S2/c Gerard James Vail was born in Chicago , Illinois, on January 11, 1927, to James D. Vail and Isabel Klein-Vail and had two sisters and a brother. The family resided at 811 South 15th Avenue, Maywood, Illinois. It is known that he attended Manual Training High School and then Proviso Township High School. He joined the US Coast Guard Reserves on January 2, 1945, and received his high school diploma on June 6, 1945.
He held the rank of apprentice seaman. What is known is that he became ill and was sent to Hines Hospital, Hines, Illinois, which is located right next to Maywood. On July 8, 1945, he died. Funeral services for him were held at the funeral home, on July 12th, and a funeral mass was held at Assumption Catholic Church in Chicago. He was buried at Elmwood Cemetery, River Grove, Illinois.
