PAUL LAWRENCE GIBBAR, our maternal uncle, was born on December 20, 1919 on Cranes Island, Illinois, the son of James Henry Gibbar and Mary Eleanora (nee Gibbar) Belsha and brother of our mother, Rose Anna (nee Gibbar) Bohnert.

On July 1st, 1941, Paul registered for military service. At the time of his registration he was 21 years old and living in Belgique, Perry County, Missouri. He listed his occupation as "Logging." He was 5' 8" tall and weighed 165 lbs. He had brown hair, brown eyes and a light brown complexion.

Paul served in the United States Army as a Private First Class in the European Theater during the war. He was a Rifleman 745 in Company B of the 71st Infantry. He qualified on the Bazooka, the BAR, machine gun and mortar. 

Paul was awarded the Bronze Star medal. The Bronze Star was awarded to a member of the Armed Forces of the United States who, after 6 December 1941, was cited in orders or awarded a certificate for exemplary conduct in ground combat against an armed enemy between 7 December 1941 and 2 September 1945.

Paul Lawrence Gibbar died on February 7, 1987. He is buried in Mount Hope Cemetery in Perryville, Perry County, Missouri.