Gerald Sincock

27Mar1909 – 25May1944

Edison Days

Gerald graduated with the Class of June 1928. He was a very good football player, and he was the President of the We (Senior Boys) Club.

After high school, Gerald played football for the Minnesota Gophers for 2 years.

After his stint in with the Gophers and prior to joining the Navy, he opened and operated Gerry’s Cafe at 2324 Central Avenue.

Military Service

Rate: Pharmacists Mate 2nd Class

Branch: United States Navy

Gerald enlisted in the Navy in June 1942. After basic training and advanced training, he was stationed at the Great Lakes Navel Training Center in Chicago, IL.

While off duty, Gerald was involved with a fight with Edward Ziniel, a sailor who was recently medically discharged from the Navy. Gerald was stabbed to death in the altercation.

The suspect was arrested and indicted by a grand jury for Gerald’s murder.

Edward Ziniel went on trial for Gerald’s murder in November 1944. He had received a medical discharge from the Navy prior to the murder for injuries suffered while on active duty. He and his lawyer used a “war shock” defense to claim that Edward did not know what he was doing when he stabbed Gerald. Today, Edward’s claim would be termed Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). A jury agreed with Edward and his lawyer, and he was acquitted after only 2 hours of deliberation.

Gerald is buried at Sunset Memorial Park Cemetery in Minneapolis, MN.