Remembering a Great American
It was two years ago that my veteran buddy Jim Lentini tipped me off about Rex, and soon I met him and his wonderful wife Rachel at their Friendly Valley home.

Sadly, I must report that on Jan. 2, 2019, Rex passed away at Henry Mayo Hospital from bronchial complications as he approached 98 years young.

My, what a long life this member of our greatest generation enjoyed. Meanwhile, Rachel, at age 89, also suffered bronchial issues and returned home on Jan. 16.

Memorial services for Rex are pending. Meet a great American, P-38 Fighter Pilot Rex Gribble.

Rex Gribble (left) with other P-38 pilots. Santa Maria, California

The Early Days & Pearl

Rex Gribble was born on March 10, 1921 in Tamora, Nebraska where he grew up on a farm.

His father was a WWI Veteran with the 1^stInfantry Division, famously known as “The Big Red One.”

During Gribble’s childhood, the family moved to Greenwood, Nebraska where he graduated high school in 1938. Upon graduation, he moved to Lincoln, Nebraska to attend a business school and worked for the Agricultural Conservation Program (ACP) for several years.

Then, he worked in civil service in Strang and Wayne, Nebraska. While working at Wayne, Gribble was shocked, like all Americans, when his radio blurted Pearl Harbor had been brutally bombed by the Japanese Imperial Navy.

You’re in the Army Now

Rex Gribble, lower left, with fellow pilots. Ryan Field, Tuscon, AZ

Soon, everyone he knew was joining the war effort in one way or another. Gribble did not want to be a foot soldier as his greatest desire was to become a pilot.

So off he went to Omaha, Nebraska to join the U.S. Army Air Corp where he passed all physical, eye and intelligence examinations.

Soon, Gribble was called to duty at age 22 on Feb. 1, 1943 and was sent to an induction station at Jefferson Barracks, Missouri. Next, it was to college training at Stephens Point, Wisconsin with 200 new recruits for three months.

There were four main pilot training courses he and his fellow applicants had to pass to become full fledged pilots. Each nine-week training course in different locations included preflight, primary, basic, and advanced pilot training.

Don’t Wash Out!

During these pilot training courses, a number of the 200 men washed out due to failing eye tests, physical limitations and some passed out during altitude testing.

In February 1944, Gribble graduated from advanced training at Luke Field in Phoenix, Arizona. Due to his exceptional skills, he was assigned as flight instructor in San Antonio, Texas.

Gribble recalled a rumored threat that if you washed out, you would become a B-26 Bomber co-pilot. Becoming a B-26 crewman was considered one of the worst jobs at the time as B-26’s had an extremely dangerous reputation.

After San Antonio, Gribble received a 10-day leave of absence to visit his family and then reported to Merced, California, as instructor on BT-13 training planes.

However, after 2 weeks everything abruptly changed as pilots were sought to become P-38 Fighter Pilots. Gribble promptly volunteered.

Learning to Fly

Rex Gribble, 3rd from left, meeting General Douglas MacArthur. Phillipines

Soon, Gribble found himself at Victorville, California learning to fly the Aero Cobra P-39 in preparation for the hot P-38.

Each pilot had to fly a Cobra for one hour and Gribble said it absolutely scared the “be-Jesus” out of him, but he passed the test. Next, it was to P-38 training at Santa Maria, California for one month.

It was mid-March 1944 when he flew to San Francisco along with 60 other P-38 pilots and from there they flew via a Douglas C–54 Skymaster cargo plane to Hawaii, Guadalcanal and to Nadzap, New Guinea.

A month later, Gribble was assigned to the 9^thFighter Squadron, 49^thFighter Group as he trained for General Douglas MacArthur’s return to the Philippines.

After several weeks in Leyte attacking the lone Japanese-controlled landing strip in the area, his unit moved to Mindoro Island and then to Lingayen Gulf where he contracted malaria.

Nevertheless, Gribble continued flying combat bombing missions around Formosa and Hainan near China’s coast.

Enter Enola Gay

Rex Gribble & Ted Olsen at SCV’s 2015 Veterans Day Ceremony.

In early August 1945, Gribble was being promoted to captain and would participate in the invasion of Japan, named “Operation Downfall” so he went to Okinawa.

However, the atomic bombings by B-29s Enola Gay and Bocks Car of Hiroshima and Nagasaki abruptly ended WWII on Aug. 15, 1945 when Japan’s Emperor surrendered.

Gribble had flown 108 combat missions, 30 as a flight leader logging just under 300 hours.

He departed Japan in late November 1945 and was discharged at Fort Logan, Colorado where he returned to his parent’s home in Greenwood, Nebraska.

Gribble’s decorations include the Air Medal with 1 Oak Leaf, Distinguished Unit Badge, Asiatic Pacific Service Medal, WWII Victory Medal, Philippine Liberation Ribbon with 1 Bronze Star, and American Service Medal.

In September 1945, Major John Petrovich wrote in an award nomination that “Lieutenant Gribble, during his 12 months overseas combat service piloted his P-38 over impenetrable jungles, jagged mountainous terrain, and vast expanses of enemy controlled ocean to strike relentlessly at the Japanese strongholds”.

Rex’s Buddy Johnny Carson
Gribble’smalaria reasserted itself, so he went to Lincoln, Nebraska’s VA Hospital where he recovered.

He then attended the University of Nebraska to study journalism; a fellow student advised him to get into radio.  Gribble ignored that advice and worked part time with the Lincoln Star while his buddy Johnny Carson joined a local radio station.

Rex and Rachel

Rex & Rachel Gribble’s Wedding Day August 10, 1957

After graduating college, Gribble continued working at the Lincoln Staruntil 1951, when he went to Heidelberg, Germany as a Public Affairs Officer for the U.S. Army’s European Headquarters.

In 1955, he met Rachel Haskell, a special education teacher for American military children and they were married Aug. 10, 1957.

Gribble and Rachel have two daughters and they’ve lived in Friendly Valley since 2013.

He retired in May 1988 after working 37 years as a U.S. Government civilian in public affairs and as chief of public information.  His role was media spokesman for the U.S. Army Europe Headquarters and U.S. Army Command in Europe.

May God bless Rex Gribble, one of America’s greatest!

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