World War II Honoree

John Louis Gaskins

Branch of Service

U.S. Army

Hometown

Timmonsville, South Carolina

Honored By

James O. Sweeny

Relationship

Classmate

ON FEBRUARY 18, 1942, HE ENTERED INTO ACTIVE DUTY. HE WAS ASSIGNED TO THE 359TH INFANTRY REGIMENT OF THE 90TH INFANTRY DIVISION FOR OVERSEAS DUTY IN FRANCE, DEPARTING THE STATES IN APRIL OF 1944. HE PARTICIPATED IN THE D-DAY LANDINGS ON UTAH BEACH, THE DRIVE ACROSS FRANCE, ENTRY INTO GERMANY IN NOVEMBER, AND THE DRIVE TOWARDS BERLIN. ON DECEMBER 29, HIS FAMILY WAS INFORMED BY THE WAR DEPARTMENT THAT HE HAD BEEN KILLED IN ACTION IN GERMANY ON DECEMBER 9. HE WAS KILLED IN THE SAARLAUTERN OFFENSIVE, A WEEK BEFORE THE GERMAN ARDENNES ATTACK CALLED THE BATTLE OF THE BULGE. FOR GALLANTRY IN ACTION AGAINST THE ENEMY, HE WAS AWARDED BOTH THE SILVER AND BRONZE STARS AND THE PURPLE HEART. HE ALSO WAS AWARDED THE EUROPEAN-AFRICAN-MIDDLE EASTERN CAMPAIGN MEDAL WITH ONE BRONZE BATTLE STAR. HE IS BURIED IN THE LORRAINE AMERICAN CEMETERY IN FRANCE.