World War II Honoree

Joseph Lester Asbury, Jr.

Branch of Service

U.S. Army Air Force

Hometown

Rosamond, California

Honored By

Coni Asbury Holland

Relationship

Daughter

ENTERED THE ARMY IN SEPTEMBER, 1941 AND BEGAN HIS PILOT TRAINING IN OCTOBER, 1941. HE WAS COMMISSIONED AS A 2ND LIEUTENANT AND AWARDED HIS PILOT’S WINGS. IN MARCH 1942. HE WAS ASSIGNED TO FLY P-47 FIGHTERS. AFTER HIS P-47 TRAINING, HE WAS SENT TO THE EUROPEAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS (ETO) WHERE HE FLEW COMBAT MISSIONS IN CLOSE SUPPORT OF AMERICAN FORCES THAT WERE PART OF GENERAL GEORGE S. PATTON'S THIRD ARMY. HE SUPPORTED PATTON'S TROOPS IN THE BATTLE OF THE BULGE.