The unit received extensive stateside training before deploying to North Africa.
The unit began its last stateside training after moving to Camp Butner, North Carolina in May 1944.
As a 19-year-old tail gunner aboard a Superfortress based in Japan, he had some harrowing times in the air, both overseas and in stateside training.
After stateside training, he led his division in North Africa and Italy.
In early 1944, after concluding infantry basic training in Georgia, he volunteered for additional stateside training with the 10th Mountain Division.
Gibson's tasks included investigating complaints from black soldiers facing indignities, and sometimes violence, during their stateside training.
He sought to persuade the Army to use black troops in combat and investigated complaints from black soldiers facing indignities and sometimes violence during their stateside training.
After extensive stateside training, the majority of the squadron departed New York City and arrived in North Africa November 8, 1942.
The 50th IBCT units were mobilized for one year, including stateside training and "boots on the ground" in theater.
In 1943 he was commander of the 75th Infantry Division during its stateside training, and then assumed command of the 26th (Yankee) Infantry Division.