Iowa Old Press
Sioux Center News, August 31, 1944
ROCK VALLEY—
R.V. Boy German Prisoner
Mr. & Mrs. Tom Gerritsen received word Monday that their son Pvt. William T. Gerritsen was a prisoner of war of the German Government. The message was from Adjutant General Ulio and was sent immediately after the report was received through the International Red Cross. According to the telegram a letter of information follows.
Hospitalized:
Pvt. Willis Meylink who is at Fort Meade, Maryland, has an infection in his leg and is hospitalized. August 25 was the 7th wedding anniversary of Mr. and Mrs. Willis Meylink, so Mrs. Willis Meylink sent her husband a cake and she also took one to Hull with other refreshment. So the Meylinks and Hymans commemorated the event. Pvt. Willis called up his wife and they exchanged congratulations.
Flies Back to Camp.
Lt. Wayne C. Nebben left Sioux City Wednesday morning by plane for his base at Clovis, New Mexico. He spent his leave with his parents, Mr. and Mrs. John Nebben and brother and sister, along with other relatives in this vicinity.
Receives Silver Wings.
John U. Dykstra received his silver wings August 4th, when he graduated from Marfa Army Air Field at Marfa, Texas, as Flight Officer upon completing a course in two engine pilot school. John took his basic training at Merced, Calif. He is a son of Mr. and Mrs. Richard Dykstra.
Injured in Cycle Mishap.
Jerry Vande Brock is improving from injuries received in a motorcycle accident in Italy. He ran into a section of road that had been balsted by fire and was thrown from the cycle. He suffered a broken collar bone and shoulder and he is in a plaster cast from his neck down to his ribs. The accident occurred on July 21.
Receives Purple Heart.
Mrs. Lloyd E. Klein received a purple heart from her husband that had been awarded to him for wounds received in the Normandy area. He was wounded at Cherbourg, June 25, and was hospitalized in France for three weeks, then sent to England where he is now in a hospital.
South Pacific Veteran Visits Here.
Dr. and Mrs. Walter Balkema of Sheldon and their son, Lt. Donald Balkema, who is home on a two weeks furlough spent Sunday at the parental Nic Balkema home. Lt. Donald is in the Navy and has been in the service in the Pacific for some time and came home on Saturday evening to spend his furlough with his parents, after which he will be sent to Seattle, Wash.
HULL—
Relatives of Mr. and Mrs. Wm. Meylink of Long Beach were happy to receive word in Hull that George Meylink who was in Pearl Harbor when it was attacked and later at Bougainville, arrived home Aug. 20th. He had been gone almost four years and that his cousin, Howard Kuyper, who had been away for that length of time has arrived in the U.S. and soon will be home.
Pfc. Carl and Mrs. Kuiper from Boca Raton, Florida, visited the past week at the home of their sister, Mr. and Mrs. P. Van Oort. On Thursday a family reunion was held at Lake Okoboji. On Monday they left again for Florida. He had 18 days furlough.
Receives Honorable Discharge.
Pvt. Lawrence Wissink who has been stationed one month at the Great Lakes came home Thursday. He was honorably discharged on account of stomach trouble. Lawrence has secured work in the Ford garage at Sibley and as soon as a house is available will move the family.
Visited Sailor at Farragut.
Mr. and Mrs. Neal G. Punt and Miss Jeanne Vander Berg returned home Saturday after visiting with Martin Punt, who is in the Navy and who is stationed at Farragut, Idaho.
~Mr. and Mrs. Orville Buffington have received word from their brother Burlett Buffington, who was slightly wounded in action in France several weeks ago, saying that he had left the hospital again, but he did not write how he had been wounded.
~Pvt. Herman Van Donkelaar left by train from LeMars early Thursday morning to return to Camp Hood following a 15 day furlough which was spent with his family here.
CLARA VAN ROEKEL JOINS WAVES.
Miss Clara Van Roekel returned home from Des Moines on Friday evening, where she had gone on Thursday to take her examination for enlistment in the WAVES and she will await her call, which is expected to come within about a month, after which she will be sent to Hunters College, New York, for her training. Clara has been teaching school at Lake Mills for the past two years.
~Pvt. Donald Brommer who was home on a 15 day furlough from Camp Roberts, Calif., left again on Sunday evening.
BACK AT FRONT.
Sgt. Willis Koerselman, son of Mr. and Mrs. Henry Koerselman of Hull, was wounded in Italy some weeks ago. He is now out of the hospital and back at the front again. He was able to tell his parents how he received his wounds, in a letter which they just received last week. A buddy of his stepped on a land mine just a few feet away from Willis. The boy was blown to pieces on the spot. Willis had sixteen stones removed from one eye, wounds in his ears, neck, face, and legs. He said his ears were still not completely healed. He also had shrapnel wounds in his legs. He asked the News to publish his thanks to the many people who sent cards and letters to him while he was in the hospital. Another son of Mr. and Mrs. Henry Koerselman, Arie Koerselman, S 3/c, Farragut, Idaho, has also been in the hospital for the past sixty days. He was home in June on leave having completed his boot training. Immediately upon his return, he contracted scarlet fever and since then has been ill with rheumatic fever. He is still in the hospital and may be there for some weeks longer.
Their third son, Orville, S 1/c, is somewhere in the southwest Pacific. He has been in four major battles. In May he had a six day leave and wired his wife to meet him in California. Since then they have had no indication of his whereabouts.
IRETON—
Cpl. and Mrs. R.T. Bergsma, who are on furlough at the G. Bergsma home, spent Monday evening with friends in Hawarden.
Pvt. R. A. Horweyen left Sunday for Camp Hood, Texas, following a furlough.
Lawrence Van Wyhe, who has not been home for 3 years, is spending a furlough in the home of his parents, Mr. and Mrs. John VanWyhe.
Leonard Kromendyk came Thursday to spend a furlough with his parents, Mr. and Mrs. H. Kromendyk.
Stanley Sinkey of Ireton send us his father’s new address—
Dear Editor—I have received the new address of my father from Camp key. He was transferred from Camp Hood, Texas. It is now:
Pvt. Clarence Sinkey
Co. B. 12 Bn. 3rd Regt.
A.G.F.R.D. No. 1
Fort George G. Meade, Maryland
**
Pvt. Moss Van Holland Writes.
From Camp Hood, Texas—
To Sioux Center News: Aug. 21, 1944
I received your first paper today and thought it was very prompt, and really appreciate it.
My brother, Gerrit J. Van Holland and his wife always told me it was a very good paper, and I hope to keep on receiving it regularly.
I am stationed here at South Camp Hood, Texas, and this is a very large camp. There are about 90,000 men here at the present time and it covers about 186,000 acres with rifle ranges and other field ranges included.
At the present I am in the anti-tank division, we have the 57 and 37 m.m. guns, and I like this company well.
As yet I have not met any mend from Sioux Center. But would like to know if you have addresses of Sioux Center men here in this camp, so that I could look them up some time.
I have a wife and two children living in Rock Valley: Evalena Van Holland, a son Arthur and daughter Leona. ~Pvt. Moss Van Holland
Co. D. 173rd Bn. 96 Regt.
So. Camp Hood, Texas
**
Lt. and Mrs. Bernard Brunsting of the Sioux City Air Base spent last Friday at the parental Rev. Brunsting home.
**
Pfc. Richard Bierma left again on Sunday afternoon to return to Fort Belvoir, Va., following a 15-day furlough which was spent at the home of his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Ben Bierma.
**
Mrs. John A. Wesselink and daughter Trudy left by train on Tuesday morning to spend a short visit with Lt. John Wesselink, who is stationed at San Diego, Calif.
**
Pvt. Leonard Visser arrived home on Friday evening to spend an 11-day furlough with his family here. Pvt. Visser has been stationed at Fort Jackson, South Carolina, since he entered the service on March 27, and was moved to Camp Gruber, Oklahoma, about a week ago. He is a personnel clerk.
IN GUAM—
Pvt. Gerrit TerHaar has a complete new address which we are not permitted to publish. He is now in Guam. Call the News, if you wish for his address.
MAY LEAVE STATES SOON.
Cpl. James Santema, son of Mr. and Mrs. Henry Santema, called his parents from Fresno, Calif., Friday night. They believe he will be leaving the States soon for overseas service. He has been in the Army about 2 ½ years, and is in the air corps ground crew.
MOVED TO ITALY.
Alfred Pals was recently promoted to Corporal, and is now in Italy. He has been in North Africa until recently. His wife had a letter from his Chaplain, who wrote they attended services in St. Paul’s Cathedral in Rome and heard organ music for the first time since leaving the States, which they enjoyed very much. Alfred has a new APO number, 400. Call the News or his wife for his complete address.
PROMOTED—
Arie Verrips has had another promotion to Seaman 1st class lately. He has taken part in another major engagement in recent weeks, but is still in good health according to the latest word his parents have received.
**
Excerpts of recent letters from Henry Neal DeGroot, son of Mr. and Mrs. Henry DeGroot of Rock Valley, tell of his progress since he was wounded in France in the first invasion:
Pfc. Henry Neal DeGroot
Hosp. Plant 4175 APO 121
Det. Of Patients, c/o Postmaster
New York City, N.Y.
Dear Mother and Dad: August 4.
I am getting along fine and everything is okay. I am still bedfast and will be for quite some time, also will e a long time before I will be able to walk again. I have a large hole in the right side of the calf of my leg—clean through, making it the same on the left side of the calf of my leg. Had one operation in France, cleaned the wound and bandaged it, so I could be transferred to England. In England I had another operation to clean and draw wound together. Next will be more sewing and more drawing together—and a skin graft.
See, everything like muscles and ligaments were shattered and blown out. You can now understand why I’m having all the operations. Why I’ve been in bed a long time and will be for quite some time, yet. Everything was hit in my right leg, except the bones, so I have no fractures—Thanks Goodness! It will take time for muscles, tissues and ligaments to heal and grow again. Don’t worry at all. I am receiving good care and very efficient medical care. In time I will be able to walk again. I had a lot of pain at first, but that stage is all over. The operations have been okay, have new stuff they put you to sleep with. Doesn’t take long to go to sleep and no after effects at all of the wonderful stuff.
The medical service of the U.S. Army is wonderful. They are doing a swell job and working wonders and performing miracles.
Very nice, good and efficient nurses. The doctors are swell and really are very good.
I haven’t received any mail from France yet, but one of these days I will—both letters and packages. I have had a fresh mail from the States—for four days now—and it is good to hear from everybody again.
I wouldn’t know how to contact the fellows you mentioned that are here in England—maybe later when I can walk again, I can contact them, if they are still in England.
Glad you wrote relatives. You may wonder why I do not write more often. It is hard for me to write in bed. See, I don’t sit up much yet—I write awhile, using my left knee as a writing desk—write awhile then rest awhile, and so on.
Today I received my much needed haircut. It is starting to grow out again.
It does get tiresome lying in bed all the time, but I don’t mind. I am in a ward full of fellows full of the dickens and we do have fun in spite of our aches and pains. Everybody is cooperative and the ones who can walk help the ones who can’t—so we get along swell.
Glad to hear you sent me boxes—Gee! That really is swell—I received the ones of May 27 and June 3, and the rest will catch up with me.
Think I will close for this time. Hope this finds you both in the best of health. Someday soon I hope this thing will end—then I can come home and mow the lawn for you. I can well imagine how everything looks. I have it pictured in my mind. Bye now. Don’t worry. Love, Henry Neal.
Just received large airmail letter of July 21 and the card July 27th, I was glad to hear from you again. I have received mail directly from States for 5 days now. Received 20 letters. You can see I am kept busy answering everyone and I am doing a fair job of keeping up. Pete Juffer received a discharge—I bet his wife is happy to see him again.
Yes, I like my new pen and the billfold you sent me. Come to be very handy and useful.
Received “Bernice’s box” and wrote her a thank-you for it already. She sent cigarettes, gum and plenty of candy.
I am going to receive a lot of boxes. They are promised and sent and on the way to me. I wrote you last night which I had received. I am receiving a lot—and the ones that are already sent really add up. I need a secretary real bad to help me keep everything straight.
Enjoyed reading verses and poems you sent me are very nice. Also enjoyed the card.
We lost our radio to another ward. See we take turns having it. We then had a phonograph and have lost that, too. Have to wait our turn again. Hope our turn comes soon. Miss News from U.S.A. and also the programs and music.
I haven’t received the News for a long time, now. Still bedfast—will be for quite some time and will be some time before I will walk again. I am getting along fine and everything is okay. This new anesthetic is wonderful stuff. So far I’ve had five operations on my right side—Counting the three on my leg. (Two were before war, appendix and rupture.)
So, Johnnie is wounded, too? I don’t know if he is here with me or at a different place. Please send me his address and I will drop him a line. You said “a different address” huh? Well, he must be in a different place. Will close for now. Bye. Greetings to everyone. Hope this finds you both in the best of health. Love, Henry Neal.
August 10, letter states “all fine.”
August 14, adds—Every time the doctor dresses the wound, he says, “It looks much better.” Haven’t heard from you folks for about a week now in fact no mail from anyone in last three days. Mail from France not here either—yet. Guess one of these days it will catch up with me. The weather here lately has been pretty. Altho, it is summer here in England, the weather reminds me of a spring day and spring weather in the U.S. Haven’t had radio or phonograph for a long time now—hope our turn comes soon to have one of them. I miss hearing news, orchestras, and programs. I heard from relatives and friends lately—receiving sixty letters and cards. Have caught up in answering except Kay and Emmett’s letter. Received a very clever card and a bunch of jokes, etc. I enjoyed the car and jokes very much.
The War on all fronts look very good—I hope the Allies can keep the good work up and have this thing come to an end soon. Wouldn’t it be nice if the fellows could spend Christmas in the U.S., or even if they had to spend it on foreign soil—to spend it in a quiet way—no war, on then? Well, I will close for this time. Hope this finds you both in the best of health and that everything is okay. I miss you both—Bye now. Love Henry Neal.
The box with my civilian shoes came and where I was then, I couldn’t use them—so I gave them to a Frenchman. He had wooden shoes on—hadn’t had a pair of real shoes for 4 ½ years. He was pleased and appreciated mine very much.
**
Pvt. Wm. Van der Weide left Fort Snelling last Wed. and now has this new address:
F.A. R.T.C. A.G.F
Ft. Sill, Oklahoma
S.O. 203 P.2
**
John Schaap has a slight change in address:
John C. Schaap COX
2nd Batt. Co. I.
Camp Parks, Calif.
John is a Seabee, and still living in San Diego, Calif., with his wife and daughter. He is busy every day reboring motors which is very skilled labor and for that reason is still kept in the States.
**
Lt. August Ykema has a new APO number, 920. He is still in New Guinea. Call the News for his complete address.
**
Bernard J. Santema A/S, son of Henry Santema has this address:
Bernard J. Sangema A/S
U.S. N.T.C. Co. No. 829-44
Camp Hill, Farragut, Idaho
Bernard just entered the service recently.
**
Pvt. John Wandscheer has been transferred from Buckley Field, Colorado, to Kingman, Arizona. John entered the service in April. He received four months of basic training at Buckley Field, Colorado, and was then transferred to Arizona. He has not had any furloughs yet. Prior to his entrance into the service he was employed by the government as an airplane mechanic. John is the son of Mr. and Mrs. Henry Wandscheer of Sioux Center.
**
Pvt. John R. Witte is now stationed at Oceanside, Calif., and expects to be sent overseas soon. John has been in the service for 4 months now. His address is: Co. F. 3rd Bn. U.S.M.C.
10th Rep. Draft F.M.F.
Camp Pendleton
Oceanside, Calif.
**
Arnold G. Arendson, A.R.M. 2/c is now stationed at Floyd Bennett Field, New York, N.Y.
**
Floyd Wanningen, S 2/c, has this latest address:
Floyd Wanningen, S 2/c
322—14:00 U.S.S. Cumberland Sound Detail
Tacoma, 2, Washington.
**
Pvt. Lawrence Bleeker, son of Mr. and Mrs. Gt. Bleeker of Sioux Center has this new address:
Co. D. 29th Bn. 8th Regt. A.G.F.R.D. No. 1
Ft. George E. Meade, Maryland.
**
Lloyd Vermeer, S 2/c has this new address:
L.S.T. Crew 4638
Camp Bradford, A.T.B.
Norfolk, 11, Virginia
Lloyd will be there three more weeks and will then be assigned to a ship for sea duty. Lloyd is the son of Mrs. Alyda Vermeer of Sioux Center.
**
Pvt. Ben Mulder Jr., son of Ben Mulder of Doon, has a change in APO to 758. We are not permitted to publish his complete address, but anyone wishing to write him, may phone the News office for it.