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Manuscript collections in the VMI Archives are made available for educational and research use. The VMI Archives should be cited as the source. The user assumes all responsibility for identifying and satisfying any copyright holders. Materials from our collections may not be redistributed, published or reproduced without permission from the VMI Archives. Contact the VMI Archives for additional information.

Conditions Governing Access

There are no restrictions.

Access Information

Preferred Citation

A. Franklin Kibler papers, 1943-1952. MS 0454. VMI Archives, Virginia Military Institute, Lexington, Virginia.

Biographical / Historical

Abram Franklin Kibler was born in Staunton, Virginia on July 10, 1891 to Green Markwood Kibler (1848-1922) and Almira Erena Fishburn (1851-1916). He graduated from VMI in 1912 and was commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant in the United States Army in 1917. His military career spanned 35 years and he rose to the rank of Major General before his retirement in 1952.

During World War II Kibler was a senior member on the staff of General Omar Bradley, serving as Assistant Chief of Staff for Operations, 12th Army Group, European Theater. In 1946 he was assigned to the Joint Chiefs of Staff as Deputy United States Army representative to the United Nations staff committee. In 1949 he was named Chief of the United States delegation to the Military Committee of the Five Powers (Brussels Pact). Kibler died at Walter Reed Army Hospital (Washington, D.C.) on January 24, 1955.

Scope and Contents

This collection consists primarily of documents and photographs dating from A. Franklin Kibler's World War II service with the 12th Army Group, European Theater, including: Memoranda to and from Kibler and other senior officers (1943-1945) Headquarters, 12th Army Group Commanding General's briefings (1944-1945) Reports, including "Reports of the General Board, United States Forces, European Theater" (G-3 Section) Photographs Organizational charts

Subjects and Indexing Terms

• Correspondence
• Generals—United States—Biography
• Military records
• Operation Overlord
• Reports
• United States -- Army -- Army Group, 12th -- History
• United States. -- Army. -- European Theater of Operations. -- Headquarters
• United States. Army—Officers—Biography
• Virginia Military Institute—Alumni—Biography
• Virginia Military Institute—Class of 1912
• World War, 1939-1945
• World War, 1939-1945 -- Campaigns -- France -- Normandy
• World War, 1939-1945 -- Campaigns -- Germany
• World War, 1939-1945—Campaigns—Europe
• personal papers