Leroy Jethro Gibbs - Background

Background

Gibbs' age has never been revealed, although Mark Harmon was born in 1951. It is shown in the episode "Heartland" that he grew up in rural Pennsylvania. His father, Jackson Gibbs (played by Ralph Waite), owns and still runs the Stillwater General Store. He is named after his father's friend and partner in the store after they worked together in the coal mines (Winslow Mining Company). The younger Gibbs left Stillwater in 1976 at age 18–20 to join the Marine Corps and, according to his own statements, did not return for over thirty years. In a flashback scene in the episode, Jethro often provoked violence with defiance to his father, who constantly comes to his unwanted aid with a Winchester rifle or shotgun. He was also known around the area as a delinquent, as said by the new sheriff, one of the other delinquents during his teenage years, stating "Funny, never expected to find you on the same side of the law."

Gibbs' mother, Ann, is introduced in "Life Before His Eyes", the 200th episode. Like all of Gibbs' wives (one deceased and three divorced), she is a redhead. In Namesake, it is stated that while she had been dying of cancer, she committed suicide by overdose so her family would not have to watch her suffer.

A former Marine Gunnery Sergeant; Scout Sniper and military police Non-commissioned officer, Gibbs is portrayed as a consummate organizer, disciplined and demanding. These traits often put him in a stand-off with other authorities when they exert pressure on his team. In the JAG episode "Ice Queen", it is stated that he is a Marine reservist. Although he has not served as an active Marine in some time, he retains enough of his marksmanship skills to kill Ziva's captors in the premiere of season 7, "Truth or Consequences", from an exceptionally long distance and to outshoot a professional hit-man in "South by Southwest". That he is a deadshot marksman is further evidenced in "Hiatus" with flashbacks of him hitting a long-range headshot of his family's murderer, who was driving a moving vehicle; in "Jeopardy" he hits a kidnapper with a very swift killshot to the forehead—he takes this shot while kneeling from inside a car trunk, with his left hand. In the gunfight scene in "Bete Noire", with both men's weapons already drawn, Gibbs double-taps Ari Haswari to the chest (who, unknown to Gibbs, was wearing a vest) while Ari manages just one shot.

In "Under Covers", Abby Sciuto wishes him "happy birthday" on November 10, referring to the Marine Corps birthday.

Before the time in which NCIS is set, Gibbs traveled extensively on operations, particularly in Eastern Europe, demonstrated by many flashbacks, many including (now deceased) Director Jenny Shepard.

In the season 4 episode "Singled Out", McGee asks Gibbs how long he has been a special agent, to which Gibbs responds 16 years. This contradicts Gibbs' statement in the JAG Season 8 Episode "Ice Queen", when in response to Commander Rabb's question, "How long have you been doing this Gibbs?", Gibbs responds, "19 years."