Brig. Gen. Grubbs Resigned March 31, 1953
Sydney Dwight Grubbs was born in Martinsville, Indiana, June 2, 1912. He was graduated from the U.S. Military Academy June 13, 1933, and commissioned a second lieutenant of Infantry. A year later he completed flying training at Randolph and Kelly Fields in Texas, and was assigned to Wheeler Field, Hawaii. He transferred from the Infantry to the Air Corps on January 13, 1935.
In 1936, General Grubbs was assigned to Randolph Field, where he served as an instructor and Commandant of Cadets. From August 1941 until July 1942 he served as executive officer at the San Antonio (Texas) Air Cadet Center; commanding officer of the advanced flying school at Kelly Field and Dalhart, Texas; operations and training staff officer of the Gulf Coast Training Command at Randolph Field, and a student at the four-engine transition school at Smyrna, Tennessee.
General Grubbs, in March 1943, began a 32-month tour in the China-Burma-India Theater. While there he flew 85 combat missions and won the Distinguished Flying Cross, Legion of Merit, Air Medal, Bronze Star Medal, and the Order of the British Empire. During this time he served, successively, as assistant chief of staff for operations and training of the 14th Air Force; deputy chief of staff of the 10th Air Force; commanding officer of the 80th Fighter Group, and chief of staff of the North Burma Air Task Force.
In September 1945, General Grubbs returned to the United States and was assigned to Randolph Field as a member of the Regular Army Officers’ Screening Board. From May 1946, he went to Maxwell Field, Montgomery, Alabama, to assist organizing the Air War College. He served as secretary of the college from August 1946, until April 1948, when he was appointed chief of staff of the Air University at Maxwell Field. In June 1948, he became commander of Maxwell Field and the 3800th Air University Wing at that station. In December 1948, he assumed command of Headquarters Command at Bolling Air Force Base, Washington, D.C.
General Grubbs was appointed Special Assistant to the Commanding General of the Second Air Force at Barksdale Air Force Base, Louisiana, in October 1950. The following December he assumed command of the 55th Strategic Reconnaissance Wing at Ramey Air Force Base, Puerto Rico. In February 1952, General Grubbs was named commanding general of the 38th Air Division at Hunter Air Force Base, Georgia. He was appointed inspector general of the Strategic Air Command with headquarters at Offutt Air Force Base, Omaha, Nebraska, in January 1953.
In addition to the awards mentioned above, General Grubbs holds an Oak Leaf Cluster to the Air Medal. He is rated a Command Pilot.
General and Mrs. Grubbs have four children, Nancy Jane, Thomas G., Donald and John.
PROMOTIONS
He was promoted to first lieutenant (temporary) April 22, 1936; first lieutenant (permanent) June 13, 1936; to captain (temporary) September 9, 1940; to major (temporary) July 22, 1941; to lieutenant colonel (temporary) January 23, 1942; to colonel (temporary) June 5, 1943; to captain (permanent) June 13, 1943; to colonel (permanent) April 2, 1948; to brigadier general (temporary) January 18, 1950.
Up to date as Feb 1953