John Wesley Schnepp was born on April 21, 1919, in Philadelphia, Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania. He was the son of Irene Ashman Schnepp.

John served in the 15th Tank Battalion, 6th Armored Division, as a Second Lieutenant during World War II. He was Killed in Action on August 5, 1944, during the liberation of Huelgoat, France. He is now buried in the Brittany American Cemetery, Montjoie Saint Martin, France.