PFC Harry Lowen Gasaway

courtesy of Karen Crowson-Stout

PFC Harry Lowen Gasaway was born 21 Sep 1917 in Saline County, Illinois. He was the only child of Sylvester and Amanda (Shriver) Gasaway. His parents separated soon after his birth and Harry and his mother moved in with her parents on their farm. Amanda died age 29 in February 1926. Harry continued to live with his grandparents and help them farm. Both of his grandparents died in 1939 and Harry married Virginia Lee McConnell in March 1940 and the couple lived near Raleigh, Illinois.

Harry was drafted in July 1943. After completing his military training he was sent to the European theater. PFC Gasaway was transferred from the replacement depot to M Company 116th Infantry on 24 Jul 1944. He was wounded on the outskirts of Vire, France on 6 Aug 1944 and evacuated to a field hospital. He died there the next day, 7 Aug 1944. 

PFC Gasaway was repatriated in 1948 and re-interred in Raleigh Masonic Cemetery in Raleigh, Illinois.