Colonel Gerald F. Dillon, USA (Ret) ‘64

Gerald F. Dillon was born in Providence, RI to parents James J. and Kathleen M. (Cournoyer) Dillon. After graduation from La Salle Academy, he attended Providence College (PC), Class of 1968. Gerry also received a master’s degree from PC in 1974 and conducted doctoral studies at Salve Regina University.

Gerry was an Army Airborne-Ranger Infantryman with more than 30 years of active military service. He was proud to have spent his entire military career with  troops and never a day in Washington, DC. He commanded three infantry companies, two infantry battalions (one of them a Ranger battalion) and two infantry brigades. He was an Infantry Division Chief of Staff and Chief of Staff of a multinational force. He fought in Vietnam and was awarded two Silver Stars, two Bronze Stars with Valor, and the Purple Heart. Gerry was also the recipient of the National Infantry Association's Primicerius Award of the Order of St. Maurice for exemplary service as an infantryman.

After his active military service, he taught at the U.S. Naval War College and then moved to Rome, Italy, where he was the Director of Operations for the Multinational Force and Observers which monitors the peace accord between Egypt and Israel.

After retirement, he continued civilian service as an advocate for veterans and fellow survivors. He was an energetic leader in La Salle and Providence College alumni communities. Gerry was a participant in the De La Salle Middle School Alumni Veterans Panel in 2022, sharing his wartime and peacetime experiences with the students. He remained close with his fellow Vietnam brethren from Charlie Co 2nd/502.

Gerry is survived by his son Ryan and his wife Cristina Lanaro, and their daughters, Zoe and Eva; his daughter Kelly and her husband Stephen Fitzpatrick, and their daughters Kylie and Ireland; his brother James ‘60, sisters Kato, Maggi, and Mary Patricia; and his former wife, Judy Mulligan.