Captain Gibbens was a veteran of World War II, fighting in the "Battle of the Bulge". In Korea, he was a member of the 9th Infantry Regiment, 2nd Infantry Division. He was Killed in Action while fighting the enemy west of the Koryong-Sanga area of South Korea on 29 September 1950.

Gibbens was awarded the Purple Heart, the Combat Infantryman's Badge, the Korean Service Medal, the United Nations Service Medal, the National Defense Service Medal, the Korean Presidential Unit Citation, the Republic of Korea War Service Medal, the European Theater Medal and the World War II Victory Medal.