Thomas F. Philbin
1896 - 1985
USAR
WWI
Thomas Francis Philbin was born Jan 21, 1896 in Chicago to Patrick and Mary Moran Philbin.
Philbin served in the U.S. Army’s 42nd Rainbow Division in WWI from May 8, 1917 to May 10,1919. The Rainbow Division was a unique unit, formed during rapid mobilization from 27 National Guard units from across the United States. Despite being a new composite force, it became one of the most distinguished American divisions in the war, fighting in major campaigns like the Champagne-Marne, Aisne-Marne, St. Mihiel, and Meuse-Argonne, serving longer in combat and suffering over 14,000 casualties.
In 1923, he married Evelyn M. Hurley; they raised one child in Barrington.
Philbin worked for 37 years for Jewel Tea Company in Barrington, fifteen as Jewel’s Traffic Manager when he retired in 1961. He was a leader in his field: a member of the Traffic Club of Chicago, National Industrial Traffic League, American Retail Federation, National Coffee Transportation Conference, and the Canned Goods Shippers Conference. He served on the Board of Directors of Chicago Shippers Association and the Chain Store Traffic League.
He was a member of St. Anne Catholic Church in Barrington and the Knights of Columbus in Chicago.
Veteran Thomas Philbin died August 5, 1985 in Palatine, and is buried with his wife in Barrington’s Evergreen Cemetery.
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Remember. Honor. Teach.
Courtesy of Signal Hill Chapter, National Society Daughters of the American Revolution.