Private Roy Vernon Asmus

Enlisted February 10, 1941 at Audubon, Iowa
Rank Private Iowa National Guard
Service Number 20705253

Manning Monitor article ------ 1943

Receives Photo-Letter
Mrs. Dora Amus received a photo-letter from her son Roy in Ireland. It is necessary to use a magnifying class in some instances, to read the small letters which are entirely legible. Roy says in recent letters:
"I wish I could explain to you how pretty Ireland is. The fields all look so nice and well taken care of. Every bit of ground is used. They have hedges that separate fields, instead of fences. Most of the work is done by hand as there is not much farm equipment.
The buildings look very old, made of stone and rock. They look as if they will stand many more years. An old stone church is here in our camp. Our camp is built around a large lake with a few mountains in the background. The lake has 40 odd islands in it. Buildings are nice but different.

I am chauffeur for a Lt. and enjoy it as I can see lots of country. Old people to little tots ride bikes. Cars are mostly Austins and all right-hand drives.
I had the good fortune of being shown through a large flying boat. They are large and have all the comforts of home. I suppose you heard of the American troops who were before the king and queen of England. I saw the king and queen.
I left the U. S. in April and received my first letter in June.
I saw a hall clock in an old parsonage that was 400 years old and keeps perfect time. The furniture was all very old.
At camp we are rationed beer, cakes and tobacco and toilet articles. Have I mentioned the fact that it doesn't begin to get dark until 11 and starts getting light at 4.
Roy's address is Hq., 2nd Bn., 168 Inf. (R), A. P. O. 34, New York, N. Y., U. S. Army.

Manning Monitor article ------ 1945

ROY ASMUS LEAVES ARMY AT CAMP McCoy
Camp McCoy, Wis. (Special)
The honorable discharge from the armed forces of S-Sgt. Roy V. Asmus of Manning, Iowa, from Camp McCoy's separation center was announced here today. Sgt. Asmus served 60 months in the army, seeing service in MTO with Co. A, 423rd Infantry.
He holds the bronze star medal, good conduct medal, and one battle participation star.
He is the son of Mrs. Dora Asmus of Manning.

Roy V. Asmus Roy V. Asmus, a pillar of several communities and much beloved figure in the civil and community activities of Bell Gardens and Montebello, passed away quietly at Downey Presbyterian Intercommunity Hospital on Monday morning, July 14, 2014. He was 95. Roy Asmus was born in Manning, Iowa, January 31, 1919, to Chris and Dora (Jurgens) Asmus. He spent five years in the army, honorably discharged in 1945, moving to Bell Gardens, California in 1946. He met his future wife, Julia, just three months later. After an exciting, whirlwind courtship, they were married in March of 1947, so they were married for 67 years at the time of his passing.

Roy worked for Safeway Stores, Inc. for 37 years, retiring in 1981. Since retiring, he and Julia have been extremely active in their hometown of Bell Gardens as well as other surrounding communities. Los Angeles County, the City of Bell Gardens and Montebello Unified School District saluted and honored Roy for his 30 years of leadership and volunteer work in 1989 by awarding him a Certificate of Merit as an Outstanding Older American. The Montebello Unified School District/Bell Gardens High School named a Bell Gardens High School building "The Roy and Julia Asmus Building."

Roy has been described as "hard-working, willing to serve others, pleasant to work with and has a great ability to keep peace in a group. In a heated discussion, he sits and listens, then quietly and diplomatically suggests a way out for a settlement."

Roy was an active member of the Young At Heart Senior Citizens, worked with the Bell Gardens Coordinating Council, helping with the annual Miss Bell Gardens Pageant and Community Fair. Roy and Julia were very involved in the scholarship program for Bell Gardens High School for many years, through the fund set up for their son, Lorn, who was killed in an accident in 1980. Julia is still involved with this fund. Roy also assisted with many park programs, including Easter and Christmas projects and administered testing for the academic decathlon, among many other things far too numerous to mention.

A member of St. Gertrude's Catholic Church in Bell Gardens since 1947, Roy and Julia have been commissioned Eucharistic Ministers for many years, to serve shut-ins and the sick at daily and Sunday masses.

Roy is survived by his wife, Julia, his step-son, Bruce Wilcox, 77; and his daughter, Lisa Hildebrand (Gary), and their four grandchildren and two great-grandchildren. Roy was preceded in death by their son, Lorn, and daughter Mary Ann, who lived only 10 1/2 hours on June 12, 1954, and is buried at Calvary Cemetery, East Los Angeles, California.

There was a rosary at St. Gertrude's on Sunday, July 20th at 7 PM and the funeral was also at St. Gertrude's at 10 AM on Monday, July 21st.

In lieu of flowers, Julia has requested that donations be made to the PTSA Bell Gardens High School Scholarship Fund, which is for new graduates each June.

Roy V. Asmus, 95, USA, WWII, Bell Gardens, July 21, 2014
John Gretzinger
Fellow Patriot Guard Riders, it is with great sadness that I announce the passing of yet another of The Greatest Generation, Staff Sergeant Roy V. Asmus, United States Army. 95 years old.

We have been invited to attend SSG Asmus' funeral services, which will include a flag line from the church to the coach, an accompaniment of his procession from the church to the cemetery followed by a flag line and full military honors graveside.

Staff Sergeant Roy Asmus enlisted in the Army September 17, 1940, and faithfully served in the Infantry until his discharge on September 30, 1945. Roy served in the European, African and Middle Eastern Theaters of Operation.

After the Army, Roy returned to his home in Bell Gardens. Married his wife of SIXTY-SEVEN years, Julia and raised their daughter Lisa and step-son Bruce.

Roy and Julia were proud grandparents of 4 grandchildren and 2 great-grandchildren.

During the years following his service to our country, Roy and Julia were very active citizens both in their church and in the community of Bell Gardens. To give just a snapshot of how much they were devoted to Church and community, they were both personally acknowledged by the Pope…twice. Julia worked tirelessly to have a small city park established for the local children. The city, as a token of gratitude surprised her by naming the park after her. Further, there is a new wing of the Bell Gardens High School named after Roy and Julia Asmus.

Please join me Monday in honoring one of the Greatest Generation and his family.

NOTE: This mission posting is to facilitate your voluntary participation in honoring this Military Veteran. For those interested, and all are welcome, we will be accompanying the hero and his family from the church services to his final resting place. Please see the time table if you would like to participate. For those who would rather go directly to the cemetery, we will meet you there.

Time Line for Monday 21 July 2014:
1015 Stage at St. Gertrude 7025 S. Garfield Ave., Bell Gardens, CA 90201 (Quietly as Mass will be in session)
1045 est. Flag line for dignified transfer from Church to Coach (For your individual planning, remember that these times are approximate especially as Catholic ceremonies tend to run a bit long)
1100 KSU Accompany coach and family to cemetery
1130 Arrive at Calvary Cemetery 4201 Whittier Blvd., Los Angeles 90023, for flag line and military honors.
R/C: Hank Dolan
SoCal PGR Ride Captain

You do not have to be a Veteran or a motorcycle rider to attend this mission. Everyone is welcome. We encourage those who do not ride to attend in your car. If this will be your first mission go to the initial staging area and you will be briefed there by the R/C (Ride Captain). Dress for motorcycle riding or dress casually if you are driving a cage (car). Please feel free to attend any portion of this mission you can. Please ride/drive safely.