2nd Lt. Earl K. Van Derveer 1904-1945

VAN DERVEER, VANDERVEER, PETERSON

Posted By: Merllene Andre Bendixen (email)
Date: 5/1/2014 at 00:18:36

Memorial Service:
Memorial services for Second Lieut. Earl Vanderveer [Van Derveer] who met death in the European theater of war Jan. 23, were held May 13 at the Congregational church in Grinnell.

Second Lieutenant Vanderveer, who received his first air corps training in Estherville was sent from here to Waco, Texas, for further training and from there to Fort Sill, Okla., where he received his wings as a liason pilot on June 8, 1943. From there he was sent to Gainesville, Texas where he was attached to the 325th Field Artillery, 84th division and sailed for overseas service in Sept. 1944.

Lieutenant Vanderveer landed first in Scotland and arrived in England, Oct. 4. He was in France Nov. 3, in Holland Nov. 8 and in Germany Nov. 12. He was attached to the Ninth army and during the “Battle of the Bulge” was transferred to the First army.

Lieutenant Vanderveer went overseas as a staff sergeant and was commissioned a second lieutenant at Geilenkirchen, Germany, by General Bolling, commander of the 24th division. He was awarded a citation “for meritorious military service far beyond the call of duty” and for a particular feat of bravery. He was killed near Beho [?], Belgium, Jan. 23 at noon. A purple heart was awarded to him posthumously and was received by his wife on April 14 for wounds which resulted in his death.

In a letter received from Major J.P. Paschall a friend of Lieutenant Vanderveer the Major told Mrs. Vanderveer “We were operating against the enemy on the north flank of the salient established by the German offensive in the Ardennes. On the morning of Jan. 23 our planes were flying routine scheduled patrol missions along the front lines.

“At 11 a.m. Van “took off” with his observer and at 11:55 a.m. his plane and one piloted by another lieutenant with an observer collided at an altitude of approximately 400 feet and immediately fell to the snow covered ground below. Due to the lack of altitude there was no chance to parachute.

“I was at the scene of the accident 35 minutes after it occurred and found all four lifeless; death being instantaneous, there was no long suffering.”

The citation received by Mrs. Vanderveer was the air medal and was given for service between Nov. 15 and Dec. 26 of 1944.

During the time which Lieutenant Vanderveer was taking his training in Estherville his wife [Clara M. Peterson] and small daughter, Frankey Mae, lived at Estherville. (Estherville Daily News, Estherville, IA, May 31, 1945)

Burial:
Henri-Chapelle American Cemetery and Memorial
Henri-Chapelle
Liege, Belgium
Plot: • Plot: C / Row 10 / Grave 61