Gerald Rupert was born in Altoona, Pennsylvania and grew up about 40 miles south of there [Annotator's Note: in South Tillo, Pennsylvania]. The family stayed near his mother's parents. His father was a public school teacher and community band conductor. That musical influence impacted Rupert. Rupert had a brother who was a musician. Rupert was 14 years old when Pearl Harbor was attacked [Annotator's Note: the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, Hawaii on 7 December 1941] by the Japanese. Not knowing how far away Hawaii was, there was little concern when the radio broadcast announced the attack. That would change as older guys went into the military. They would eventually be drafted. Rationing of food and gasoline began. The Rupert family had good gardens and grew much of their food. They also bartered for items with their neighbors. It was a happy time. Knowing he was going to be drafted, he wanted to go into the Navy and travel to see the world.

Gerald Rupert enlisted in the Navy and went to Sampson, New York [Annotator's Note: Sampson Naval Training Base] on one of the finger lakes [Annotator’s Note: the finger lakes are directly south of Lake Ontario in the state of New York] for his boot camp. He was not a good swimmer and was fearful of having to jump off a tower into the water. The recruits had to practice using their uniform as a means of flotation. He went to the camp in February [Annotator's Note: February 1945]. It was cold. He was provided with advanced training at Bainbridge [Annotator's Note: Bainbridge Naval Training Center in Port Deposit, Maryland]. Given a battery of aptitude tests, he passed the test for Navy School of Music. Since the war was still progressing, he was not selected to wait in line for the rate. Instead, he enjoyed navigation instructions including reading charts, mathematics, and blinker lights [Annotator's Note: blinker lights are used to communicate between ships in close proximity during times of radio silence]. Mathematics was a strong subject for Rupert, but he would go on to become a music teacher after the Navy. After Bainbridge, he was assigned to a new ship [Annotator's Note: USS Lake Champlain (CV-39)] but, since the war was over, its aircraft had been removed.

Gerald Rupert was scheduled to go to the Pacific prior the dropping of the atomic bombs [Annotator's Note: nuclear weapons dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki, Japan, 6 and 9 August 1945] and the war ending. Instead, his aircraft carrier [Annotator's Note: USS Lake Champlain (CV-39)] was routed to Operation Magic Carpet to return troops from Europe. The ship cycled several times between Southampton, England and other ports of call in Europe. One of Rupert's girlfriends worked as a Rosie the Riveter in aircraft production in the United States. Some liberty [Annotator's Note: an authorized absence for a short period of time] was available to Rupert in England while troops were being loaded for the return trip home. The English treated the Americans well. Rupert also went to Naples [Annotator's Note: Naples, Italy]. He saw Pompeii and Mount Vesuvius. While on the aircraft carrier, Rupert worked varying shifts with other members of his group. He worked on steering the ship from the engine room. As a new man on the ship, the veterans played a trick on him and caused him to steer off course. The ship's skipper was not pleased with that situation. The Lake Champlain set a record in transporting troops in a short passage time from Europe to America [Annotator's Note: on their last trip, the USS Lake Champlain (CV-39) set a record by sailing from Gibraltar, Spain to Norfolk, Virginia in four days]. The urgency was to get the troops home for Thanksgiving. The troops had to be kept busy during the voyage so basketball courts were set up on the hanger deck plus skeet shooting was allowed on the flight deck off the stern of the ship. Troops were not allowed to go through ship passages required for operation of the vessel. Much of the history of the Navy actions are in Pensacola, Florida. Rupert was discharged in the fall of 1946 prior to reaching two years of service.

Gerald Rupert was discharged from Bainbridge [Annotator's Note: he was discharged in fall 1946 at Bainbridge Naval Training Center located in Port Deposit, Maryland] and took the railroad home. He had previously attended college for one year while playing basketball. He used the G.I. Bill to assist with his postwar college expenses. The G.I. Bill was a godsend for Rupert. He attended Juniata College in Huntingdon, Pennsylvania. He received his degree in music in 1949. After graduation, he went to work as a music teacher. He carried on with his education in music by receiving his master's degree at a college in Freedonia, New York. He taught music in public school for 41 years. It was satisfying to provide the education to students. Rupert was impressed when he visited the expanding National WWII Museum [Annotator's Note: in New Orleans, Louisiana]. He spent a full day there. He followed Jimmy Stewart's story [Annotator's Note: The National WWII Museum provides a "Dog tag Experience" where a veteran's story is followed through various kiosks in the exhibit areas]. Rupert enjoys the airshows that come to his community. There were several reunions of his crewmates after the war. Rupert was a member of the small group of navigators onboard his ship [Annotator's Note: USS Lake Champlain (CV-39)]. Some people today know the significance of what was accomplished during the war. At The National WWII Museum, he was greeted by a family who wanted a photograph of him. That has happened on other occasions also. It is a nice feeling that people are supportive of the country and what was done by the veterans.