Ralph Tibbs Garver was born on May 2, 1900, in Annapolis, Crawford County, Illinois. He was the son of John Henry Garver and Nannie A. Tabbs Garver. He was married to Evelyn May Fasig Garver. He entered the United States Military Academy at West Point on July 6, 1921, and graduated with the Class of 1925, earning a Bachelor of Science degree and commission as a Second Lieutenant. Garver was promoted to First Lieutenant in 1930, commanded Troop F, 13th Cavalry, and trained as an Acting Adjutant and chemical warfare instructor. After completing the Advanced Equitation Course in 1934, he joined the 6th Cavalry at Fort Oglethorpe, rising to Captain in 1935 and serving as assistant adjutant-general and scout car commander. By 1938, he commanded the Headquarters Detachment, 4th Corps Area in Atlanta, and after recovering from injuries in 1939, he transferred to the Adjutant General’s Department, later assigned to the Philippine Department in 1940.

During World War II, he was stationed in Manila at the time of the Japanese invasion in December 1941. Promoted to Lieutenant Colonel that same month, he took part in the defense of Bataan. Following the surrender on April 9, 1942, he was taken prisoner and joined the 75,000 Americans and Filipinos on the Bataan Death March. Weakened by malaria, he collapsed near Lubao, Pampanga, where he was shot by a Japanese guard on April 14, 1942. He is now buried in the Manila American Cemetery and Memorial, Manila, Capital District, National Capital Region, Philippines.

Source of information: www.findagrave.com, weremember.abmc.gov