Luft 4 (contributor 47419676)

Inscription

Cecil A Gilbert Texas Staff Sgt 754 Bomb Sq World War II December 14 1923 July 7 1944 To live in hearts we leave behind is not to die

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