When James H. Jerstad was born in 1923 in Wisconsin, his father, Wallace, was 29 and his mother, Catherine, was 31. He had two brothers. He served in the U.S. Army during World War II as a Staff Sergeant in the 143rd Infantry Regiment, 36th Infantry Division. He entered service in Wisconsin. He died on August 25, 1944 during the invasion of southern France. He is now buried at Rhone American Cemetery and Memorial, Draguignan, Departement du Var, Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur, France.