John Michael Astley

John Michael Astley grew up in the Des Moines area and attended high school in Runnels. He was known as a quiet but determined young man. After working for a time in a packing plant, he joined the Army in March 1967 and was assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 35th Infantry, the Cacti Regiment, based in Quang Ngai. PFC Astley was killed when the patrol he was on crossed a bridge that was destroyed by an explosion. The enemy had moved an unexploded American 250 lb. bomb under the bridge, attached a grenade and pulled the pin with filament line. He was awarded the Bronze Star for meritorious service. Survived by his wife, he was buried in the Laurel Hill Cemetery in Des Moines.