[2] Joseph B. Sanborn enlisted in the Illinois National Guard as a private on March 8, 1880.

[1][4] Sanborn commanded the first battalion of the First Illinois Volunteer Infantry in the Santiago campaign of the Spanish–American War.

[2] The Chipilly Ridge and the Gressaire Wood had been strongly fortified by the enemy, and it was impossible for the Americans and British to advance in that vicinity.

[7] On August 9, 1918, near Gressaire, Sanborn personally led his regiment through heavy shell fire and started the attack at the right moment.

Sergeant C. William Keane recounted a story when Sanborn brought his men food through gunfire: "Col. Sanborn personally brought us rations on his back...He did that because he wanted to be sure that the food would reach us and he figured the best way to make sure was to carry it himself.

"[11] In a letter written to Bernard A. Eckhart, Colonel Sanborn wrote, "I am very proud of the record of the regiment in the offensive of August 9...and as a result twenty-two men in the regiment received decorations of various kinds and Great Britain has conferred upon me the D.S.O decoration, which I understand is the first that has been given any American in this war."

[12] In March 1921, Sanborn was removed from command of the state troops and put on the retirement list.

[2] For his services in World War I, Sanborn was recognized by the American, British, French, and Belgian governments.