Gerald Gagne

Era: World War II

Military Branch: Navy

Gerald Gagne served in World War II in the Merchant Marine, a wartime auxiliary of the U.S. Navy, beginning in March 1943.

Mr. Gagne was discharged in November 1945. His rank was Able-bodied Seaman.

He was born in Duluth, Minnesota, in 1922, the son of Arthur and Ellan Gagne.

Source: Veterans’ Memorial Hall veteran history form; veteran’s account (below)

“Winter of ’44, convoy, taking P-38’s [P-38 Lightning fighter aircraft] on our freighter across the English Channel, we hit a major storm while I was at the wheel. Three Liberty Ships were lost during the storm. The waves would raise our ship over the top of the ship in front, making it look like we would come down on top of them.”