Onorato Gadda, son of Giacomo and Maria Gadda, of Sondalo, Italy, was born at that place on the 22d of August, 1887. He came to America when a boy of sixteen years and took up his residence at Truckee, California. There he remained for several years, engaged in lumbering, after which he came to Nevada to work in the mines. He entered the service from Reno with a contingent of Washoe County men on June 24th, 1918, going with them to Camp Lewis, Washington. He remained in the 14th Company, 4th Battalion, 166th Depot Brigade, to which he had been first assigned, until the 15th of July, then was transferred to Company C, 160th Infantry, 40th Division. His unit sailed from the States on the 8th of August. On the 23d of September he received a second transfer, this time to Company K, 308th Infantry, 77th Division, which was then forming its lines in the Argonne Forest for the last great offensive of the war. Three days later, September 26th, 1918, he went over the top in the greatest battle of American History.

The 77th Division was one of the three composing the First Corps, Major General Liggett commanding, which formed the left wing of our army. To this corps was assigned the rugged Argonne Forest, the valley of the Aire and the rough country just to the eastward. The 77th Division and part of the 28th were given the difficult task of penetrating the Argonne. On September 26th the line from the Argonne to the Meuse began its advance against the enemy; on October 8th the fight was extended to the heights to the east of the Meuse. In the meantime the 77th had been driving its way northward through the forest, and on October 11th made its appearance above the Aire to the southward of Grand Pre. The most stubborn fighting marked ever day of the battle. On the 12th of October, while the division was preparing for its advance on Grand Pre, Private Onorato Gadda was killed in action.

This brave soldier who gave his life for his adopted country, appears on our Honor Roll from the County of Washoe. His parents in Italy, a brother, Steve Gadda, of Hobart Mills, California, and the following brothers and sisters, Alfonso, Charles, Betina, Agnese, and Clementina, all in Italy, survive him. His fine record is a source of consolation to his family and all who knew him.