THE WORLD GOES TO WAR ONCE AGAIN!

Roger Gast, son of John C. and Marie Gast, entered the Army in November of 1942, and served until September of 1945. 

During the Battle of the Bulge, in January of 1945, Roger was wounded and he was wounded a second time in February of that same year. Roger spent time in the hospital in France, England, and Franklin, Indiana. He was later awarded the Purple Heart for his part in World War II. He was discharged on 70% disability which was later reduced to 40%. The experience greatly influenced the rest of his life. Roger went on to serve the community of Steamboat Rock, in many ways. 

A year earlier in 1944, Roger’s parents had become concerned when his brother Charles had been reported missing in action as a result of his part in World War II. 

Charles J. (Dallas) Gast had enlisted in the Army Air Corps in December of 1942. He was graduated as first class armorer at the beginning of his training. Later her received gunner training and became waist gunner on a B-17. 

Dallas was sent overseas the latter part of September, 1943, and went on active duty in the early part of November. From that time until his being reported missing, Dallas had completed many successful missions. 

His Parents Mr. and Mrs. John Gast were informed by the war department that their son, now a Staff Sergeant was missing in action after a raid over France on April 27, 1944. 

They later learned that their son was not missing in action, but was in fact a prisoner of the Germans at Stalag 17-B. Dallas returned to his family safely after the war. 

Roger and Charles’ brother Maurice also served in the war as a member of the Coast Guard. Later he served in the Navy in Korea. 

Another Steamboat Rock flyer, became an All-American Bomber. 2-Lt. Alvin Jaspers, the son of Ben and Bessie Jaspers, was a Flying Fortress copilot. He was selected as a member of the 1943 All-American bomber team at the Eighth Air Force Bomber Command Station in England. A former mechanic, Alvin, became a veteran of numerous missions over Nazi Europe, and won the Air Medal with an Oak Leaf Cluster. 

After the war another veteran came to Steamboat Rock with his bride, also a veteran, who he had met in the service. Perhaps not quite as romantic as the Gasts during World War I, no less a story that needs telling. 

Ray Allison, met his wife Helen, and they were married in Watford, England during the war. Ray was serving with an M.P. unit, and Helen was in the service serving as a Chaplen’s assistant. Ray had been born in Iowa, and Helen in Tennessee. 

After they were married, their units were transferred to Belgium. They arrived in Belgium 90 days after the Battle of the Bulge. 

In Belgium the couple found an apartment with a family that couldn’t speak any English, and Ray and Helen couldn’t speak French. They conversed with help of a little book that had a few words translated. A few months later peace was declared. 

On returning to the United States, they made their first home in Sheffield, Iowa, where they stayed for a year and a half. They then came to Steamboat, where Ray worked as Cheese Maker at the Cheese Factory. Later he worked as a mason, and for Standard Oil. Helen worked at Knight’s Locker for 16 years, and was active in the Presbyterian Church. 

There were many others who served their country, in World War II from Steamboat Rock. All with stories to tell.