Becigneul, Gerry

Gerrard “Gerry” Becigneul was born February 1, 1932 in Sandwich (now Windsor), Canada during the Great Depression. His mother was born in France, while his father was born in Lac-Megantic, Quebec. Gerry had three brothers and five sisters, and several saw survive in World War Two. He attended a bilingual high school which he despised; rebel that he was, he quit school at age 16. Gerry grew up close to the shores of Lake Erie, so they played in the marshes along the shoreline; once they even built a raft with the intent of going over Niagara Falls! Gerry grew up during the Cold War, and the Korean War began in 1952, when he was 20. Gerry had been employed at a Windsor auto trailer mobile plant in 1952, but because of a recession, he and his friends were laid off from their jobs. So they decided to join the Army in London, Ontario – he did not tell his parents. Gerry arrived at Wolseley Barracks, and the recruiter told him to provide evidence that he had no criminal record and to get his parental permission. However, as he was 19 Gerry said he did not require his parent’s permission! Gerry was enlisted as a potential non-commissioned officer, and he served in the Army for three years. He anticipated he would be assigned to the 27th Brigade in Germany; however he was sent to the 25th Brigade (81st Field Reg, 216th Battery) in Korea. He received basic training in London, Ontario for nine months. Gerry then transited by ship from Seattle to Japan to Korea, where he became part of the British Commonwealth Division. They were at the Korean Han and Imjin Rivers where the Van Doos, Royal Canadian Regiment (RCR’s), Black Watch, and Princess Patricia’s Canadian Light Infantry (PPCLI) served. Gerry was assigned to the 81st Infantry and 216th Field Regiment Battalion. On one occasion he was assigned to an observation post on Hill 187 with a Two-Striper Corporal (Officer) – May 2, 1953.A Chinese advance overran them, and artillery shells were very close to the observation post. The Chinese withdrew when artillery was called in, but 16 Canadians had been killed in that assault. Gerry returned home in 1954, and he found his way into postwar civilian life: he earned the Peacekeepers Medal, the Korean Volunteer Service Medal, the Guardian of Freedom Medal from South Korea, and the Korean War Veteran Medal. Gerry Becigneul was interviewed over zoom by Crestwood students in May 2026.  He had earlier been interviewed by Zach Dunn of Global Veterans’ Stories, and we thank Zach for letting us develop this webpage from his interview.