Valor of WWII Generation, Like Former PUSD Teacher Roy Atwater, Inspires Today on D-Day Anniversary

Eight years after his death, World War II veteran and former Pasadena Unified School District teacher Roy S. Atwater, Jr. is remembered for his extraordinary life of service, both on the battlefront and in the classroom.

As the world prepares to commemorate the 79th anniversary of D-Day, the stories of veterans like Atwater remind Pasadenans of the bravery and resilience shown on June 6, 1944.

Atwater, born locally in 1923, was among the 73,000 American servicemembers who participated in the D-Day invasion of France on June 6, 1944, during WWII, set to be commemorated this week. 

His service extended through several campaigns, including the Battle of the Bulge, where he served as an armorer for the U.S. Army Air Corps. Atwater’s duties were crucial to the success of his squadron’s combat missions, inspecting and preparing the weapons systems on aircraft for battle.

“When it came to my job, if I didn’t do it right, we were merely providing an air show for the Germans,” Atwater once reflected on the gravity of his role during the war.

Atwater’s dedicated service did not end in Europe. 

After being honorably discharged as a corporal, he returned home, earned a bachelor’s degree, and embarked on a thirty-year teaching career at the Pasadena Unified School District. His passion for the theater, developed as a Pasadena Playhouse member, enriched his classroom lessons.

His contributions during the war and post-war life left an indelible mark on his country and community. Atwater passed away in 2015 at 92, but his story still inspires.

This year’s D-Day commemoration in Normandy, France, will include a series of immersive walks, re-enactments, and ceremonies from June 1 to June 7?.

The legacy of Roy S. Atwater Jr. and other Pasadenans like him is a testament to the remarkable local individuals who faced the enemy at front lines for the nation’s sake.

According to research published by the Pasadena Branch of the Vietnam Veterans of America, there is no accurate count of Pasadena casualties during World War II because many were not processed through local draft boards while temporarily residing in other sections of the country.

However, the local VVA branch said it is estimated that 11,500 local men answered the call, with 4,000 casualties. 421 Pasadenans made the supreme sacrifice.