Asher K. Pay was born on May 31, 1917, in Sioux Falls, Minnehaha County, South Dakota. He was the son of Howard Pay. He graduated from the University of South Dakota in 1939 with a commerce degree and was active in the Junior Chamber of Commerce. He worked at his father's business, Pay’s Art Store before entering the army in October 1941.

Asher served in the 746th Tank Battalion, as a Captain during World War II. Leading the first Allied tank company ashore on D-Day, he supported infantry for 21 days in Normandy, notably aiding in the capture of Cherbourg and achieving other significant victories, such as routing a German column and rescuing U.S. paratroopers. Pay’s unit later fought in the Battle of the Bulge, holding the northern line against German forces before participating in the Allied push south. He was wounded in Aachen and later received the Purple Heart award. Cpt Pay was Killed in Action on March 10, 1945, in a German counterattack at the Remagen bridgehead over the Rhine River, where his unit was the first to cross the Ludendorff Bridge. He is now buried in the Woodlawn Cemetery, Sioux Falls, Minnehaha County, South Dakota, USA.

Source of information: www.findagrave.com