Rifleman Gerald George Gionette was born in Sudbury, Ontario on 12 November 1942, the son of Nazaire Gionette and Viola Marshall.

On 2 December 1959, he applied to join the Canadian Army. On 30 January 1960, he was transported to the 6th Personnel Depot in Toronto, Ontario for testing, physical and acceptance.

His selection was the Queen’s Own Rifles. On 17 March, he was transported back to the Queen’s Own Rifles Training Depot in Currie Barracks, Calgary, Alberta. Gerald graduated from there on 19 August 1960 and was transferred to C Company of the 1st Battalion of the Queen’s Own Rifles of Canada as a Rifleman, again in Currie Barracks in Calgary.

On 11 November 1960, the 1st Battalion of Queen’s Own Rifles of Canada was off to Fort McLeod – Delinghophen, West Germany to replace the 2nd Battalion Queen’s Own Rifles of Canada as part of the Canadian Army NATO FORCE Brigade and he stayed there until 10 March 1963.

He returned to Toronto, 6 Personal Depot to get his discharge on 17  March 1963, at the rank of  Rifleman Group 2 Machine Gunner. He served for 3 years and 8 months in Calgary and 28 months in West Germany.

Gerald joined the Thessalon Legion Branch 182 in 1965.

Gerald died on 21 March 2021 in Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario. He was cremated and his ashes were interred in Pine Grove Cemetery, Thessalon, Ontario

From Royal Canadian Legion