Olav Kaastad was born on September 19, 1908, in Tysnes kommune, Hordaland fylke, Norway. He emigrated from Norway to the USA in 1928 and lived in Kiester, Faribault County, Minnesota.

Olav enlisted in the US Army on November 28, 1942. He served as a Private in the 40th Engineer Combat Regiment, 45th Infantry Division. He served in Africa, Sicily, mainland Italy and France. Kaastad was badly injured in a mine explosion in Vence, France, on August 29, 1944. He died of his wounds the next day. He was originally buried in an American Military cemetery in France. After the war ended, his family requested that his remains be shipped back to Norway.
Additional memory from Sveinung Økland: "My father remembers that day when an American Naval ship came with Kaastad's coffin. It was covered with the American flag and guarded by two armed US Marines. This was a highly unusual sight for the locals and created a lot of attention. He said the locals were proud of Kaastad's war effort. The coffin was first placed on the small local harbor quay and then transported with horse and carriage to the cemetery."

Source of information: www.findagrave.com