Leroy Gibbs has racked up numerous accolades for his service in the United States Marine Corps beyond his Purple Heart. He also received a Silver Star, which he later gifted to Damon Werth (Paul Telfer), a Combat Action Ribbon, a Navy Unit Commendation, and many others.
Gibbs may not lord his achievements over others, which is in line with his character, but it’s clear his time in the military changed him, and that’s readily seen in episodes where he has to interact with former military members. This is on display on “NCIS” Season 17, Episode 20 — “The Arizona” — where Gibbs and his team encounter an alleged Pearl Harbor survivor, Joe Smith (Christopher Lloyd), a guest star who led Gibbs to become surprisingly emotional. In the episode, Joe steals someone else’s Purple Heart but is willing to return it as long as his ashes can be interred on the USS Arizona upon his passing. While there are questions surrounding Joe’s story, Gibbs relates to him, leading to the poignant line, “It took something from me. It’s what war does.”
Gibbs was gravely injured during his service. He also lost his wife and daughter while he was still overseas, which undoubtedly took an even greater toll on him. Because of all of this, Gibbs understands it’s people that matter most, not awards.
