William L. Sibert

Major General William Luther Sibert (October 12, 1860 – October 16, 1935) was a senior United States Army officer who commanded the 1st Division on the Western Front during World War I. Sibert was the first division commander of the "Big Red One," leading the 1st Infantry from June 1917 to January 1918.

Sibert's career was spent primarily with the Engineers. When he left command of the 1st Division, he was appointed to lead the new Chemical Warfare Service. After retiring as a major general in 1920, Sibert oversaw a project modernizing the docks and waterways in Mobile, Alabama, and served on the presidential commission that led to the construction of Hoover Dam. He died in Bowling Green, Kentucky on 16 October 1935. Sibert was buried at Arlington National Cemetery.

Early life and education Sibert was born in Gadsden, Alabama, on October 12, 1860, the son of Confederate veteran William J. Sibert and Marietta (Ward) Sibert. He attended the public schools of Gadsden and worked in several enterprises started by his father, including a farm, hotel, and store. He attended the University of Alabama from 1878 to 1880, when he obtained an appointment to the United States Military Academy from Congressman William H. Forney. He then served as assistant engineer to Amos Stickney (July 1887 to April 1888) and Daniel Lockwood 9 (April to November 1888) during planning for construction of the Cincinnati–Newport Bridge between Cincinnati, Ohio and Newport, Kentucky, and the Big Four Bridge between Louisville, Kentucky and Jeffersonville, Indiana. as well assisting with the equipping and training of the 1st Arkansas Volunteer Infantry Regiment. Arkansas fielded two volunteer regiments; when a third was proposed, several political and civic leaders suggested Sibert to command it as a colonel of United States Volunteers. The war ended before the third regiment could be raised, so the recommendation to appoint Sibert as commander became moot.

Continued career In September 1898, Sibert returned to Willets Point, where he was assigned as commander of Company B, Battalion of Engineers and instructor in Civil Engineering at the Engineer School of Application. During his Philippines service, Sibert commanded a Battalion of Engineers assigned to the Department of the Pacific from September 1899 to March 1900 and a Battalion of Engineers assigned to the 8th Army Corps from September 1899 to April 1900. He was promoted to lieutenant colonel in September 1909.

Later career Sibert and a French general reviewing American troops in France, 1917. When the United States entered World War I in April 1917, Sibert was promoted to temporary major general and assigned to command the 1st Division. Unimpressed by what he observed, Pershing began to berate Sibert in front of his staff, including the assistant chief of staff for operations, George C. Marshall.

Sibert returned to the United States in December 1917 and was appointed to command the Southeastern Engineer Department, which was headquartered in Charleston, South Carolina. When Sibert announced his retirement in 1919, Brigadier General Amos Fries, commanding the CWS in France, was selected to replace him.

Sibert was awarded the Army Distinguished Service Medal for his World War I service, the citation for which reads:

Sibert commanded the 5th Division and Camp Gordon, Georgia from March to April 1920, when he retired, after which he settled in Bowling Green, Kentucky.

Family Sibert married Mary Margaret Cummings in September 1887.

Decorations Army Distinguished Service MedalSpanish Campaign MedalPhilippine Campaign MedalWorld War I Victory Medal with four Battle ClaspsCommandeur of the Legion of Honor

Dates of rank Sibert's dates of rank were:

Second Lieutenant, 15 June 1884 First Lieutenant, 7 April 1888 Captain, 31 March 1896 Major, 23 April 1904 Lieutenant Colonel, 21 September 1909 Brigadier General, 4 March 1915 Major General, 15 May 1917 Major General (retired), 3 April 1920

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