Edwin L. Sibert
# Edwin L. Sibert

Edwin Luther Sibert (March 2, 1897 – December 16, 1977) was a United States Army officer with the rank of major general and served as intelligence officer during World War II and post-war Europe, where he assisted in the creation of the Gehlen Organization. He would return to the United States and briefly serve in the Central Intelligence Group, the forerunner of the modern CIA. He was the son of Major General William L. Sibert and the brother of Major General Franklin C. Sibert. A graduate of the United States Military Academy in 1918, he would receive the Distinguished Service Medal three times for his service during World War II and the Cold War.

## Early life and education

Sibert was born on March 2, 1897, in Little Rock, Arkansas, to Major General William L. Sibert and his wife Mary Margaret Cummings Sibert. He would be raised on military tradition, his grandfather William J. Sibert and great-uncle William B. Beeson having served in the Confederate army, and his father in the United States Army. Sibert's early years would see his father assigned to Manila, Philippines (1899–1900), and the Panama Canal Zone (1907–1914).

In 1914, Sibert would receive an at-large appointment to the United States Military Academy, graduating in 1918.

## Career

### Dates of rank

Promotions :

| Rank | Date |
| - | - |
| Second lieutenant | 12 June 1918 |
| First lieutenant (acting) | 23 October 1918 |
| First lieutenant | 16 August 1919 |
| Captain | 1 August 1933 |
| Major | 1 April 1940 |
| Colonel (acting) | 15 January 1941 |
| Lieutenant colonel (acting) | 12 June 1941 |
| Colonel (acting) | 1 February 1942 |
| Lieutenant colonel | 4 August 1942 |
| Brigadier general (acting) | 31 October 1942 |
| Colonel | 11 March 1948 |
| Brigadier general (acting) | 31 October 1942 |
| Major general (acting) | 1 August 1948 |
| Brigadier general | 21 March 1953 |

### Service

Duty assignments :

| Beginning | Ending | Assignment |
| - | - | - |
| 1936 | 1937 | Assistant Instructor in the Department of Tactics, United States Military Academy |
| July 1940 | December 1941 | U.S. Military Attaché to Brazil |
| December 1941 | March 1942 | Assistant Secretary, Combined Chiefs of Staff |
| March 1942 | May 1942 | Attending Field Artillery School, Ft. Sill, Oklahoma |
| May 1942 | August 1942 | Chief of Staff, 7th Division |
| August 1942 | August 1943 | Commanding Officer, Artillery, 99th Division |
| September 1943 | March 1944 | Assistant Chief of Staff (G2)European Theater of Operations |
| March 1944 | July 1945 | Assistant Chief of Staff (G2), 12th Army Group |
| July 1945 | September 1946 | Assistant Chief of Staff (G2)European Theater of Operations |
| September 1946 | 12 August 1948 | Assistant Director of Operations, Central Intelligence Group (CIA) |
| 13 August 1948 | 23 November 1948 | Commanding General, Pacific Sector, Panama Canal Zone |
| 24 November 1948 | December 7, 1950 | Commanding General, U.S. Army Forces, Department of Antilles |
| December 7, 1950 | April 24, 1952 | Staff Director, Inter-American Defense Board, Washington, D.C. |
| April 24, 1952 | | Commanding Officer, Camp Edwards, Barnstable County, Massachusetts |

## Awards and decorations

| 1st Row | Army Distinguished Service Medal with two Oak Leaf Clusters | Army Distinguished Service Medal with two Oak Leaf Clusters | Army Distinguished Service Medal with two Oak Leaf Clusters | Army Distinguished Service Medal with two Oak Leaf Clusters | Army Distinguished Service Medal with two Oak Leaf Clusters | Army Distinguished Service Medal with two Oak Leaf Clusters | Army Distinguished Service Medal with two Oak Leaf Clusters | Army Distinguished Service Medal with two Oak Leaf Clusters | Army Distinguished Service Medal with two Oak Leaf Clusters | Army Distinguished Service Medal with two Oak Leaf Clusters | Army Distinguished Service Medal with two Oak Leaf Clusters | Army Distinguished Service Medal with two Oak Leaf Clusters | Army Distinguished Service Medal with two Oak Leaf Clusters |
| - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| 2nd Row | Legion of Merit | Legion of Merit | Legion of Merit | Legion of Merit | Bronze Star Medal | Bronze Star Medal | Bronze Star Medal | Bronze Star Medal | World War I Victory Medal | World War I Victory Medal | World War I Victory Medal | World War I Victory Medal | American Defense Service Medal with Foreign Service Clasp | American Defense Service Medal with Foreign Service Clasp | American Defense Service Medal with Foreign Service Clasp | American Defense Service Medal with Foreign Service Clasp |
| 3rd Row | American Campaign Medal | American Campaign Medal | American Campaign Medal | American Campaign Medal | European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal with four service stars | European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal with four service stars | European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal with four service stars | European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal with four service stars | World War II Victory Medal | World War II Victory Medal | World War II Victory Medal | World War II Victory Medal | Army of Occupation Medal | Army of Occupation Medal | Army of Occupation Medal | Army of Occupation Medal |
| 4th Row | National Defense Service Medal | National Defense Service Medal | National Defense Service Medal | National Defense Service Medal | Honorary Commander of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire | Honorary Commander of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire | Honorary Commander of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire | Honorary Commander of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire | Officier de la Légion d'honneur | Officier de la Légion d'honneur | Officier de la Légion d'honneur | Officier de la Légion d'honneur | French Croix de guerre 1939–1945 with Palm | French Croix de guerre 1939–1945 with Palm | French Croix de guerre 1939–1945 with Palm | French Croix de guerre 1939–1945 with Palm |

## Burial

Sibert is buried at Arlington National Cemetery along with his father MG William Luther Sibert.

