Kroon, Bert 1917-1943

KROON, SCHOLTEN

Posted By: Wilma J. Vande Berg - volunteer (email)
Date: 2/9/2014 at 16:35:02

Sioux Center News of Dec 2, 1943

Message Received by Parents Nov. 24 Sergeant Bert Kroon, 26, one of the four sons of Mr. and Mrs. John Kroon In the service of their country was killed. In action on the Italian front on November the 4th, according to a message received from the War Department by the family last Wednesday November 24th.
WAS WOUNDED IN ACTION LAST MAY RECEIVED PURPLE HEART MEDAL
This message except for it’s tragic finality is much like one received by the family last May when Bert was wounded in action during the Tunisian Campaign. It was about two Weeks after the notice of his injury that word was received from him personally assuring the family that he was getting along splendidly and they shouldn't worry. He received the Purple Heart Medal for meritorious action shortly after his injury, and sent the medal to his mother. He did not go back into combat until September, and then he was to join his buddies right up to the front again, this time in Italy.

The last letter received from him was written on October 28th when he and Gary Vander Berg, son of Mr. and Mrs. Wm. G. Vander Berg, had had a brief respite from front line activity, and were able to go and see Teddy Vander Berg who works in the company office. Teddy has been the official scribe for himself, his brother Gary, and also for Bert, since the latter two were always too busy at the front to have much time to write. Bert usually managed, to relay his important information to his parents in this manner although his mother did have a letter he wrote in a fox hole where he had spent three gruelling hours. It Is obivious , that he was engaged in considerable close range fighting for Teddy mentioned their individual records of fighting more than once in giving an account of their activities.

MOTHER HOME FROM HOSPITAL
Mrs. John Kroon arrived home from Rochester, Minn, where she had submitted to surgery and treatment, on the day the message arrived here Mrs. Kroon has been suffering from a liver ailment and has spent a great deal of time right down in bed since the latter part of October, and will be there for some time.

FOUR SONS IN SERVICE

Four sons from the Kroon family have been in the service during this war, and the three remaining are Richard who is in the Air Corps in Engand, Henry John and Billy who are in the Navy, Henry John has been in the hospital but is at present being moved and Billy is on the sea aboard a destroyer.

Obituary

Bert Kroon was born August 12,1917 at Sioux Center. He attended grade and high-school here graduating from the local high school. Following his graduation he worked around here most of the time . Just previous to his enlistment being employed at Koolbeck's Meat Market. He enlisted early in the fall of 1940 and trained at LeMars with Ted and Gary Vande Berg, Bud Bodnar and Carl Bierma, in the LeMars company of the National Guard. They were inducted into the U.S. Army on Feb. 19th, 1941 and went to Camp Claibourne, Louisiana for their real army training on February 25th, 1941. February of the following year found the boys in North Ireland where they were stationed for several months, then in England and from there they journeyed to North Africa where they took part in the Tunisian Campaign. After a few months lull, they moved with their company into Italy where the going is really tough even in the best spots.
The community joins the Kroon family in mourning the loss of a native son who saw his duty and chose to perform it commendably and honorably in the service of his country.

Survivors include his parents, Mr. and Mrs. John Kroon, five brothers, Richard, Henry John, William, Bernard and Stanton, and three sisters, Eda, Trudy and Norma all of whom are at home, except the three boys in the service. One brother, also named Bert, died in infancy.