When John P. Gasda and his twin sister Irene T. were born on August 1, 1911, in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, their father, John, was 27, and their mother, Catherine, was 19. He had two brothers and three sisters. He was inducted June 1, 1942, receiving his basic training at Keesler Field, Mississippi. He served in the U.S. Army during World War II as a Sergeant in the 18th Infantry Regiment, 1st Infantry Division. He was Killed in Action on April 16, 1945 and is now buried in Netherlands American Cemetery and Memorial, Margraten, Eijsden-Margraten Municipality, Limburg, Netherlands.