August Anheuser Busch, Jr., was born on March 28, 1899, in St. Louis, Missouri. He began working for his family's Anheuser-Busch brewing company after finishing school, and became superintendent of Anheuser-Busch brewing operations in 1924. Busch became head of the Brewing Division in 1934, and continued in this position even after receiving a commission as a Major in the U.S. Army Ordnance Corps on June 6, 1942. His first assignment was as an Industrial Engineering Officer in the Office of Chief of Ordnance in Washington, D.C., from June 1942 to June 1943, followed by service as Chief of the Production Integration and Control Unit, Ammunition Branch, in the Office of the Chief of Ordnance from July to December 1943. Col Busch served as Senior Deputy of the Industry Integration Committee Unit, Industrial Production Section, with the Office of the Chief of Ordnance from January to June 1944, and then as Chief of the Industry Production Branch, Industrial Service, with the Ammunition Division of the Office of the Chief of Ordnance from July 1944 to May 1945. He was honorably discharged from active duty in the U.S. Army on July 3, 1945. During World War II his main focus was on integrating civilian industry in the production of war materials. After leaving active duty, Busch became President and Chief Executive Officer of Anheuser-Busch in 1946, and remained in that position until stepping down in May 1975. During this time, Busch was involved with Anheuser-Busch's purchase of the St. Louis Cardinals baseball team in 1953, and he then served as President of the team from 1953 until his death on September 29, 1989. August "Gussie" Busch was buried at Sunset Memorial Park and Mausoleum in Affton, Missouri.

His Legion of Merit Citation reads:

Colonel August A. Busch, Jr., rendered exceptionally meritorious services, successively as Industry Engineering Officer, Chief of Industry Integration Unit, and Chief of Industry Production Branch of the Ammunition Division, Office, Chief of Ordnance, from June 1942 to July 1945. He pioneered a new type of coordination between industry and Army Ordnance, establishing precedents and procedures that were of primary importance in organizing the nation's industry to work as a unit. Through his exceptional resourcefulness and ability, Colonel Busch contributed greatly to the continued production of material for overseas operations.