Giannini was a member of the Father Judge High School Honor Society before graduating in 1961. His hobbies included skiing, swimming and football. For two years, he worked as a busboy and shop foreman while studying business administration at Temple University at night. Gianinni entered the Army in March 1965. He was a forward observer before attending Officer Candidate School. The 23-year-old first lieutenant was commander of Battery B of the 3rd Battalion, 82nd Artillery. 196th Light Infantry Brigade, in Tay Ninh Province, Vietnam, when he died on March 16, 1967. Survivors included his parents, a . brother and sister.