James Rufus, or "J.R." as he would become known by family and friends, was the sixth of eight children born to Lois Roxy Doyle and Jesse James Ashberry. His siblings were Freddie Mae (1910), Hughvelle Warren (1911), Lester Lavelle (1913), Joseph Bolivar (1915), Tille Mable (1915), Helen (1921) and Jessie Mildred (1923). The Ashberry farm in the James Community of Shelby County had its beginnings in 1918 when his parents sold their livestock and moved their household goods by train to Center from Navarro County, Texas. J.R. was the first Ashberry to be born in Shelby County, entering this world on May 20, 1919. He graduated from Center High School with the class of 1937 and his sister Helen Ashberry Jackson wrote, ""J.R.'s" parting in 1940 was a sadder one than the family had ever seen. The little boy, who built toy airplanes and worked the farm with his heart and eyes turned toward the clouds, left home to become a D-Day pilot"".(1)
In 1999, J.R., at the age of 80, wrote to his friend Winston Smith from his residence at 3801 Cedar Street, North Little Rock, Arkansas, about his life and military service. We will let him tell his story.
""I enlisted in the Air Force [US Army Air Forces] June 29, 1940. Several states of assignment [followed]. Recruit to Brooks [Field], San Antonio to Kelley [Field], sheet metal shop to San Angelo opening of new base [Goodfellow]. I went to Chanute, Illinois sheet metal course. Back to San Angelo. Met my wife at church in Illinois. Been married 57 years this month [November 1942 in Fort Myers, Florida]. Three children, two boys and a daughter, on great-grandson. San Angelo 41, applied for pilot school as high school grad. Graduated September 6, 1942 as S/Sgt pilot. Went to Fort Myers, Florida, B-26 Marauder to Lakeland, Florida, Avon Park to Tampa – Went to England ferried my own B-26 to England January 1944. Flew 68 missions over occupied France. DFC [Distinguished Flying Cross], 12 Air Medals, Presidential Unit Citation. Bombed Utah Beach ahead of troops on D-Day, June 6, 1944. I was in an 18 ship formation each time. Each A/C [aircraft] dropped 30 100 pounds bombs, frag bombs had a ring cut around and when the bombs hit the frags went out 300 yards, nothing living left above ground. I read in a magazine only 2 soldiers were killed on invasion at Utah beach, not true at Omaha Beach. See Saving Private Ryan if you can – movie on video. Came home after 68 missions to instruct in T-6 at Enid, Oklahoma. Spent some 8 years teaching students in B-25's, T-6, T-28, T-34, AC. T-28 and T-34 was in civilian contract school as Commandant of Academic and Military Training of students. Students were 2nd Lt. from college – not to smart was some.""
""I went to Korea from Mariona Air Base [Davis-Monthan] between Tucson and Phoenix. 1956, Korea as Air Operations Officer, stayed there 8 months. This was after the Korean War. Air Police Officer Course at Lackland to Little Rock Air Force Base, about 1 month as Police Officer. At this time I was a Captain and Command Pilot. The Base C.O. [Commanding Officer] called me in and said you have lots of B-25 time as instructor pilot so he sent me to Base Operations. I checked out base pilots and was assigned base flying and ground safety officer for the base. I went to New York University 2 week safety course and retired as a Major on November 30, 1960. Will say more about retirement next letter"".
""I was born in the house Route 3 at Flat Fork Creek, May 20, 1919. We sold the 195 acre farm place to a man and he later sold to another. We still own the mineral rights. There were 8 children, I'm the 3rd from the bottom. My oldest sister of the 8 is in N. [nursing] home at Kilgore. Helen, whom you saw at reunion lives in Arlington, Texas. Only three of us left out of 8. My health condition is triple by-pass 1993. Left eye macular degeneration 1997 so I can't see much except right eye. I also have artis [arthritis] in my hands and fingers. High hiatal hernia plus old age of 80 as you know. Sorry my hand writing Is not so good with artis. I really appreciate you writing me Winston, will continue to write you. Hope all is well with you and yours. I don't own a computer so if you give me our phone no. will spend some time there. Thanks J.R.""(2)
J.R., age 84, died in Pulaski, Arkansas on February 4, 2004. He was buried with his wife, Fannie, who preceded him in 2002 at the Arkansas State Veterans Cemetery, North Little Rock, Pulaski County, Arkansas. A member of that "Greatest Generation". Day is done, God is nigh.
SOURCES:
(1): Shelby County Historical Commission, History of Shelby County, Texas 1988.
(2): Ashbury, James. Personal Letter, 1999.
In 1999, J.R., at the age of 80, wrote to his friend Winston Smith from his residence at 3801 Cedar Street, North Little Rock, Arkansas, about his life and military service. We will let him tell his story.
""I enlisted in the Air Force [US Army Air Forces] June 29, 1940. Several states of assignment [followed]. Recruit to Brooks [Field], San Antonio to Kelley [Field], sheet metal shop to San Angelo opening of new base [Goodfellow]. I went to Chanute, Illinois sheet metal course. Back to San Angelo. Met my wife at church in Illinois. Been married 57 years this month [November 1942 in Fort Myers, Florida]. Three children, two boys and a daughter, on great-grandson. San Angelo 41, applied for pilot school as high school grad. Graduated September 6, 1942 as S/Sgt pilot. Went to Fort Myers, Florida, B-26 Marauder to Lakeland, Florida, Avon Park to Tampa – Went to England ferried my own B-26 to England January 1944. Flew 68 missions over occupied France. DFC [Distinguished Flying Cross], 12 Air Medals, Presidential Unit Citation. Bombed Utah Beach ahead of troops on D-Day, June 6, 1944. I was in an 18 ship formation each time. Each A/C [aircraft] dropped 30 100 pounds bombs, frag bombs had a ring cut around and when the bombs hit the frags went out 300 yards, nothing living left above ground. I read in a magazine only 2 soldiers were killed on invasion at Utah beach, not true at Omaha Beach. See Saving Private Ryan if you can – movie on video. Came home after 68 missions to instruct in T-6 at Enid, Oklahoma. Spent some 8 years teaching students in B-25's, T-6, T-28, T-34, AC. T-28 and T-34 was in civilian contract school as Commandant of Academic and Military Training of students. Students were 2nd Lt. from college – not to smart was some.""
""I went to Korea from Mariona Air Base [Davis-Monthan] between Tucson and Phoenix. 1956, Korea as Air Operations Officer, stayed there 8 months. This was after the Korean War. Air Police Officer Course at Lackland to Little Rock Air Force Base, about 1 month as Police Officer. At this time I was a Captain and Command Pilot. The Base C.O. [Commanding Officer] called me in and said you have lots of B-25 time as instructor pilot so he sent me to Base Operations. I checked out base pilots and was assigned base flying and ground safety officer for the base. I went to New York University 2 week safety course and retired as a Major on November 30, 1960. Will say more about retirement next letter"".
""I was born in the house Route 3 at Flat Fork Creek, May 20, 1919. We sold the 195 acre farm place to a man and he later sold to another. We still own the mineral rights. There were 8 children, I'm the 3rd from the bottom. My oldest sister of the 8 is in N. [nursing] home at Kilgore. Helen, whom you saw at reunion lives in Arlington, Texas. Only three of us left out of 8. My health condition is triple by-pass 1993. Left eye macular degeneration 1997 so I can't see much except right eye. I also have artis [arthritis] in my hands and fingers. High hiatal hernia plus old age of 80 as you know. Sorry my hand writing Is not so good with artis. I really appreciate you writing me Winston, will continue to write you. Hope all is well with you and yours. I don't own a computer so if you give me our phone no. will spend some time there. Thanks J.R.""(2)
J.R., age 84, died in Pulaski, Arkansas on February 4, 2004. He was buried with his wife, Fannie, who preceded him in 2002 at the Arkansas State Veterans Cemetery, North Little Rock, Pulaski County, Arkansas. A member of that "Greatest Generation". Day is done, God is nigh.
SOURCES:
(1): Shelby County Historical Commission, History of Shelby County, Texas 1988.
(2): Ashbury, James. Personal Letter, 1999.
James Rufus, or "J.R." as he would become known by family and friends, was the sixth of eight children born to Lois Roxy Doyle and Jesse James Ashberry. His siblings were Freddie Mae (1910), Hughvelle Warren (1911), Lester Lavelle (1913), Joseph Bolivar (1915), Tille Mable (1915), Helen (1921) and Jessie Mildred (1923). The Ashberry farm in the James Community of Shelby County had its beginnings in 1918 when his parents sold their livestock and moved their household goods by train to Center from Navarro County, Texas. J.R. was the first Ashberry to be born in Shelby County, entering this world on May 20, 1919. He graduated from Center High School with the class of 1937 and his sister Helen Ashberry Jackson wrote, ""J.R.'s" parting in 1940 was a sadder one than the family had ever seen. The little boy, who built toy airplanes and worked the farm with his heart and eyes turned toward the clouds, left home to become a D-Day pilot"".(1)
In 1999, J.R., at the age of 80, wrote to his friend Winston Smith from his residence at 3801 Cedar Street, North Little Rock, Arkansas, about his life and military service. We will let him tell his story.
""I enlisted in the Air Force [US Army Air Forces] June 29, 1940. Several states of assignment [followed]. Recruit to Brooks [Field], San Antonio to Kelley [Field], sheet metal shop to San Angelo opening of new base [Goodfellow]. I went to Chanute, Illinois sheet metal course. Back to San Angelo. Met my wife at church in Illinois. Been married 57 years this month [November 1942 in Fort Myers, Florida]. Three children, two boys and a daughter, on great-grandson. San Angelo 41, applied for pilot school as high school grad. Graduated September 6, 1942 as S/Sgt pilot. Went to Fort Myers, Florida, B-26 Marauder to Lakeland, Florida, Avon Park to Tampa – Went to England ferried my own B-26 to England January 1944. Flew 68 missions over occupied France. DFC [Distinguished Flying Cross], 12 Air Medals, Presidential Unit Citation. Bombed Utah Beach ahead of troops on D-Day, June 6, 1944. I was in an 18 ship formation each time. Each A/C [aircraft] dropped 30 100 pounds bombs, frag bombs had a ring cut around and when the bombs hit the frags went out 300 yards, nothing living left above ground. I read in a magazine only 2 soldiers were killed on invasion at Utah beach, not true at Omaha Beach. See Saving Private Ryan if you can – movie on video. Came home after 68 missions to instruct in T-6 at Enid, Oklahoma. Spent some 8 years teaching students in B-25's, T-6, T-28, T-34, AC. T-28 and T-34 was in civilian contract school as Commandant of Academic and Military Training of students. Students were 2nd Lt. from college – not to smart was some.""
""I went to Korea from Mariona Air Base [Davis-Monthan] between Tucson and Phoenix. 1956, Korea as Air Operations Officer, stayed there 8 months. This was after the Korean War. Air Police Officer Course at Lackland to Little Rock Air Force Base, about 1 month as Police Officer. At this time I was a Captain and Command Pilot. The Base C.O. [Commanding Officer] called me in and said you have lots of B-25 time as instructor pilot so he sent me to Base Operations. I checked out base pilots and was assigned base flying and ground safety officer for the base. I went to New York University 2 week safety course and retired as a Major on November 30, 1960. Will say more about retirement next letter"".
""I was born in the house Route 3 at Flat Fork Creek, May 20, 1919. We sold the 195 acre farm place to a man and he later sold to another. We still own the mineral rights. There were 8 children, I'm the 3rd from the bottom. My oldest sister of the 8 is in N. [nursing] home at Kilgore. Helen, whom you saw at reunion lives in Arlington, Texas. Only three of us left out of 8. My health condition is triple by-pass 1993. Left eye macular degeneration 1997 so I can't see much except right eye. I also have artis [arthritis] in my hands and fingers. High hiatal hernia plus old age of 80 as you know. Sorry my hand writing Is not so good with artis. I really appreciate you writing me Winston, will continue to write you. Hope all is well with you and yours. I don't own a computer so if you give me our phone no. will spend some time there. Thanks J.R.""(2)
J.R., age 84, died in Pulaski, Arkansas on February 4, 2004. He was buried with his wife, Fannie, who preceded him in 2002 at the Arkansas State Veterans Cemetery, North Little Rock, Pulaski County, Arkansas. A member of that "Greatest Generation". Day is done, God is nigh.
SOURCES:
(1): Shelby County Historical Commission, History of Shelby County, Texas 1988.
(2): Ashbury, James. Personal Letter, 1999.
In 1999, J.R., at the age of 80, wrote to his friend Winston Smith from his residence at 3801 Cedar Street, North Little Rock, Arkansas, about his life and military service. We will let him tell his story.
""I enlisted in the Air Force [US Army Air Forces] June 29, 1940. Several states of assignment [followed]. Recruit to Brooks [Field], San Antonio to Kelley [Field], sheet metal shop to San Angelo opening of new base [Goodfellow]. I went to Chanute, Illinois sheet metal course. Back to San Angelo. Met my wife at church in Illinois. Been married 57 years this month [November 1942 in Fort Myers, Florida]. Three children, two boys and a daughter, on great-grandson. San Angelo 41, applied for pilot school as high school grad. Graduated September 6, 1942 as S/Sgt pilot. Went to Fort Myers, Florida, B-26 Marauder to Lakeland, Florida, Avon Park to Tampa – Went to England ferried my own B-26 to England January 1944. Flew 68 missions over occupied France. DFC [Distinguished Flying Cross], 12 Air Medals, Presidential Unit Citation. Bombed Utah Beach ahead of troops on D-Day, June 6, 1944. I was in an 18 ship formation each time. Each A/C [aircraft] dropped 30 100 pounds bombs, frag bombs had a ring cut around and when the bombs hit the frags went out 300 yards, nothing living left above ground. I read in a magazine only 2 soldiers were killed on invasion at Utah beach, not true at Omaha Beach. See Saving Private Ryan if you can – movie on video. Came home after 68 missions to instruct in T-6 at Enid, Oklahoma. Spent some 8 years teaching students in B-25's, T-6, T-28, T-34, AC. T-28 and T-34 was in civilian contract school as Commandant of Academic and Military Training of students. Students were 2nd Lt. from college – not to smart was some.""
""I went to Korea from Mariona Air Base [Davis-Monthan] between Tucson and Phoenix. 1956, Korea as Air Operations Officer, stayed there 8 months. This was after the Korean War. Air Police Officer Course at Lackland to Little Rock Air Force Base, about 1 month as Police Officer. At this time I was a Captain and Command Pilot. The Base C.O. [Commanding Officer] called me in and said you have lots of B-25 time as instructor pilot so he sent me to Base Operations. I checked out base pilots and was assigned base flying and ground safety officer for the base. I went to New York University 2 week safety course and retired as a Major on November 30, 1960. Will say more about retirement next letter"".
""I was born in the house Route 3 at Flat Fork Creek, May 20, 1919. We sold the 195 acre farm place to a man and he later sold to another. We still own the mineral rights. There were 8 children, I'm the 3rd from the bottom. My oldest sister of the 8 is in N. [nursing] home at Kilgore. Helen, whom you saw at reunion lives in Arlington, Texas. Only three of us left out of 8. My health condition is triple by-pass 1993. Left eye macular degeneration 1997 so I can't see much except right eye. I also have artis [arthritis] in my hands and fingers. High hiatal hernia plus old age of 80 as you know. Sorry my hand writing Is not so good with artis. I really appreciate you writing me Winston, will continue to write you. Hope all is well with you and yours. I don't own a computer so if you give me our phone no. will spend some time there. Thanks J.R.""(2)
J.R., age 84, died in Pulaski, Arkansas on February 4, 2004. He was buried with his wife, Fannie, who preceded him in 2002 at the Arkansas State Veterans Cemetery, North Little Rock, Pulaski County, Arkansas. A member of that "Greatest Generation". Day is done, God is nigh.
SOURCES:
(1): Shelby County Historical Commission, History of Shelby County, Texas 1988.
(2): Ashbury, James. Personal Letter, 1999.
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