Biographical Note
Andrew Gbur was born on July 21, 1901, in Beaver Meadow, Pennsylvania, to Andrew and Helen Gbur. Following his father’s death in a coal mining explosion, Gbur’s mother moved the family to her hometown of Passaic, New Jersey, where Gbur attended school until the sixth grade. After leaving school, Gbur worked as a fruit peddler, and at age 15, went to work in a clothing mill and then at the U.S. Rubber Company. He enlisted in the United States Army on August 30, 1919, and served in Siberia with Company A, 31st Infantry Regiment, for six months in 1919 and 1920. In 1920, Gbur was sent to Manila, Philippines, where he served with a military police unit and swam with the 31st Infantry Regiment’s swim team. He returned to the United States in July 1921.
Following his overseas service, Gbur returned to New Jersey and served with the New Jersey National Guard while working as a belt maker at the U.S. Rubber Company. There he met his wife, Genevieve, and the two were married in 1931. Gbur continued to serve in the National Guard until September 23, 1940, when he was honorably discharged as a Master Sergeant. Gbur died on June 8, 1997.